Penn State is putting on a strong push for a spot in the College Football Playoff but it's still a couple of wins from completion. The biggest roadblock to a bid for the Nittany Lions in this favorable final third of their schedule? It appears to be the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
“I think the quality of teams that we go in and play each week speaks for itself,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “But as far as rankings, it doesn’t really matter until it matters.”
Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) is fourth in both the AP poll and the CFP rankings this week, needing help for a long-shot hope of reaching the Big Ten title game because of a loss to now-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 2.
That’s why this week, naturally, is too early for them to talk about making the inaugural 12-team tournament — as enticing as their prospects might be.
“I think the quality of teams that we go in and play each week speaks for itself,” quarterback
A lose to the unranked Gophers (6-4, 4-3), however, and that ground could become shaky given the current collection of standout two-loss teams in the SEC.
If the Nittany Lions needed proof of the danger of letting focus diverge, coach James Franklin and his staff can call up the tape from Nov. 9, 2019. That’s when an undefeated Penn State team came to Minnesota and lost 31-26 and the Gophers think they can repeat that performance.
This team isn’t on that level of talent and success from five years ago, but the chemistry has been off the charts. Coach P.J. Fleck drew attention to some of the individual standout performances that fueled the signature victory in 2019 in meetings with players this week.
“We need our best playmakers to play their best. Penn State’s going to need their playmakers to be their best. That’s what happens in November,” Fleck said.
Penn State brings a tight end challenge
Tyler Warren has already shattered nearly every record for Penn State tight ends. The do-it-all senior become such a force his teammates insist he’s worthy of the Heisman Trophy, tracking toward the top of the NFL draft board for his position next spring.
“He’s the best tight end in America, but he’s also the most complete tight end in America,” Allar said.
Warren is coming off a 190-yard performance at Purdue that included 63 yards on three rushes and 127 yards on eight receptions.
“He has the ability to take a play that should be 2 or 3 yards and turn it into 30 or 40,” Gophers defensive end Danny Striggow said.
Carter vs. Ersery
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has 17½ tackles for loss, the second-most in the FBS, and eight sacks to match the third-most in the Big Ten. He has a challenging matchup this week with Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery across from him in a battle of projected first-round NFL draft picks.
Gophers coaches told Striggow and his fellow defensive linemen a couple of seasons ago to relish the opportunity to face Ersery in practice.
“That’s one of the best looks in the country that you’re going to get,” Striggow said.
Carter has successfully made the transition from linebacker this season.
“He is impacting the game in a number of ways, which creates opportunities for other guys on our defensive line and within our defense and causes a lot of headaches,” Franklin said. “He is becoming more and more of a leader every single day.”
Security measures
Allar and the Nittany Lions have paid particular attention to protecting the ball this week, given the Gophers have 16 interceptions, one short of the national lead. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar feels he’ll need to be especially accurate this weekend considering Minnesota has 16 interceptions on the season.
“We’re just going to have to be disciplined and stick to our game plan,” Allar said.
To win, Minnesota probably needs to continue to forcing those turnovers.
Senior day
The Gophers have a strong group of departing players who will take the field at Huntington Bank Stadium for the final time, including Ersery, quarterback Max Brosmer, wide receiver Daniel Jackson, right guard Quinn Carroll, cornerback Justin Walley, kicker Dragan Kesich and Striggow.
“It’s been good to reflect, but it’s not over yet,” Striggow said. “Those short windows of reflection, I cut ’em out and then say, ‘We’ve got some more memories to make.’”
PREVIEW
No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (CBS).
BetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 11½.
Series record: Penn State leads 10-6.
What’s at stake?
Penn State is in prime position for a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff and still in the mix to make the Big Ten championship game, with a home game against struggling Maryland waiting after this challenge on the road against a well-rounded opponent. Losing to Minnesota team coming off a bye week would be a big blow to Penn State’s playoff push and all but take a conference title off the table. Minnesota can vastly upgrade its bowl bid with a win and take some momentum into a final-week rivalry game at Wisconsin.
Key matchup
Penn State TE Tyler Warren vs. Minnesota defense. Warren, a first team AP Midseason All-America selection, totaled 190 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage last week in a blowout win at Purdue. He is second among all FBS tight ends in receiving yards (808) and also taken 13 of his 16 rushing attempts for either first downs or touchdowns. The Gophers are second in the FBS in passes defended per game, tied for fourth in interceptions per game and tied for 17th in yards allowed per pass attempt.
Players to watch
Penn State: DE Abdul Carter has had multiple tackles for loss in three straight games. The junior, who played linebacker the previous two seasons, second in the FBS with 17½ tackles for loss and seventh with eight sacks this year.
Minnesota: LB Cody Lindenberg. The fifth-year junior leads the Gophers with 76 tackles, coming off a career-high 14 tackles at Rutgers in their last game on Nov. 9.
Facts & figures
This will be Penn State’s fourth visit to Minnesota since Huntington Bank Stadium opened on campus in 2009. The Nittany Lions won in 2010 and lost in 2013 and 2019. ... Penn State has won its first four road games in a season for the first time since 2011. ... Penn State QB Drew Allar is third in the FBS in yards per pass attempt (9.8) and fifth in completion percentage (71.9) ... The Nittany Lions have allowed 49 second-half points this season for the second-best per-game average in the FBS. ... Minnesota is 2-1 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game. The Gophers have never posted three wins against ranked opponents in one season.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.