Northwestern (4-2) held on to beat No. 22 Penn State (3-3), 22-21, in another stunning upset on Saturday.
Following the game, head coach James Franklin announced quarterback Drew Allar sustained a season-ending injury. The QB exited the contest with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter; Penn State trailed at the time and could muster up a comeback win.
“Drew will be done for the year,” Franklin told reporters. The devastating news adds to a rough stretch for the Nittany Lions, with their three-game losing streak that includes two upset losses.
Allar had to be carted off the field following a scramble on third down. He finished the game 13 of 20 for 137 yards and an interception, and six carries for 25 yards and a TD.
Northwestern QB Preston Stone threw for 163 yards with a touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde, and Jack Olsen kicked three field goals for the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten), who won their third straight. Running back Caleb Komolafe ran for 72 yards and a touchdown.
The Wildcats, who hadn’t won in Beaver Stadium since 2014, took the lead for good with 4:51 when Komolafe bulled his way through Penn State’s defense to cap a 75-yard drive late in the fourth quarter.
The Nittany Lions got the ball back, but lost Allar to injury on a third-down play. Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer replaced him and was immediately stopped on a fourth-down run and the Wildcats ran the clock out from there.
Allar, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen ran for touchdowns for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) who lost their third straight. It was the fifth time a James Franklin coached Penn State team has lost at least three consecutive games in a season.
The Nittany Lions, who committed six penalties for 71 yards in the first half, could never get out of their way. Meanwhile, the Wildcats played steady, almost mistake-free football in front of a flat Penn State crowd that chanted “Fire James Franklin!” early.
Allar was intercepted on Penn State’s opening drive when he threw the ball right to defensive back Ore Adeyi in the end zone. Adeyi returned it to the Northwestern 33 and the Wildcats turned it into three points 12 plays later with Jack Olsen’s a 27-yard field goal with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
The Nittany Lions finally got their offense moving with Allen. He carried five times on Penn State’s next possession and gave his team a 7-3 lead when he muscled in from 11 yards out early in the second.
Northwestern marched into Penn State’s territory on its next possession where Stone found a wide open Wilde for a go-ahead 28-yard touchdown pass.
The Wildcats appeared to get a stop on defense but fumbled away the ensuing punt. The Nittany Lions needed nine plays from Northwestern’s 26, but finally broke through on a fourth-and-goal when Singleton slashed around the Wildcats’ left flank for a 2-yard touchdown.
Olsen made a 34-yarder with three seconds left to cut Penn State’s lead to 14-13 at halftime.
Up next for Northwestern is a home matchup against Purdue (3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network) next Saturday. Meanwhile, Penn State will look to break its slide on the road against Iowa.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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