Penn State vs. Indiana score, takeaways: Offensive issues remain critical even as Nittany Lions eke out win

Entering as 32-point favorites, Penn State did nothing to lessen concerns about its offense in a surprisingly thin victory

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:34 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

No. 10 Penn State 33, Indiana 24

It wasn't a pretty performance, but No. 10 Penn State was able to shake off last week's loss to Ohio State and get back in the win column. PSU really did make it harder on itself than necessary, though.

Indiana's defense made life miserable on the Nittany Lions forcing early three-and-outs. Indiana shocked everyone taking a 7-0 lead when Brendan Sorsby hit Dequece Carter for a 90-yard touchdown. However, an IU muffed punt allowed PSU to pull even at 7-7 before the Hoosiers responded with a 69-yard TD to Donoven McCulley.

Indiana allowed a long kick return, and Sorsby threw an interception before halftime allowing Penn State to take a 17-14 lead at the break. The Nittany Lions soon led 24-14, but the Hoosiers scored 10 straight to tie the game with 3 minutes to play.

After an early interception -- the first of his college career -- and with the game tied, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar hit Keandre Lambert-Smith for a 57-yard touchdown pass that proved to be the difference. Penn State stripped Sorsby on the next possession, adding a safety to the final nine-point margin. The self-inflicted wounds were too much for IU to overcome in the end.

• Penn State improved to 13-0 all-time against Indiana
• Allar finished with 210 yards passing and three touchdowns
• Keaytron Allen and Nick Singleton combined for 131 yards rushing on 33 carries for PSU
• Sorsby ended with 269 yards passing and three touchdowns

[Oct 28, 2023 at 4:01 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Indiana was too conservative for its own good

The general rule of thumb when you're a 32-point underdog is that you won't pull off an upset by playing it safe. Indiana tried to today, and while it was a valiant effort the Hoosiers came up short.

In the fourth quarter, trailing 24-21 and with fewer than five minutes to play, the Hoosiers had a fourth-and-1 at their 29-yard line. They punted. I understand you don't want to turn the ball over that deep in your territory, but there was no guarantee the Hoosiers would get the ball back. They did when Drew Allar threw an interception.

But Indiana doubled down on its conservative play. Instead of being aggressive and looking for a go-ahead score, Indiana played for a field goal. On third-and-8, the Hoosiers handed the ball off for 2 yards because they didn't want to risk throwing an interception in a situation where Penn State was likely to blitz. They made the field goal to tie the game and then watched Penn State chuck it deep for the game-winning touchdown moments later.

When the time called for aggression, Indiana played it safe. Penn State didn't. The result speaks for itself.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:52 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

The Nittany Lions missed DE Chop Robinson

Robinson suffered a head injury in last week's loss to Ohio State and was unavailable today. His absence was felt. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is never afraid to bring additional pressure, but when Robinson is on the field it allows Penn State to get pressure without blitzing. 

It wasn't nearly as easy today. A one point, confusion in the Penn State defense led directly to Indiana points. Brendan Sorsby's 69-yard touchdown pass to Donaven McCulley happened because both Penn State defensive backs on the left side of the field blitzed and left McCulley uncovered along the sideline. Sorsby floated a short pass to him over the blitz, and after that it was a foot race to the end zone.

Penn State finished the day with only four tackles for loss and three sacks. That's a surprisingly low total against an Indiana offense that has struggled most of the season. However, one of those sacks ended the game when Dani Dennis-Sutton jarred the ball loose from Sorsby for a safety and put a bow on the game.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:45 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State's offense is still a problem

A win is a win is a win, but they don't erase the problems. Penn State was not near its best today. Had it played a team of a higher caliber than the Indiana Hoosiers, it's probably sitting on a two-game losing streak. While it had its moments, the Penn State offense continued to struggle running the ball and finding explosive plays.

Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton may have finished with 131 yards rushing, but they needed 33 carries to get there. As a team, Penn State finished with 132 yards rushing and averaged only 3.1 yards per carry with no runs of more than 12 yards.

In the passing game, quarterback Drew Allar hit Keandre Lambert-Smith for a 57-yard go-ahead score. What made it stand out was the fact you just haven't seen this team make those kind of plays all year. Indiana deserves some of the credit for today's struggles; the Hoosiers continually heated up Allar in the pocket and forced him into throws earlier than he wanted to make.

But Allar looked hesitant at times, too. He looked like a QB lacking confidence after a performance last week that, in his own words, "sucked." There are too many times when Allar looks like he's more afraid of making a mistake than he's willing to make a play. Perhaps that will change over time, but it's a problem right now.

The good news is things looked much smoother in the second half. The passing game was more miss than hit, but the Nittany Lions found a groove on the ground. They didn't pop any long runs, but they were able to put themselves in third-and-manageable situations routinely.

It was enough for today, and it could be enough next week at Maryland, but will it be enough against Michigan in two weeks? Probably not.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:21 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

PLAY THE BENNY HILL MUSIC

Bredan Sorsby his sacked from behind and loses the ball. Penn State defenders then take turns failing to pick the ball up in hilarious fashion, until finally it rolls 35 yards through the back of the end zone for a safety. It's 33-24 and Penn State will get the ball back. Indiana has three timeouts left, but that should wrap things up here.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:17 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State does not play conservatively, and it works out

Let that be a lesson. The underdog played it safe, while the favorite tried to grab the game by the throat, and now the favorite is ahead 31-24 with 1:46 left to play. Drew Allar hits Keandre Lambert-Smith for a 57-yard touchdown strike to cap a quick, 3-play, 78-yard drive. That's a helluva way to respond to your first career interception. Credit to Allar, and Penn State for not turtling up and putting faith in their QB. Not only does it pay off today, but it will pay off down the road too.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:10 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Indiana goes conservative, and it works out

I didn't like it, but Indiana handed off on 3rd and 8 because it was terrified of a possible turnover. It left itself with a 35-yard FG attempt, which is a risky proposition considering they missed a 37-yarder earlier. Freeman made this one, though, and we're tied 24-24. Still, I'd have like to see Indiana be a bit more aggressive. You don't pull off upsets being conservative and hoping the favorite keeps making mistakes.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:06 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Drew Allar just threw his first career interception

And boy it couldn't have come at a worse time. Third-and-long, under pressure, Allar just heaves a ball over the middle hoping for the best. He got the worst. Indiana's Josh Sanguinetti picks it off and the Hoosiers have the ball at the PSU 21 down 24-21 with 5 minutes to play.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 3:02 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Don't love this Indiana punt

I understand not wanting the turn the ball over on downs deep in your territory, but it's 4th and 1 and you're down in the fourth quarter. By the time you get the ball back, it may already be too late. That said, at least it was a good punt! Quintero bombed it 59 yards to pin Penn State at its 12. Now it'll be up to the Hoosiers defense to get the ball back quickly.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 2:58 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Just dropping this here

[Oct 28, 2023 at 2:50 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Indiana didn't hear no bell

The Hoosiers refuse to be knocked out! They put together their most impressive drive of the game, going 80 yards in 12 plays to cut Penn State's lead to 24-21 with 10:54 to play. Brendan Sorsby kept things going with his arm and legs to convert on three third downs after the Hoosiers had failed to convert any of their first six attempts.

He hit Omar Cooper for a 26-yard touchdown to finish the drive and is now up to 263 yards passing with three touchdowns. 

[Oct 28, 2023 at 2:38 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

END 3RD QUARTER: Penn State 24, Indiana 14

We've got 15 minutes left to play in State College, and it looks as though Penn State has finally taken control. They opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown drive that took half the quarter, and gave them a two-score lead. Then, after Indiana drove right back down the field threatening to mess around and keep this thing close, the Hoosiers missed a 37-yard FG.

Indiana will have the ball to start the fourth quarter, but it has yet to show an ability to drive the entire field. It's first TD was a 90-yard pass. It's second went for 69 yards. Outside those two plays for 159 yards, the Hoosiers have only 117 yards and are averaging 3.7 yards per play. They've also failed to convert a single third down (though did convert on a 4th down), which makes it nearly impossible to sustain drives.

So the Hoosiers either need to find another big play, or put together their best drive of the day. If they don't, this one will be over soon.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 2:30 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

That's a confidence blow for Indiana

Nobody told the Hoosiers they're supposed to lose this game, so they responded to Penn State's touchdown drive with an impressive drive of their own. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it did not have the ending it deserved.

Brendan Sorsby was sacked by an unblocked Daequan Hardy on 3rd and 4 at the PSU 19, setting up a 37-yard field goal attempt from Chris Freeman. Notice I say attempt, because Freeman's FG never had a chance of being good. It was straight, but it started 10 feet wide of the upright and stayed there.

It's still 24-14 Nittany Lions, and you get the sense that if they get a touchdown out of this next possession, this one's a wrap.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 2:19 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Statement drive by Penn State to start the half

Penn State goes 75 yards in 12 plays to take a 24-14 lead, but more important than the result was the process by which it came. Penn State struggled to run the ball in the first half, and struggled to pick up Indiana's relentless blitzing.

So it made a point to ram the ball down Indiana's throat, because that's the best way to slow down a blitz. The Nittany Lions ran the ball eight times on the drive for 49 yards and capped it off by spreading the Hoosiers out with five receivers. One of whom was Theo Johnson, who beat his coverage to pull in a 16-yard TD pass from Allar.

That drive was the best Penn State's offense has looked today, and maybe the last two weeks.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 1:52 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

HALTIME: Penn State 17, Indiana 14

Penn State has the lead at half, but I don't know that it should. In short, it has been an ugly, uninspiring 30 minutes from the Nittany Lions. If they were playing a team with more talent, they'd be losing, possibly by two scores.

The Nittany Lions finished the half with only 161 yards of offense and averaging 3.7 yards per play. Compare that to Indiana, which has 220 yards while averaging 10.5 per play. Of course, games aren't decided by yards or efficiency. While Indiana has two explosive plays (touchdown passes of 90 and 69 yards), it hasn't done much else, and has hurt itself with mistakes.

The first was a muffed punt that set Penn State up at the 32-yard line and allowed for its first touchdown of the game. The second was an interception in the final minute of the half that gave Penn State the ball at midfield with three timeouts. The Nittany Lions turned that into a field goal as the half expired to take their first lead of the day.

So 10 of Penn State's 17 points are a direct result of Indiana turnovers.

Still, there are warning signs for the Nittany Lions that suggest this game could remain just as uncomfortable in the 2nd half. Indiana's defense has two sacks and five tackles for loss, as Penn State is struggling to block up front. Penn State's also averaging only 2.3 yards per carry in the ground game.

But, the defense and special teams are doing their part, so if the offense figures things out and starts blocking people up front, the Lions should pull away in the second half. If they don't? Well, I suppose that's why we play the games.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 1:40 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Another Indiana mistake

Brendan Sorsby throws back across the field, across his body, while on the run and his pass is picked off by Jaylen Reed. Now the Nittany Lions have the ball at midfield with all three timeouts and a minute to work with. If the Nittany Lions can get points here and take a lead to the locker room, it might suck all the air out of Hoosiers.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 1:31 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State puts together its most impressive drive of the day

We're tied 14-14 late in the first half following a 2-yard touchdown run from Nick Singleton that capped a long Nittany Lions drive. Penn State went 59 yards on nine plays, and converted two third downs (twice as many as they had all day beforehand) to keep the drive alive. The most impressive play was Drew Allar rolling out of the pocket to avoid pressure and firing a strike to Nick Singleton for a 28-yard gain while rolling to his left.

Singleton is having the best day of any Nittany Lion so far. He leads the team in rushing, receiving, and has a long kick return to his credit. I'm guessing we'll see him get the ball a lot more in the second half too.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 1:13 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State misses a 51-yard FG

Special teams once again gives the Nittany Lions a short field thanks to a Nick Singleton kick return, but they do nothing with it. After needing seven plays to move 16 yards, the Lions are stopped on third down and settle for a 51-yard FG that starts left and stays there. The Lions are now 2/9 on third down and are averaging only 3.1 yards per play. It's ugly, and the crowd is getting a bit restless. Meanwhile, Indiana is only growing more confident.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 1:02 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

There are Hoosiers running free in the Penn State secondary

The Hoosiers broke open the scoring this afternoon with a 90-yard touchdown pass, and now Brendan Sorsby hits A WIDE OPEN Donaven McCulley for a 69-yard touchdown pass. Seriously, there was NOBODY around McCulley. It was clearly a miscommunication and a costly one. It's 14-7 Hoosiers and Beaver Stadium is stunned.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:59 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State can't move the ball

There is a lot of attention on left tackle Olu Fashanu who could be a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. What isn't discussed enough is that Fashanu is a terrific pass-blocker, but is very much a work in progress in the run game. The entire Penn State offensive line is, and it's shown all season as this team has struggled to run the ball consistently despite having two good backs in Nick Singleton and Keytron Allen.

Today the Lions have 20 yards on 11 carries. Outside of a 21-yard pass to Tyler Warren, the Nittany Lions have 44 yards of offense on 22 plays. At home. Against Indiana.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:52 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

END 1ST QUARTER: Penn State 7, Indiana 7

We have a tie game in State College after a quarter, which is likely a surprising score to most anybody watching, seeing as how Penn State was favored to win by more than 30 points. What's even more surprising is that, if we're being honest, Indiana was probably the better team in the first quarter.

Penn State's offense had four possessions in the quarter, and the first three all ended with punts, as the Nittany Lions amassed only 23 yards of offense and went three-and-out twice. The problem is, even though the Hoosiers pulled out a 90-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead, they also made the most pivotal mistake of the game so far.

Following Penn State's second three-and-out, Indiana muffed the punt and Penn State recovered with terrific field position at the Indiana 32. The Nittany Lions cashed that in for a touchdown to tie the game, but finished the first quarter averaging only 3.5 yards per play and 2-for-7 on third and fourth downs.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:44 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Penn State turns the muffed punt into points

The Nittany Lions go for it on 4th down twice looking to take advantage of the free possession, and the second time it results on a 9-yard TD pass from Drew Allar to Khalil Dinkins. Honestly, Indiana has been the better overall team to this point in the game, but the muffed punt has been the most impactful play. You can't make mistakes like that if you're going to beat Penn State on the road, because they will, and just did, punish you for it.

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:40 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

This won't help Indiana's upset bid

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:33 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

The slot fade wins again

Raise your hand if you had Indiana throwing a 90-yard touchdown today. Anybody? No? Well, it happened. Brendan Sorsby hit Dequece Carter on a slot fade down the right sideline and he tightroped his way down the field, outrunning Penn State defenders for a touchdown. It's 7-0 Hoosiers in a shocked Beaver Stadium.

It's the third-longest pass play in Indiana football history. 

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:31 pm ET · Will Backus]

Penn State wide receiver exits game

Penn State wide receiver Harrison Wallace III left Saturday's game against Indiana with an apparent injury. Wallace dove to the turf in the first quarter while attempting to make a catch on third-and-2. The ball fell incomplete and Wallace fell awkwardly on his right shoulder. Trainers worked on him for a bit before helping him up and walking him to Penn State's locker room. 

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:23 pm ET · Will Backus]

Trading empty possessions

Neither side could get much going to start Saturday's game. Indiana got the ball first and subsequently went three-and-out, gaining a total of five yards in three plays. Penn State was able to get a first down, converting on a third-and-4 with a short pass to tight end Theo Johnson, but the drive stalled from there. The Nittany Lions will start their second offensive possession around their own 30-yard line after Indiana had to punt from its own eight. 

[Oct 28, 2023 at 12:09 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana will get it started

Penn State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, meaning Indiana will get the ball first in Happy Valley. The Hoosiers have scored a combined 21 points in their last two games, so they would love to get off to a hot start and make an early statement against one of the Big Ten's best defensive units. Brendan Sorsby is on at quarterback for Indiana, getting his second consecutive start. 

[Oct 28, 2023 at 11:45 am ET · Adam Silverstein]

Watch the Big Ten on CBS

Penn State vs. Indiana kicks off live just after noon ET on CBS. You can also catch it streaming live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App and Paramount+ with Showtime. (You can also watch Florida vs. No. 1 Georgia live at 3:30 p.m. as part of our doubleheader.)

Don't miss next week, a rare tripleheader on CBS opening with No. 3 Ohio State at Rutgers (noon), No. 16 Missouri at No. 1 Georgia (3:30 p.m.) and No. 15 LSU at No. 9 Alabama (7:45 p.m.). Also next Saturday is the second leg of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy as Army West Point visits No. 19 Air Force (2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

[Oct 28, 2023 at 11:15 am ET · Adam Silverstein]

What's ahead for Penn State?

Not to overlook Indiana, but as 32-point favorites entering the game, Penn State is obviously in a position where it is expected to not just win but win handily. As a one-loss Big Ten team competing for a spot atop its division, PSU must realize what lies ahead on its schedule. And the good news for the Nittany Lions is that there's not that much.

Penn State will only play three ranked opponents in the regular season with the third being Michigan on Nov. 11. Otherwise, it plays road games at Maryland and Michigan State plus a home game against Rutgers. Outside of the Wolverines (5-0), the combined Big Ten record of the four remaining opponents (including IU) is 5-12. Penn State will need to topple Michigan to even have a chance at the College Football Playoff. And that includes hoping U-M rebounds to knock off Ohio State at the end of the season.