Penn State Outlasts Rutgers in Wild Shootout to Clinch Bowl Eligibility
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - For years, Penn State-Rutgers games followed a predictable script: the Nittany Lions won, and Rutgers rarely found the end zone. But Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium, that script was thrown out the window.
Instead, we got a full-blown Big Ten shootout - yes, you read that right - with Penn State edging Rutgers 40-36 in a game that had more twists than a thriller and more offense than anyone saw coming.
With bowl eligibility hanging in the balance, both teams came out swinging. And while Penn State ultimately got the win, it wasn’t without a serious fight from a Rutgers squad that looked nothing like the one that’s been routinely stifled in this matchup.
Ground Game Takes Center Stage
Penn State’s rushing attack was relentless. Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton, and Antwan Raymond all left their mark, but Allen was the star of the day.
The junior back ran wild, piling up 226 yards on 22 carries, including a 43-yard burst that set up a key touchdown. He also became the first player in program history to eclipse 4,000 career yards - a milestone that speaks to his consistency and explosiveness.
Singleton, meanwhile, etched his name into the record books with his 54th career touchdown, a short run that gave Penn State a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. That score also showcased the big-play capability that’s defined Singleton’s career - and it came on the heels of a 50-plus-yard scamper earlier in the game.
But Rutgers had answers, and plenty of them. Antwan Raymond was a revelation, breaking the 100-yard mark before halftime and opening the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run. The Scarlet Knights matched Penn State punch for punch, and for much of the afternoon, it looked like they might finally flip the script.
Grunkemeyer, Rappleyea Step Up
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he delivered when it mattered. His 53-yard touchdown strike to tight end Andrew Rappleyea on a gutsy fourth-and-1 call was a tone-setter. Rappleyea, who had the best game of his young career, finished with four catches for 75 yards and came up big again late with a fourth-down conversion to help ice the game.
Grunkemeyer also led a crisp two-minute drill to close the first half, setting up a 31-yard field goal by Ryan Barker that gave Penn State a 24-21 lead at the break.
Defense Delivers When It Counts
For much of the game, Penn State’s defense looked out of sorts. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had his way early, leading a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game and later tossing a pair of scores to wide receiver KJ Duff, including a 46-yard wheel route to Raymond that gave Rutgers a 36-33 lead in the fourth quarter.
But when the Nittany Lions needed a spark, the defense delivered. With Rutgers driving and a chance to put the game away, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton pressured Kaliakmanis, who lost control of the ball. Linebacker Amare Campbell was in the right place at the right time, scooping it up and sprinting 61 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Campbell wasn’t done. He finished with 14 tackles (five solo), half a sack, and half a tackle for loss, but it was his awareness and hustle on the fumble return that flipped the game on its head.
Rutgers’ Last Stand Falls Short
Even after the defensive touchdown, Rutgers didn’t fold. Kaliakmanis and Duff nearly pulled off a miracle, connecting on a jaw-dropping third-down catch that kept the Scarlet Knights' hopes alive. But on fourth-and-1 in Penn State territory, Kaliakmanis tried to get the edge and was stopped cold by Tracy and Campbell.
That stop sealed it. Penn State ran out the final 3:55, aided by a costly Rutgers holding penalty on third down, and walked off the field with its sixth win of the season - and a bowl trip secured.
Final Numbers Tell the Story
This wasn’t a defensive slugfest. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense - Rutgers actually outgained Penn State 533 to 509 - and traded big plays all afternoon. Punter Gabe Nwosu quietly played a key role, averaging 47 yards per punt and pinning Rutgers deep twice.
But in the end, it was the timely plays - the fourth-down conversion, the defensive touchdown, the late-game stop - that made the difference.
What’s Next?
Penn State now waits to find out its bowl destination, but there’s another storyline looming: who will be the next head coach? For now, interim coach Terry Smith got a well-earned Gatorade bath and a hard-fought win to cap the regular season.
In a game that had everything - long touchdowns, defensive lapses, clutch drives, and a wild finish - the Nittany Lions found a way. And when the dust settled in Piscataway, they were the ones still standing.