No. 3 Penn State defeated Wisconsin in Madison 28-13, despite losing quarterback Drew Allar late in the first half with an apparent knee injury.
Backup QB Beau Pribula took over in the second half, completing 11 of 13 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Pribula was a three-star recruit in the class of 2022. The Pennsylvania native was the No. 15 player in the state when he signed with the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions put the game away on a 24-yard scoring run by Kaytron Allen that provided the final margin. Allen rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries.
Allar went to the locker room shortly before halftime as Wisconsin took a 10-7 lead into the break. He returned to the sideline in the second half, but was replaced by backup quarterback Pribula in the third quarter. As Pribula took snaps for the Nittany Lions, Allar watched from the sidelines.
The junior was 14 of 18 for 148 yards and a TD before he was injured and someone apparently said something to him as he walked to the tunnel before the first half was over.
Allar has improved significantly in 2024 in his first season under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. After completing fewer than 60% of his passes a season ago and struggling in big plays, Allar entered Saturday night’s game with a 70.5% completion percentage and averaging over 10 yards per attempt. A season ago, he averaged just 6.8 yards per throw.
Wisconsin took a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter but got some help before the go-ahead goal.
Badgers QB Braedyn Locke missed open receivers on two straight passes into the end zone. But in the second, Penn State was called for an illegal substitution penalty with 12 men on the field. With a second chance on third and goal, Tawee Walker scored on a one-yard touchdown run.
Penn State improved to 7-0 with the win and faces No. 4 Ohio State (6-1) next week in State College. The Nittany Lions have lost their last seven games and eleven of the last twelve against the Buckeyes. Kickoff is at 12:00 PM ET.
