Penn State survives Washington 28-25 after near-collapse

Penn State beat Washington 28-25 on Saturday, but only after blowing a 22-point halftime lead, ESPN reported.

The Nittany Lions led 28-6 at the break. Washington scored 19 unanswered points in the second half and had the ball with a chance to tie in the fourth quarter before Penn State’s defense held.

Quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Carson Hansen added 119 yards on the ground, the AP reported.

What the coverage missed

The second half was a different game. Penn State gained 87 yards after halftime. Washington gained 243. The Nittany Lions did not score in the third or fourth quarter. That is not a comfortable win — it is a win they survived.

Washington is not a bad football team. The Huskies have been competitive in every Big Ten game this season. But Penn State is supposed to be a playoff contender, and playoff contenders do not blow 22-point leads at home, even if they recover.

What I think

Penn State won, and that is what matters in the standings. But this game is a warning. The Nittany Lions have not played a complete game against a good opponent all season. They start fast and they coast. That works against Washington. It will not work against Ohio State or Oregon.

James Franklin has been here before. His teams play to the level of the opponent. That is fine when you are favored by 30. It is dangerous when you are trying to make a playoff case. Penn State needs to put together a full four quarters before the postseason, or this will happen again at a worse time.