State College, Pa. — Drew Allar delivered a stellar performance, throwing for a touchdown and running for another, as No. 4 Penn State crushed Maryland 44-7 on Saturday, clinching its first Big Ten championship game appearance since 2016.
Nick Singleton powered through with two rushing touchdowns, while Beau Pribula added a rushing score and a touchdown pass to Tyseer Denmark. Star tight end Tyler Warren caught a touchdown pass for the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP), who will face No. 1 Oregon next Saturday in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title. A victory would secure a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Penn State’s path to the title game was cemented earlier in the day when Michigan edged
past No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 in Columbus, Ohio.
“We knew the result, but I didn’t say a word to the team,” said Penn State coach James Franklin about Michigan’s win. “In fact, I did the opposite. I just kept saying: Maryland, Maryland, Maryland.”
On a cold, windy afternoon at Beaver Stadium, Penn State fans briefly fell silent after a rough start against the struggling Terrapins (4-8, 1-8). Maryland capitalized on a Singleton fumble and scored two plays later, taking an early 7-0 lead. However, the Nittany Lions quickly recovered and dominated the rest of the game.
Penn State exploded offensively in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on four of their five possessions. Meanwhile, their defense completely stifled Maryland, forcing four punts, two interceptions, and a turnover on downs before halftime. The defensive dominance helped secure Penn State’s fourth consecutive win in this series.
Singleton, Allar, and Pribula each scored on short runs after Maryland turnovers. Tight end Tyler Warren made history in the first quarter, setting a Big Ten record for receptions by a tight end. He also became Penn State’s all-time leader in touchdown catches for a tight end, hauling in his 17th on a 7-yard pass from Allar to extend Penn State’s halftime lead to 31-7.
“We had to win and play at a high level,” Franklin said. “There are a lot of eyes on these games, looking at stats and performances. Wins like this keep the team together, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Maryland managed to cross midfield just once in each half but failed to capitalize. Penn State substituted backups for much of the second half.
Allar completed 17 of 26 passes for 171 yards, while Singleton totaled 104 yards on 16 touches.
For Maryland, quarterback MJ Morris went 14 for 24 for 112 yards, throwing three interceptions. Running back Roman Hemby gained 64 yards on 13 carries.
“A disappointing end to a tough season,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “I’m disappointed in how we finished and our inability to find momentum.”
Poll Implications
Penn State is poised to rise in the rankings, potentially moving to No. 2 after Ohio State’s loss.
Key Takeaways
Maryland: The Terps started strong, recovering a fumble on the first play and turning it into a 25-yard touchdown pass from Morris to Kaden Prather. However, they faltered soon after, ending their season on a five-game losing streak, the program’s longest since 2019.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions head to Indianapolis riding high and will now prepare for their biggest test of the season against top-ranked Oregon.
Up Next:
Maryland: Season is over.
Penn State: Faces No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday.
