State College, Pa. — No. 2 Penn State continued its early-season dominance Saturday with a 52–6 rout over FCS opponent Villanova at Beaver Stadium, powered by a well-rounded offensive effort and another suffocating performance from the defense.
Quarterback Drew Allar passed for 209 yards and a touchdown, while running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for three rushing scores. Kicker Ryan Barker contributed with three field goals, and linebacker Tony Rojas recorded two sacks to headline a relentless defensive outing.
The Nittany Lions improved to 3–0, allowing just six total points across their first three games. They came within one play of recording back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1996.
“I think we make it harder than it needs to be at times,” said head coach James Franklin, acknowledging some offensive inconsistencies despite the lopsided score.
Early Control, Late Explosion
Penn State outgained Villanova 252–69 in the first half but struggled to finish drives early. After Singleton opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Barker knocked in field goals from 45 and 28 yards to stretch the lead to 13–0.
The Nittany Lions finally found the end zone again just before halftime when Allar connected with Trebor Peña for a 23-yard touchdown. Allar then hit Peña again for a two-point conversion to give Penn State a 21–0 lead heading into the break.
Villanova’s offensive woes were compounded by quarterback injuries. Starter Pat McQuaide was shaken up after taking a sack from Rojas on the opening possession, forcing backup Tanner Maddocks into action. Maddocks couldn’t get the Wildcats moving, and McQuaide returned later, finishing 7-of-15 for 27 yards and an interception.
Nittany Lions Pour It On
Penn State dominated the second half from start to finish.
Barker drilled his third field goal of the day—a 42-yarder—before Singleton scored again, this time on a 3-yard run. Allen followed up with a 13-yard touchdown of his own, and freshman backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer added to the blowout with a 19-yard strike to tight end Joey Schlaffer.
Defensive back Jahmir Joseph put an exclamation point on the win, returning an interception 49 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve just gotta string together a couple more things on the offensive side of the ball,” Allar said postgame. “Finish some drives in the end zone instead of settling for three every time.”
Villanova’s Lone Highlight:
The Wildcats avoided a shutout on the game’s final play in spectacular fashion. Under pressure, Maddocks rolled to his right and launched a pass across his body toward tight end Brandon Binkowski, who leapt and made an incredible one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard score—arguably one of the most acrobatic grabs of the college football season so far.
“When you play a team like that, when you’re overmatched in pretty much every position, you have to be nearly perfect—and we weren’t,” said Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante.
Looking Ahead:
Although Penn State has a bye next week, Franklin made it clear his team won’t be relaxing. The Nittany Lions have a night practice scheduled for Sunday to prepare for their next opponent and to acclimate to the stadium’s new lighting system—part of renovations tied to the press box overhaul.
“It’s not an off week,” Franklin said. “We’ll get right back to work.”
The upcoming matchup against No. 4 Oregon on Sept. 27 is a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship and will be the first major test of the season for Penn State.
Takeaways:
Penn State (3–0): The Nittany Lions have steamrolled their early competition, but offensive consistency remains a talking point. With the defense performing at an elite level, the spotlight now shifts to how the offense can evolve heading into a top-five clash against Oregon.
Villanova (1–1): The Wildcats gave maximum effort against a superior opponent and will now regroup as they head into Coastal Athletic Association play. Limiting injuries was key, and despite the loss, they walk away with a highlight-reel moment and valuable experience.
What’s Next:
Villanova: Travels to Monmouth on Saturday.
Penn State: Hosts No. 4 Oregon on Friday, Sept. 27.
