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PISCATAWAY, NJ – Ketron Allen rushed for a career-high 226 yards and a touchdown as Penn State beat Rutgers 40-36 for the 18th straight time it became bowl eligible after a tough season.
The Nittany Lions (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) took the lead for good when linebacker Emery Campbell ran 61-yards with 7:27 to play. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis lost the ball without a catch.
Rutgers (5-7, 2-7 Big Ten) took a 36-33 lead in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Klickmanis to Canadian running back Antwan Raymond.
Raymond rushed for 189 yards and Kalakamans passed for 338 yards and three TDs.
There were four lead changes in the second half.
Penn State has not lost a bowl game since 2020 when non-College Football Playoff bowl games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After losing to Notre Dame in last season’s CFP semifinals, Penn State’s expectations were high. The Nittany Lions started the season ranked No. 2 and were led by quarterback Drew Aller, who was on his way to a Heisman-caliber season before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week Six against Northwestern.
Coach James Franklin was fired the next day after Penn State lost its first three Big Ten games, including back-to-back games in which the Nittany Lions scored more than 20 points.
Penn State lost five straight before turning its season around by winning its final three games.
Penn State: Nicholas Singleton tied Saquon Barkley for the school career rushing touchdown records with his 44th and 45th, career total touchdowns at 55 and all-purpose yards with 5,586.
Rutgers: For just the second time in program history, the Scarlet Knights had a quarterback (Kaliakmanis) pass for at least 3,000 yards, a running back (Raymond) surpass 1,000 yards and a receiver (KJ Duff) have 1,000 yards in a season.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions are waiting to see which bowl they will go to.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights will miss the postseason for the first time since 2022.
