“I’m really proud of our guys,” Franklin said in a postgame press conference. “They showed a lot of grit and toughness out there tonight.”
Despite a slow start that saw Minnesota take an early lead, the Nittany Lions battled back to dominate the remainder of the contest. Quarterback Sean Clifford threw for 235 yards and a touchdown, while running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 158 yards on the ground.
“Our defense was outstanding tonight,” Franklin added. “They made some big stops when we needed them most.”
The victory marked Penn State’s fifth consecutive win and kept their undefeated record intact (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten). It also solidified the Nittany Lions’ status as a legitimate contender in the Big Ten East division.
“We’re not where we want to be yet,” Franklin cautioned. “But this is a step in the right direction. We have a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see what this team can accomplish.”
Next up for Penn State is a pivotal road game against No. 14 Michigan on October 15th. The Wolverines are coming off a thrilling overtime win against Maryland and will pose a significant challenge for the Nittany Lions.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Franklin said. “But we’re up for the challenge. We’re going to prepare hard and be ready to compete.”