TEAM
- Penn State lost its first ever matchup against Ole Miss.
- The Nittany Lions are 25-25 all-time against current members of the SEC.
- Penn State is 9-11 in bowl games against SEC opponents.
- CB Cam Miller made his first career start. He is the 11th Nittany Lion to make their first collegiate start this season.
BOWL
Team
- Penn State lost its first ever appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
- The Nittany Lions played in its 16th different bowl game and has now played in each of the New Year's Six Bowls.
- Penn State is 31-20-2 (.604) all-time in bowl games and entered bowl season ranked No. 7 nationally in winning percentage among teams with at least 20 bowl appearances.
- Penn State is 13-6-1 all-time in December bowl games.
Offense
- Penn State's 510 total yards are its third-most in a bowl game, behind only 545 in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl vs. Washington and 529 in the 2019 Cotton Bowl vs. Memphis.
- Penn State's 343 passing yards are its second-most in a bowl game, trailing only 371 yards in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College.
- QB Drew Allar's 75-yard completion to TE Tyler Warren in the first quarter was Penn State's second-longest pass play in a bowl game.
- The 75-yard play is also the seventh-longest offensive play in Penn State bowl history.
- Warren finished the game with a Penn State tight end bowl-record 127 receiving yards. Penn State's previous best by a tight end in a bowl game was 88 receiving yards by Andrew Quarless against LSU in the 2010 Capital One Bowl.
STREAKS
Defense
- Penn State has not allowed a first-drive touchdown in the last 27 games, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2021, the nation's longest active streak.
- The Nittany Lions snapped a streak of 17-straight games allowing 24 or less points, dating back to the Indiana game in 2022.
Special Teams
- Penn State has not allowed a special teams touchdown in 61-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.
OFFENSE
Season Rankings
- Penn State finished the season with seven total turnovers, setting a new school record.
- Other top 10 season rankings on offense include:
- Passing Touchdowns – 30 – 2nd
- First Downs – 292 – 4th
- Total Points – 471 – 5th
- Completions – 246 – 6th
- Completion Percentage – 59.6 - Tied 6th
- Scoring Average – 36.2 - 7th
- Touchdowns – 59 – 7th
Team
- TE Theo Johnson hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was Penn State's 16th receiving touchdown by a tight end this season, most among FBS teams.
- Penn State tallied 510 total yards. Since 2014, Penn State has notched 400 total yards on 69 occasions. Penn State is 56-13 in those games.
- The Nittany Lions collected 400+ total yards for the sixth time this season and 500+ total yards for the third time this year.
- Penn State threw for 343 yards. The Nittany Lions have thrown for at least 200 passing yards on 82 occasions since 2014. Penn State is 61-21 in those games.
- Penn State went three-for-three in the red zone and finished the season 61-for-63 (96.8%).
Drew Allar
- QB Drew Allar threw completed 19 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while adding five carries for 40 yards.
- Allar threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson in the second quarter and tossed a 14-yard touchdown to Harrison Wallace III in the fourth quarter.
- He connected on a 75-yard pass with Tyler Warren in the first quarter. It is Allar's longest career pass, bettering his 72-yard pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith against West Virginia.
- Allar recorded his seventh career game with 200+ passing yards and his ninth career game with multiple touchdown passes.
- His seven 200+ passing yard games this season are tied ninth at Penn State with Todd Blackledge (7; 1982), Michael Robinson (7; 2005) and Anthony Morelli (7; 2007).
- Allar tallied 25 touchdown passes this season, good for third at Penn State. On the day, he leaped Sean Clifford (23; 2019), Daryll Clark (24; 2009), Matt McGloin (24; 2012) and Clifford (24; 2022).
- The Ohio native finished the year with 233 completions. He ranks sixth in a season at Penn State. He moved past Trace McSorley (224; 2016), Sean Clifford (226; 2022), Christian Hackenberg (231; 2013) and Daryll Clark (232; 2009).
- Allar attempted 389 pass attempts this season. He sits seventh in a season at Penn State. On Saturday, he moved past Sean Clifford (351; 2022), Christian Hackenberg (359; 2015), Trace McSorley (361; 2018), Daryll Clark (381; 2009), Anthony Morelli (386; 2006) and McSorley (387; 2016).
- Allar's 59.9 completion percentage (233-389) in 2023 ranks 10th in a season at Penn State.
- The sophomore finished the season with an 0.51 interception percentage (2 interceptions in 389 pass attempts), best in a season at Penn State.
- Allar tallied 2,837 yards of total offense (2,631 passing, 206 rushing) in 2023. That ranks 13th in a season at Penn State.
- Allar finished the season with 29 touchdowns responsible for, tied fifth at Penn State with Lydell Mitchell (29; 1971), Daryll Clark (29; 2008), Matt McGloin (29; 2012) and Sean Clifford (29; 2022).
- The sophomore finished the season with 2,631 passing yards.
- Allar now has 29 career touchdown passes.
- Allar's Career Bowl Stats: 19-40, 295 yds, 2 TD/1 INT
Beau Pribula
- QB Beau Pribula tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Nicholas Singleton in the second quarter. It was his fourth career touchdown pass.
- The 48-yard pass is Pribula's longest career completion. His previous long was 30 yards at Northwestern.
Tyler Warren
- TE Tyler Warren caught five passes for 127 yards.
- Warren's 127 yards are a Penn State bowl record by a tight end, topping Andrew Quarless' 88 yards vs. LSU in the 2010 Capital One Bowl.
- The 127 yards are a career high. His previous high was 51 yards at Maryland in 2023.
- He reached 100 receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career.
- Warren is Penn State's first tight end with 100+ receiving yards in a game since Pat Freiermuth's 113 yards against Nebraska in 2020.
- The junior hauled in a 75-yard reception in the first quarter. It is his longest career reception. His previous long was 38 yards against Minnesota in 2022.
- Warren added a 22-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
- Warren's Career Bowl Stats: 7 rec, 142 yards
Theo Johnson
- TE Theo Johnson hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was his 12th career touchdown reception.
- With 12 career touchdown receptions, Johnson is tied 17th all-time at Penn State with Tyler Warren (17; 2021-pres.), Tony Johnson (11; 2000-03), Scott Fitzkee (11; 1975-78), Freddie Scott (11; 1993-95), Jesse James (11; 2012-14) and Brenton Strange (11; 2019-22).
- Among Penn State tight ends, Johnson ranks third all-time with 12 touchdown receptions. On the day, he broke a tie with Warren, James and Strange.
- The Ontario native finished the season with seven touchdown receptions. Among Penn State tight ends, Johnson is tied third in a season with Tyler Warren (7; 2023) and Pat Freiermuth (7; 2019).
- Johnson's Career Bowl Stats: 3 rec, 44 yards, 1 TD
Nicholas Singleton
- RB Nicholas Singleton rushed for 50 yards on eight carries and added four receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
- Singleton's 86 receiving yards are a career high, bettering 68 yards against Michigan State.
- He hauled in a 48-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was his third career receiving touchdown.
- The sophomore's 1,813 career rushing yards rank 20th all-time at Penn State.
- Singleton finished the season with 1,373 all-purpose yards (752 rushing, 308 receiving, 313 kick return).
- He now has 170 career rushing yards in bowl games, ranking 13th at Penn State.
- Singleton's Career Bowl Stats: 170 rushing yards, 2 TD, 4 rec, 86 yards, 1 TD
Kaytron Allen
- RB Kaytron Allen rushed for a team-best 51 yards on 10 carries.
- Allen had a 24-yard rush on Penn State's opening drive.
- He now has 1,769 career rushing yards, ranking 21st all-time at Penn State.
- Allen finished the 2023 season with 902 rushing yards.
- Allen's Career Bowl Stats: 89 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 rec, 16 yards
Harrison Wallace III
- WR Harrison Wallace III finished the game with four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
- Wallace grabbed a 14-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. It was his second career touchdown reception.
- He added a 29-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
- Wallace's Career Bowl Stats: 7 rec, 114 yds, 1 TD
DEFENSE
Season Rankings
- Penn State finished with a school-record 49 sacks this season.
- The Nittany Lions defense also ranked in the top 10 in school history in:
- Rushing Defense – 75.5 - 3rd
- Total Defense – 247.6 - 4th
- Total Rushing Yards Allowed – 982 – 5th
- Yards Per Carry Allowed – 2.3 - T-5th
- Forced Fumbles – 13 - Tied 9th
- Fumbles Recovered – 12 – Tied 9th
Team
- Since 2011, Penn State's 247.6 total yards per game are the fourth-lowest in a single season in the FBS behind only Alabama (183.6; 2011), Wisconsin (239.1; 2021) and Michigan (239.7; 2023).
- With CB Elliot Washington II's solo tackle for loss, Penn State finished the season with 25 players tallying at least a full tackle for loss.
Adisa Isaac
- DE Adisa Isaac recorded a solo tackle for loss on Ole Miss' opening drive. He finished the season with 16 tackles for loss.
- In his Penn State career, Isaac registered 31.5 tackles for loss.
- Isaac's Career Bowl Stats: 7 tackles (5 solo), 3.0 TFL
Kobe King
- LB Kobe King tallied five tackles, all solo, and registered a solo tackle for loss.
- King owns 10 career tackles for loss and finished with six this season.
- With five tackles, King went over the 100 career tackles mark. He owns 103 career tackles.
- King's Career Bowl Stats: 7 tackles (6 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU
Curtis Jacobs
- LB Curtis Jacobs recorded a solo tackle for loss in the third quarter.
- He finished his Penn State career with 24 tackles for loss, including nine tackles for loss this season.
- Jacobs' Career Bowl Stats: 18 tackles (13 solo), 4.0 TFL, 3.0 Sacks
Cam Miller
- CB Cam Miller made a career-high five tackles (4 solo). His previous best was four against West Virginia.
- He added one pass breakup.
- Miller's Career Bowl Stats: 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 PBU
Daequan Hardy
- CB Daequan Hardy collected five tackles in the first half and finished the game with a career-high seven stops. His previous high was six tackles at Ohio State.
- Hardy's Career Bowl Stats: 7 tackles (3 solo)
Jaylen Reed
- S Jaylen Reed notched a solo tackle for loss in the third quarter. He has six career tackles for loss and finished with four this season.
- Reed's Career Bowl Stats: 4 tackles (3 solo), 1.0 TFL
Zuriah Fisher
- DE Zuriah Fisher tallied a solo sack in the third quarter. He had 3.5 sacks this season.
- Fisher's Career Bowl Stats: 4 tackles (3 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1.0 Sacks
Keon Wylie
- LB Keon Wylie registered a solo tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.
- He finished the season with five tackles for loss and has 6.5 tackles for loss in his career.
- Wylie's Career Bowl Stats: 5 tackles (1 solo), 1.5 TFL
Kevin Winston Jr.
- S Kevin Winston Jr. led the team with nine tackles (five solo) and added a pass breakup.
- Winston's Career Bowl Stats: 11 tackles (6 solo), 1 PBU
Dominic DeLuca
- LB Dominic DeLuca recorded a solo tackle for loss in the fourth quarter. He has 6.5 career tackles for loss and finished the season with 4.5 tackles for loss.
- DeLuca's Career Bowl Stats: 6 tackles (3 solo), 1.0 TFL
Jameial Lyons
- DE Jameial Lyons notched a solo tackle for loss. He finished the season with 2.5 tackles for loss.
Zion Tracy
- CB Zion Tracy finished the game with three tackles, tying his career high. He also had three against UMass.
Tony Rojas
- LB Tony Rojas set a career high with five tackles (1 solo). He also had four in two previous games, last against Rutgers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Season Rankings
- Penn State finished in the top 10 in a single season in:
- Punt Average – 45.5 - 2nd
- Punt Return Touchdowns – 2 – Tied 5th
- Kick Return Average – 23.3 - 8th
Alex Felkins
- K Alex Felkins hit a 26-yard field goal on Penn State's opening drive, his 19th make of the season, tying him for 11th all-time at Penn State with Ray Tarasi (1989) for field goal makes in a single season.
- On the field goal, Felkins surpassed 100 points this season. He finished the year with 104 points.
- Felkins finished the season with 47 extra points, ranking 10th in a season at Penn State. On the day, he leaped Collin Wagner (46; 2009).
Riley Thompson
- P Riley Thompson averaged 49.4 yards on five punts.
- He blasted a 51-yard punt in the second quarter.
- The sophomore hit a 48-yard punt to the Ole Miss 18 and booted a 54-yard punt in the third quarter.
- Thompson has 30 career punts of 50+ yards and finished the season with 15 punts of 50+ yards.
- He has placed 43 career punts inside the 20.
- Thompson's 45.8 season punt average ranks second in a season at Penn State behind only Jordan Stout (46.01; 2021).
Tyler Duzansky
- LS Tyler Duzansky recorded a tackle on a punt in the first quarter and added a tackle in the fourth quarter. He finished the season with six tackles, all on special teams.