Penn State's Still in Big Ten Contention. But Is it a Contender?

On Drew Allar's 'win cam' moment, the defense's off day, and who's the No. 1 running back.

Penn State got its first stress-test victory of the season, scoring a dramatic late touchdown to defeat Indiana 33-24 at Beaver Stadium and remain in contention for the Big Ten title. However, did that performance suggest a conference contender? Last thoughts from Penn State's 33-24 victory over Indiana, starting with "Win Cam."

Drew Allar's 'Win Cam' Moment

In 2016, Pennlive photographer Joe Hermitt took this evocative photo of Penn State coach James Franklin and tight end Mike Gesicki in the tunnel after the Nittany Lions beat Minnesota in overtime. The Lions rallied from a halftime deficit, and "Fire Franklin" jeers, to begin a nine-game win streak. Note Franklin's relief and Gesicki's catharsis.

Happy 7th anniversary to Penn State’s 29-26 OT victory over Minnesota, the catalyst to a nine-game win streak and Big Ten title. And happy anniversary to this photo by @JoeHermitt capturing the moment of player and coach. pic.twitter.com/EGP78cC3QB

— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) October 1, 2023

Penn State's win over Indiana delivered some shades of flashback. After losing a tough road game, the Lions trailed at halftime but won under duress. The situations were quite different. That team was 2-2, this one was 6-1, yet their parallel needs were similar. In each case, Penn State needed a big offensive strike to revive them. The 2016 Lions got it from Trace McSorley to Irvin Charles, and then Saquon Barkley in overtime. This time, it was Drew Allar's late touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Afterward, Allar and teammate Nicholas Singleton, who scored a second-quarter touchdown, found Penn State's "Win Cam" in the stadium tunnel. Note their primal screams at the 6-second mark:

Week 09 = 1-0! ✔️ pic.twitter.com/hlQM5eucZl

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 28, 2023

After last week at Ohio State, and the interception two plays before the touchdown, Allar needed that moment, and the Lions needed it for him. Allar's 240-pound frame and 5-star history don't supersede his age (19) and the first-year growing pains he has to go through. Saturday was a major step for the quarterback who turned his worst play of the season into his best.

That being said...

Had Penn State played a more aggressive team with a what-the-hell coach, Saturday could have ended very differently. Following Allar's interception, Indiana coach Tom Allen played for the field goal on 3rd-and-6 instead of giving quarterback Brendan Sorsby the opportunity for an end-zone shot. Penn State's final offense series begins much differently down four instead of being tied.

The Lions won their hangover game, so good on them. They haven't been great in that respect under Franklin, whose record after his first loss is 5-5. That includes the Michigan State doubleheader in 2017-18 and the Illinois debacle of 2021. So bad wins don't exist.

But bad performances do. The Lions averaged 3.1 yards rushing against a defense that allowed Rutgers to run for 5 yards per carry. Its defense allowed three passing touchdowns, one more than it had in the first six games. That defense also allowed its first 90-yard passing play in 30 years.

But the big plays were correctable. More concerning were Indiana's 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the second half and the Lions' season-low four tackles for loss. The defense's two-week stress test likely is more outlier than defining moment. But coordinator Manny Diaz has late-season tuning to make.

Kaytron Allen should be the primary back

Penn State's season-long position share at running back began with good intentions. Allen and Singleton would maintain their health, temper their fatigue and be fresh for the finish. The season has reached its stretch run, and Allen has demonstrated that he's the No. 1 back.

Nearly across the board, Allen's numbers are better. According to Sports Info Solutions, Allen has a better first-down rate (31.4 percent to 23.9 percent), has broken more tackles (11-6), has forced more missed tackles (10-3) and has produced a better points-earned-per-play rate (.269 to .069). And that's with Singleton holding a 7-3 advantage in touchdown runs.

Certainly, Singleton must be a major part of the offense. He's still the better home-run threat, though his longest run remains 20 yards, and has grown in the passing game. But Allen should take the lead now, and the two-series swaps should cede fade.

What's next Harrison Wallace III is unavailable?

The receiver spent the last three quarters on the sideline wearing an arm sling, and his availability is unknown. Franklin has pointed to Wallace as a change agent in the pass game, even though he has just eight catches over the past seven games. Availability has been an issue and could be again.

Without Wallace, Malik McClain played 61 snaps, by far his highest total of the season. Yet McClain was targeted once, on a deep pass that went incomplete. How much does Penn State's offensive trust McClain? We'll see.

Random Penn State thoughts after eight games

Allar's second-best play of the game might have been a 10-yard carry on a first-quarter touchdown drive. He bounced off a 235-pound linebacker for three extra yards, demonstrating that 240-pound quarterbacks are run-game assets. Though it might be too late, and Allar really isn't a true zone-read run threat, a few designed carries might help. Opposing ends have no reason to believe Allar is going to run and can attack the ballcarriers relentlessly.

As Daequan Hardy deftly returned a punt 86 yards for a score, which a penalty negated, a thought emerged: Why not give Hardy a few offensive snaps on sweeps or end-arounds? He's dynamic and could make something happen.

Penn State took a season-high eight passing attempts of 15+ yards. Allar was 4-for-8, improving his season completion rate on such throws to 33 percent.

The Lions are a third-quarter team, outscoring opponents 94-0.

Plenty of students wore Halloween costumes Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Among them: One student wore a Michigan T-shirt and binoculars. Connor Stalions is going to be a popular costume this year.

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The Penn State-Indiana report card

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James Franklin addresses sign-stealing in college football

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.