:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65802373/usa_today_13732021.0.jpg)
Before the game both Penn State and Rutgers fans alike were anticipating a blowout while not taking the Scarlet Knights seriously... at all.
Penn State-Rutgers in State College with nothing on the line is just the Blue-White Game with cold weather.
— Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich) November 30, 2019
Good luck to Penn State in getting past their arch-rival Rutgers today.
— Mark Harris (@trickfest) November 30, 2019
Breaking my internet silence to say there's a guy & his son both in Penn State hats & I, in Rutgers gear, went up to them to say, "I wish you a preemptive congrats on the victory 2morrow." He said, "Hey you never know in the B1G!" I said, "Trust me, as a Rutgers fan... I know."
— Zuzu RU (@ZuzuOnFire) November 29, 2019
— Michael Scott (@mikeshart12) November 23, 2019
“Wait, Penn State has a game today?” -Mom#RutgersWeek
— caroline (@_supcaroline) November 30, 2019
Does this game against Rutgers count as one of Penn State’s 15 extra practices for making a bowl?
— JoePa's Doghouse (@RowlffDogg) November 30, 2019
Unfortunately, things would not go as easy as planned.
From the get go the Nittany Lion offense struggled. This led to fans getting disgusted with offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne. This disgust was warranted.
Ricky Rahne strikes again
— Rod Weiler Sports (@SportsFool0416) November 30, 2019
Our offense is the hottest form of garbage......@RickyRahne again beats his prior weeks of misery struggling with a high school team. Smh.
— D. Young (@D_Young1212) November 30, 2019
I'm confident I could call better plays than Ricky Rahne today. #RUTGvsPSU
— CrazyForCraftBeer (@JLewis320) November 30, 2019
Ricky Rahne is terrible. Levis is a RS Fr. and he hasn’t called any crossing routes, slants or any routes to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Levis is essentially a RB but he’s still throwing deep. This is pathetic but still #WeAre
— Salami Tommy (@Twitta_Tom) November 30, 2019
#FireRahne Get it trending
— Rhule Or Fleck To PSU (@Dbo2353) November 16, 2019
Can we fire Ricky Rahne as soon as the games over? It can never be too soon.
— Jim Murphy (@JimMurphy13) November 30, 2019
Ricky Rahne is getting paid a lot of money to call this game. Penn State fans should be embarrassed by this guy.
— Thad Campbell (@ThadCampbell20) November 30, 2019
Josh Gattis making adjustments to OSU’s defense... take notes @RickyRahne #fireRahne
— A.Rife15 (@RiffRaf15) November 30, 2019
What’s the chance the Ricky Rahne voluntarily steps down after this game? Wouldn’t that be glorious? #RUTGvsPSU
— Michael (@michaelclupper) November 30, 2019
Earlier this season it appeared Rahne may have been turning a corner as an offensive coordinator. Well, a lot of that faith and good will has dried up in recent weeks. All signs point toward Rahne still being in over his head as Penn State’s offensive coordinator.
Now, in Rahne’s defense, he was down his starting quarterback today. While Sean Clifford has had his ups and downs as you would expect from a first year starting quarterback, he has mostly played well. Today, the Nittany Lions missed their signal caller.
Today I appreciate the job that @seancliff14 has done this year
— Brian Stultz (@StultzBrian) November 30, 2019
Sean Clifford better start suiting up
— Eli Compton (@eliman89) November 30, 2019
Sean Clifford is really good, y’all
— Garrett Carr (@RealGarrettCarr) November 30, 2019
Ugly start for the #PennState offense without Sean Clifford.
— Philly Sports Fanatic (@thunderducks26) November 30, 2019
If Sean Clifford were in this game it would be 40-6.
— Penn State UNRIVALED (@UNRIVALED_PSU_) November 30, 2019
Y’all still sure you want Levis over Clifford?
In his first career start Will Levis ran for 108 yards, but he completed just 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards. He also threw an interception, and under threw multiple open receivers.
One player that played well on the Nittany Lion offense was running back Journey Brown. The redshirt sophomore ran for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also averaged a healthy 6.4 yards per carry.
I see you Journey Brown!!!!
— @A_Johnson412 (@a_johnson412) November 30, 2019
Journey “Touchdown” Brown! #WeAre
— Rich Turner 7️⃣9️⃣ (@RichTurner79) November 30, 2019
TD! Journey Brown!
— Liverpool Loaf (@Loaf31) November 30, 2019
That play was an absolute roller coaster. Thank you Jahan Dotson. #RUvsPSU
— Dylan Burd (@Sports_Burd) November 30, 2019
JOURNEY BROWN!!!
— Sports Fanatic (@sportsislife26) November 30, 2019
Playing in his final game at Beaver Stadium, senior punter Blake Gillikin went out in style. Gillikin averaged 49.3 yards per punt on his 4 attempts. This included a 72-yard bomb in the first half.
Blake Gilliken 73 yard punt. ALL HAIL THE MULLET! @blakegillikin. #PennState #Rutgers pic.twitter.com/0yLgFoQdxH
— Jack Wascher (@JackWascher) November 30, 2019
Blake Gillikin > Penn State offense
— Eric Sion (@ericbsion) November 30, 2019
72 YARD BOMB FROM @blakegillikin @PatMcAfeeShow #ForTheBrand
— allen long (@allenlongg) November 30, 2019
Blake Gillikin may have just unleashed the best punt I have ever seen
— Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) November 30, 2019
Blake Gillikin is the best player on the team and you can’t tell me otherwise
— Nittany Brian (@brianmueller_) November 30, 2019
The Nittany Lions will miss their secret weapon next year.
It was another strong game for star linebacker Micah Parsons as well. The true sophomore — and Butkus Award finalist — was all over the field for the Nittany Lion defense. He had a sack, multiple TFLs, was all over the field, and showed off elite closing speed.
Micah Parsons: Still very good.
— Mike Persak (@MikeDPersak) November 30, 2019
Rutgers has to be sick of Micah Parsons
— Hardcore College Football (@HardcoreCFB) November 30, 2019
Micah Parsons = athletic af
— Matthew Lownes (@LownesMatthew) November 30, 2019
Not blocking Micah Parsons is certainly a bold strategy
— Dylan Jacobs (@DylJacobs) November 30, 2019
Down he goes! Micah Parsons with the sack! #WeAre #LBU
— Rich Turner 7️⃣9️⃣ (@RichTurner79) November 30, 2019
Even with his strong game, the BTN crew failed to identify which number 11 is Parsons.
BTN just gave Micah Parsons a big shoutout and it wasn’t even him on the camera
— Chase Galbraith (@cgalbraith44) November 30, 2019
I love when a broadcast talks about Micah Parsons and shows Daniel George.
— Greg (@GregDietz) November 30, 2019
Anyone want to tell the Big Ten Network they just showed the wrong #11 during their whole segment on Micah Parsons?
— Brandon (@BS_355) November 30, 2019
BTN just spotlighted the wrong# 11 as Micah Parsons.
— Dicky P (@rmpugliese) November 30, 2019
With the Nittany Lions scuffling earlier in the 4th quarter, Levis hit Jahan Dotson with a 44-yard touchdown pass. This gave the Nittany Lions some breathing room, and brought some life into Penn State Twitter.
And that’s why you stay with @PennStateFball and don’t enter the transfer portal! Great work by Jahan Dotson off the scoop and throw by Levis! #WeAre #RUvsPSU
— Alex Smith (@smithcommaalex) November 30, 2019
Jahan Dotson wow
— mj jonsson (@mjonsson6) November 30, 2019
Jahan Dotson. Thank you sir.
— The Last Boy Scout. (@psutitan) November 30, 2019
Anyone plan on covering Jahan Dotson?
— Todd (@toddc14) November 30, 2019
Touchdown #PennState! Will Levis to Jahan Dotson! #WeAre
— Rich Turner 7️⃣9️⃣ (@RichTurner79) November 30, 2019
JAHAN DOTSON
— Josh Reinhart (@Josh_Reinhart) November 30, 2019
Wop bang! #RUTGvsPSU
That will do it for the regular season. It was not always easy, but in the end the Nittany Lions are 10-2. This is their third 10 win regular season in the last four years. Hopefully, it will also result in their third New Year’s Six Bowl berth in four years.