However, the Gophers offense was shut down by Penn State's defense in a three-and-out and the Nittany Lions carried that momentum on offense, going five plays for 57 yards before Nicholas Singleton rushed for a 12-yard touchdown to give Penn State their first lead of the night, 23-22.

The Gophers fell to 6-5, 4-4 Big Ten, while Penn State (10-1, 7-1) stayed alive for a good spot in the expanded College Football Playoff race. Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer had not turned the ball over since September, but he threw his first interception in 206 attempts in the first half. It led to a Penn State field goal.

The Minnesota Gophers thwarted that opportunity when they dropped their week 12 matchup against Rutgers, two Saturdays ago. Still, the Penn State Nittany Lions came to Dinkytown as the #4 ranked team in the nation,