MINNEAPOLIS — Holding the smallest lead possible, and facing the possibility of giving up possession of the ball late in the fourth quarter, Penn State Head Coach James Franklin called for a fake punt on 4th and 2.
Sophomore lineman Dom Rulli is the one on the field that makes the final determination whether the fake will work depending on their opponent's formation. Rulli decided to keep the fake on and Freshman Luke Reynolds took the ball 32 yards for a fresh set of downs.
Penn State converted a pair of fourth downs on the final drive and they killed the final 5:48 on the clock to hang on to beat Minnesota 26-25.
The Nittany Lions improve to 10-1 and complete their first undefeated season on the road in the Big Ten since 1994. They are 5-0 on the road for the first time since 1985.
PSU is currently 4th in the College Football Playoff rankings and will wrap up a berth in the new expanded 12-team format with a victory at home versus Maryland in their final regular season game.
