I wrote a much more scathing recap earlier on Saturday, that I then had to scrap after what I’m labeling Bloody Saturday™ took place. As with every week, there are parts of the Nittany Lion attack that cannot be ignored, and improvement needs to happen before the Lions take on their toughest competition in the next couple of weeks.

That said, the landscape of college football has completely shifted after a week where seven top 25 teams lost, four of which were in the top 10. Alabama certainly looked the part, but Vanderbilt looked even better. Tennessee, known for Josh Heupel’s offensive genius, could not muster the offense to put away Arkansas. Missouri looked every bit the fraud they’d been up to this point, and Michigan, finally, faced the inevitable. There’s another top-10 team, Miami, that needed a 25-point comeback to come out with a win. Penn State, to their credit, did not join this list.

The Lions, in fact, played a pretty similar game to a week ago. They needed a quarter to adjust to what was happening on the field, starting with a three-and-out on offense. They’d bend, but not break on the defensive side, allowing UCLA to march down the field on their first series, but forcing a turnover on downs at the Penn State 23.

A quarter later, the Lions had their first touchdown of the game. UCLA would follow with a field goal of their own, and, after another touchdown drive, the Lions would go into the half up 14-3.

We saw the same defensive dominance we’ve come to expect in the second half of this game. The Bruins mounted only one scoring drive, the last drive of the game, once the game was well in hand. In between, they started the second half with a three and out, a punt after facing a 4th and 33, another three and out, and another turnover on downs at the Penn State 12-yard line. The defense continues to make good adjustments after halftime. Now, they need to start hot, because teams like USC and Ohio State, and maybe even Wisconsin, Washington, and Minnesota, will certainly take advantage of a slow first quarter if it’s given to them.

The offense, to their part, also came out on fire in the second half. With the exception of the victory formation, the Nittany Lions scored on all but one of their second-half drives. Like the defense, this bodes well for the future, but it would be ideal to avoid a potential scenario where they dig themselves too deep a hole in the first half. Come out fast, stay fast.

Part of the deficiency on offense can be attributed to Nicholas Singleton sitting the game out with an undisclosed “condition,” so the offense lost that offensive pop. The hope is he’ll be ready for USC, because the team will need it.

Stats and Storylines

107 – Number of receiving yards by Liam Clifford in this game. I hope this one counts, unlike Kent State.

70.8 – completion percentage in this game for Drew Allar. That brings his season total to 70.9 percent. Allar finished with a 59.9 completion percentage a season ago. He also has yet to throw more than 24 passes in a game.

Another record! – Earlier this season, the SEC set the record for most teams from a single conference in the top 10 of the AP poll. On Saturday, they set the record for most top 10 losses in a single conference, and most top 5 losses to unranked teams by a single conference. It really does mean more.

Almost… – Julian Fleming almost caught his first touchdown pass as a Nittany Lion, but he was ruled down at the half-yard line. Kaytron Allen punched the ball in a play later.

Highlights