Penn State football’s dominant Kent State win eclipses longstanding NCAA milestones

Saturday’s win over Kent State was one for the ages for James Franklin and Penn State football. While the 56-0 margin of victory may have been multiple scores off of Tennessee’s 71-0 stomping of the Golden Flashes a week ago, the Nittany Lions controlled seemingly every inch of the Beaver Stadium turf in a performance that can only be described as sheer domination.

Penn State set a new program record this weekend with 718 yards of total offense, surpassing the previous milestone set in 1926. The defense was no less dominant, holding Kent State to only 67 yards the entire afternoon.

“I mean, obviously, when you’re able to score that many points and that many yards and be explosive, you know, we put up some pretty big numbers in the past, but whenever you’re able to set a school record at a place like Penn State, it’s something to be proud of, and it’s something to build off of,” James Franklin said afterward. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. [But] to me, the more important stat is the yardage differential. It’s the point differential.

“When you’re able to get 718 yards on offense but only give up 67, I’d be interested to see that, right? That’d be a great stat. What’s the largest yardage differential at Penn State in our history? That’d be good. To me, that’s an important stat, because if you get 718 yards on offense, but you give up 500, right? So, I think that that’s the important one. Whenever possible, you want it to be about the team, and you want it to be a team stat. And that would be a great one.”

Penn State football: James Franklin addresses media after record-setting win

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Penn State football: James Franklin addresses media after record-setting win

Nittany Lions surpass multiple NCAA milestones with dominant win over Kent State

James Franklin didn’t have to wait very long to get his answer. According to ESPN Stats & Info via Adam Rittenberg, the Nittany Lions’ yardage differential, 651, was the largest in Penn State football history.

Even further, the level of dominance displayed by the Nittany Lions on Saturday was unlike anything seen in the recent history of college football. Penn State’s yardage differential was the highest in the last ten seasons, and was the largest to come against an FBS opponent in two decades.

From @ESPNStatsInfo: The yardage differential of 651 yards marked a Penn State record and is the highest in any game in the last decade and the highest against an FBS opponent in the last 20 seasons. https://t.co/RG5BPnk3Zw

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 21, 2024

After turning it over on their opening series, the Nittany Lions eventually used big gains to pick apart the Kent State defense, with 23 plays going for 15+ yards on the day.

Drew Allar spearheaded the offense with 335 total yards (309 passing, 26 rushing), three passing touchdowns, and a rushing score compared to just four incompletions. Omari Evans led all skill positions with 116 yards receiving, while Tyler Warren caught and threw for a touchdown.

Penn State football uses historic victory to springboard into primetime matchup

© Grace Carella / Basic Blues Nation, 2024

Moving to 3-0 on the season, Penn State football now makes the transition into conference play. Life in the new-look Big Ten will start with a familiar face, Illinois, for what could ultimately end up as a top-20 matchup under the lights in Beaver Stadium next weekend.

Previously announced as a primetime kick, the Nittany Lions will now officially face off against the Fighting Illini at 7:30 p.m. on NBC’s Big Ten Saturday Night.

“The last thing I’ll say for the fans: we need this place rocking next week,” James Franklin said Saturday night. “I’m calling for White Out energy. Everybody got me? That could be all your headlines. I’m writing your headlines. I’m the editor – White Out energy.

“So that’s going to be big next week. We need this place rocking, but we’re going to enjoy this [victory] for a couple hours, and then, you know, grade film. And then get going on our next opponent.”

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