No. 10 Penn State was looking for a miracle late in the fourth quarter against No. 3 Michigan.
After a late touchdown brought the score to 24–15, the Nittany Lions decided to go for two in order to cut the Wolverines’ lead to seven points with just under two minutes to play.
A comeback was still a long shot, but if Penn State was going to pull off a win for the ages, it had to start here.
It did not.
The Nittany Lions lined up in a sort of swinging gate formation, with the majority of their offensive line wide out to the left of the field and a few eligible receivers lined up to the right.
Quarterback Drew Allar took the snap and waited for someone to get open. No one did, and Allar had to force a throw to tight end Theo Johnson, who could not reel in the pass.
DENIED@UMichFootball shuts down the 2-point conversion pic.twitter.com/c5UqyE0mvk
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 11, 2023
With Penn State’s season and potential playoff hopes on the line, coach James Franklin decided to draw up a play that left the Nittany Lions looking foolish on the field.
Fans criticized the decision harshly on social media.
Just an unserious play call with the game on the line https://t.co/8H0RDOrhNG
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) November 11, 2023
You don’t even need to steal the signs for this play to ensure it never works 😂😂 https://t.co/gbefObTqEO
— Eric (@OSU_Eric) November 11, 2023
He should be fired before getting to the locker room https://t.co/5EnXnzypOg
— T.D. Freezy (@DontFollowTFREE) November 11, 2023
generationally unserious https://t.co/F8uP1LtacY
— alli (@daisyedgarjnes) November 11, 2023
Penn State would not recover the ensuing onside kick, and Michigan held on to win, 24–15.
With the loss, Penn State falls to 8–2 on the season, with losses to both Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State, leaving the Nittany Lions in third in the Big Ten East.