Penn State holds off Washington with late drive in road win

Summarised from 3 outlets · 13 reports · Updated 8 Nov, 12:21 · Archive

Penn State defeated Washington 28–25 in Seattle, holding off a late Husky comeback with a 7-minute 40-second clock-consuming drive.

Penn State defeated Washington 28–25 in Seattle to record its second consecutive win. The Nittany Lions (5–4, 2–4 Big Ten) built a commanding 22-point halftime lead but the Huskies mounted a comeback that reduced Penn State's advantage to just three points with time remaining.

Penn State's offence did not score in the second half, but the team proved more effective at managing the game's critical moments. Quarterback Rocco Becht went 16 for 27 for 240 yards and threw first-half touchdowns to Chase Sowell and Zay Robinson, both of whom had been listed as questionable on the pregame injury report.

The decisive moment came late in the game when Penn State's offence took over with under eight minutes remaining. Over a 14-play, 70-yard drive lasting 7 minutes 40 seconds, the Lions controlled the clock to seal the victory. On the drive's crucial play, Becht executed a 2-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 to the Washington 1-yard line, following the two-minute timeout, which allowed Penn State to kneel out the remaining time. Coach Matt Campbell praised Becht's performance, saying he 'gives you poise' and noting his importance to the team's success.

Washington's defence had largely stifled Penn State's offence in the second half, holding the Nittany Lions scoreless on five straight drives after conceding four touchdowns on Penn State's first five possessions. However, the Huskies contributed to their own downfall when they were flagged for having 12 players on the field on third-and-5 during Penn State's final drive, gifting the Lions a first down. UW coach Jedd Fisch acknowledged the error, saying 'We didn't get the communication right.'

Penn State next faces Minnesota at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, where the Lions have opened as 7.5-point favourites.

How it is being reported

• How did Penn State's 4 game-time decisions fare vs. Washington?Penn State had four players who were game-time decisions for the Washington game -- WRs Chase Sowell and Zay Robinson, OT Malachi Goodman and DT Armstrong Nnodium. Sowell and Robinson both caught TD passes in PSU's 28-25 win.PennLive · 8 Nov, 13:18
• Early betting line for Penn State-MinnesotaPenn State is riding a two-game winning streak heading into its matchup Minnesota on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. Matt Campbell's Nittany Lions have opened as a 7.5-point favorite over the Golden Gophers.PennLive · 8 Nov, 11:19
• Grading the Lions: Penn State solid early and late vs. WashingtonPenn State scored 28 points in the first half and held off Washington with a late drive that lasted almost eight minutes.PennLive · 8 Nov, 05:46
• Matt Campbell on Penn State's win over Washington: 'We made great growth'Penn State's offense did not score any points in the second half vs. Washington but the Lions' final drive finished the Huskies.PennLive · 8 Nov, 05:07
• What we learned as Penn State survives late scare to beat WashingtonBall security has become Penn State's brand as the Nittany Lions finally look like a Big Ten team and more takeaways from a close win at Washington.PennLive · 8 Nov, 03:00
• Penn State 3-and-out: Rocco Becht big runs, a WR's big play, morePenn State QB Rocco Becht threw two touchdown passes in the Lions' 28-25 win over Washington. Becht also made a couple of huge plays with his legs.PennLive · 8 Nov, 02:50
• Penn State prevails in Washington: the day in photosSee the scenes from picturesque Husky Stadium where Penn State held off Washington for its second straight Big Ten winPennLive · 8 Nov, 02:45
• The good and the bad from Penn State’s win at Washington | video analysis from Bob FloundersPenn State survived a late Washington comeback for their second straight Big Ten win, with Bob Flounders highlighting Carson Hansen's performance and an update on Jack Ham's medical emergency.PennLive · 8 Nov, 02:27
• Penn State turning point, game balls vs. WashingtonPenn State held off Washington 28-25 on Saturday at Husky Stadium. The Lions scored all of their points in the first half and ran out the clock on a time-consuming drive late in the game.PennLive · 8 Nov, 02:01
• Penn State builds big early lead, holds off Washington for 2nd straight winSEATTLE — Penn State’s offense may not have scored in the second half, but it did do something more valuable when it mattered most.TribLIVE · 8 Nov, 01:06
• Penn State holds off Washington on the roadPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 8 Nov, 01:05
• Can Penn State get 1st Big Ten road win against Washington? | Live updatesPenn State and Washington are both fresh off big wins and looking to keep momentum on their side.PennLive · 7 Nov, 19:00
• Penn State hunting elusive Big Ten road win vs. WashingtonSince the start of the 2025 season, Penn State is 2-5 Big Ten road games. The Lions visit Washington in Seattle on Saturday. The Huskies are slight favoritesPennLive · 7 Nov, 10:50

In this story: Penn State · Washington · Rocco Becht · Matt Campbell · Jedd Fisch · Minnesota · Seattle

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