STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — On Monday, James Franklin said not enough people were talking about Penn State’s defense after its strong performance against West Virginia.

There was a lot of talk about Tom Allen’s defense Saturday afternoon, but not for positive reasons. While Bowling Green marched up and down the field in the first half, there were big gaps in the running game, too many missed tackles for the home crowd’s liking and a pass defense that was picked apart by quarterback Connor Bazelak. The Beaver Stadium crowd even let out a few boos when No. 8 Penn State had its first panic moment of the season against the Falcons.

Here are my takeaways from Penn State’s 34-27 win over Bowling Green.

What happened to the defense?

Before Saturday, Penn State had not allowed a single touchdown drive in 28 games. The 24 points the Nittany Lions defense allowed in the first half were more than Penn State allowed in a regular season game last year.

The Pulse Newsletter

Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

Sign up

For a team with College Football Playoff aspirations and one that, on paper, has plenty of star power on defense, this group struggled mightily. Bowling Green scored on four of five possessions in the first half, scored three touchdowns and totaled 286 yards.

The only drive Penn State managed in the first half came on Abdul Carter’s quarterback hurry that nullified Bowling Green’s fourth-and-1 attempt at the 45-yard line. It was the kind of play Penn State needed from one of its star players, and it gave the Nittany Lions momentum, but the offense couldn’t capitalize on strong starting position and settled for a 43-yard field goal by Sander Sahaydak.

Tyler Warren (44) set a Penn State record for a tight end in a game on Saturday with 146 yards of gain. (Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)

Still, Bazelak deserves credit for the way he ran the Falcons’ offense. Bowling Green had six passing plays of 15 or more yards in the first half, including two passes of over 30 yards. They gained 54 rushing yards on two plays in the first half, with Jamal Johnson’s 41-yard touchdown run being the highlight.

As rocky as the first half was — as shaky as a Penn State defense with all of its designated starters has looked since 2022, when Michigan ran 79 plays and gained 563 yards — Allen’s group adjusted in the second half, limiting Bowling Green to 89 yards. Penn State’s defense came up big at the end, ending consecutive drives with interceptions (Tony Rojas and Zakee Wheatley) to keep the Falcons at bay.

Penn State’s pass rush, considered one of the best in the country, failed to record a sack. Safety KJ Winston sat on the sidelines without a helmet in the second half, something that will be worth watching in the coming weeks.

Singleton finds his stride, Allen gets going

For the second straight game, Singleton looked like the explosive version of his freshman self. He and Kaytron Allen were both announced as starters, something Penn State did often last season as a reminder of how much they value both.

Both had their moments. Singleton rushed for 119 yards, and his 14-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar in the third quarter was a nice reminder of how useful Singleton can be as a receiver, too. That touchdown, which gave Penn State a 27-24 lead, helped calm the offense and the crowd as well. Allar threw the ball in one of the tightest time frames of his career. Singleton added a 41-yard touchdown run with 4:09 left in the game to seal the win.

Allen completed 14 carries for 101 yards, including a 26-yard run late in the third quarter that brought Penn State to the Bowling Green 12 and should have resulted in points. An Allar interception on the following play ended Penn State’s promising scoring opportunity.

Offensive remains explosive

The first half was a shootout with both offenses scoring at will. It certainly wasn’t what I expected when I walked into the stadium on Saturday morning, but Penn State’s ability to score goals and do so quickly was evident in the first two games.

While it will be difficult to judge what this offense can do against better defenses — Allar’s interception in the end zone late in the third quarter was certainly a low point — Penn State at least continues to show a willingness to make shooting plays and utilize different personnel groups. While Harrison Wallace III shined against West Virginia, it was tight end Tyler Warren who filled the stat sheet in this game.

Warren’s 146 receiving yards set a Penn State record for a tight end. He was targeted eight times, more than any other player on his team. Wide receiver Omari Evans again showed his potential for big plays with a 29-yard touchdown pass. Evans’ second touchdown was disallowed in the third quarter for offensive pass interference.

Tight end Andrew Rappleyea, who was sidelined today, was on crutches on the sideline at the end of the game. Rappleyea was expected to be a key contributor this season.

(Top photo of Drew Allar (15): Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)