Penn State starting quarterback Drew Allar exited the game with an apparent injury, but backup Beau Pribula completed 11 of 13 passes and tossed a touchdown to help No. 3 Penn State beat host Wisconsin 28-13 on Saturday night in Madison, Wis.
The Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) remained undefeated behind a stingy defense and an offensive attack that came alive in the second half.
Before leaving the game at halftime with what seemed to be a left knee injury, Allar completed 14 of 18 passes for 148 yards and a score. He was on the sideline in the second half, but Pribula took the reins of the offense and threw for 98 yards and rushed for 28 on six carries.
For Pribula, a redshirt sophomore who has seen action in 18 games in his career, his passing total was a career high. The touchdown was his eighth through the air.
Kaytron Allen ran for 86 yards and a score for Penn State, while Nicholas Singleton and Khalil Dinkins hauled in receiving touchdowns.
Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) got its lone touchdown of the game from running back Tawee Walker, who ran for 59 yards on 22 carries. Braedyn Locke completed 22 of 42 passes for 217 yards.
The Badgers had a 10-7 lead at home at Camp Randall Stadium at halftime, but the game swung when Penn State’s Jaylen Reed picked off Locke and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. Penn State then padded its lead in the fourth quarter with long drives — 13 plays then nine plays, which ate up nearly 13 minutes of clock — that ended with touchdowns from Pribula and Allen.
Penn State has now won six straight against Wisconsin in a streak that began in 2012.
The Nittany Lions face a big test next Saturday when they host No. 4 Ohio State. If Allar is unable to play, it likely would mean the first career start for Pribula.
–Field Level Media