Why Beau Pribula, Penn State football conquered more than Wisconsin

Penn State football won a game at Wisconsin that it would not have last year or the one before that.

Certainly, it wouldn’t have won this kind of game three years ago when it was similarly undefeated and ranked in the top five. Back then, at Iowa, it lost its starting quarterback halfway through and gradually collapsed not only for the day but for the rest of the season.

Would any of James Franklin’s previous teams have pulled out the kind of grinding, critical 28-13 victory the way it did Saturday night in Camp Randall Stadium?

Probably not.

And that’s why it may not really matter that another Penn State victory didn’t look as dominating or even as appetizing as many think it should by now. Why it owns a better chance than ever to vanquish the Ohio State Buckeyes next weekend in Beaver Stadium.

Because the Nittany Lions, if anything, keep proving they can win in different ways, in varying circumstances and with different players leading them.

They won Saturday night with a backup quarterback. They won while missing one of their top defenders and a starting offensive lineman

They won without anyone gaining more than 86 yards rushing and 67 yards receiving. And they did it, on the road, against an opponent coming off three straight dominating victories of its own.

Penn State won with a collective effort, a gradual stranglehold from their defense and a numbing mix of short passes and runs on offense.

They won because a team leader − safety Jaylen Reed − returned an interception for a touchdown to change the complexion of the night when they needed it most.

Penn State football: How Beau Pribula won the night and more

They won because a backup quarterback − Central York grad Beau Pribula − proved that he really is much more than a change-of-pace runner.

Pribulas was, perhaps, the biggest revelation. Sure, he led a victory at home last November against Rutgers. But this was much different. This was a prime-time stage, on the road, with his team’s undefeated record on the line.

The PSU report card:Penn State football rallied past Wisconsin: Does defense deserve its best grade yet?

Winning without key defender:Dani Dennis-Sutton injury update: Penn State football defender injures leg vs. Wisconsin

The redshirt sophomore looked a bit shaky at first, missing on two of his first three passes in that decisive third quarter at Wisconsin. All he did was finish by completing 10 in a row.

He hit clutch passes for first downs while being knocked to the ground. He ran for first downs when it didn’t look like he had a shot. He made one play after another with the Lions holding a precarious one-point lead.

Afterward, still on the field, Franklin praised Pribula to an NBC reporter:

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a big-time player. And he’s unselfish in a time in college football that a lot of guys are selfish.”

Franklin was referring to how Pribula stayed with Penn State, his childhood favorite team, even though he would be a backup for a second straight season. Even though his elite athleticism and promising throwing arm would only be used sparingly in coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s new offense.

Pribula stayed and willingly persevered. He and so many other Lions − from running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton to star tight end Tyler Warren to safeties Reed and Zakee Wheatley to defensive tackle Zane Durant − piled up decisive plays that would win the game in the end.

They did what Penn State teams couldn’t do after starting 4-0 in Franklin’s first season in 2014 or starting 7-2 the following season (losses to Northwestern). Or by losing heartbreakers to Michigan State in 2017 and 2018 and at Minnesota in ’19.

Same for that Iowa game in 2021 with their 5-0 and big lead. They lost QB Sean Clifford to injury and everything fell apart.

Opportunities squandered with tangible goals within reach.

That’s why this night was different. That’s why Pribula’s effort meant so much more than 11-of-13 pass completions for 98 yards and a short touchdown. More than his six carries for 28 more yards.

They found a way. They built themselves stronger.

What will Pribula remember most from his best moments since high school?

“Just walking off this field with a ‘W.’ I didn’t want to let my teammates down,” he’d say on the field after it was over. “We worked too hard to give up something like that.”

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.