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Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota

By Dylan Burd

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 09: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 31-26 to remain undefeated.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 09: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 31-26 to remain undefeated.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Wide receiver Tyler Johnson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes a reception in front of cornerback Keaton Ellis #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions before scoring a touchdown during the second quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Wide receiver Tyler Johnson #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes a reception in front of cornerback Keaton Ellis #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions before scoring a touchdown during the second quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

. . THE SECONDARY . F.

Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan completed 18 of his 20 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Morgan is one of two quarterbacks in the last 20 years to have two games with a 90% completion percentage (according to Big Ten Network). Jameis Winston is the other quarterback. That’s pretty much all you need to know about the secondary from this game.

Minnesota’s wide receivers were wide open on almost every play the entire game, as Rashod Bateman had seven receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Johnson had seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. In addition, John Reid had a bad pass interference penalty that allowed Minnesota to waste three more minutes of clock on a drive in the fourth quarter.

As a team, Penn State had no passes defensed in the entire game. Garrett Taylor had ten tackles, while Tariq Castro-Fields had five. Keaton Ellis had three tackles and Marquis Wilson and Lamont Wade had two tackles each. Ellis also had a forced fumble.

If the secondary doesn’t improve by the time of the Ohio State game, they’re going to have trouble on the road in Columbus.

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