Penn State suddenly decimated by injuries heading into the biggest game of the year

The No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions escaped Camp Randall Stadium with a 28-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 9 to set up a top-5 matchup with 6-1 Ohio State next Saturday at Beaver Stadium. However, the win was a costly one for James Franklin’s 7-0 Nittany Lions. 

Just before halftime, as Wisconsin took a 10-7 lead, Penn State star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton left the game with an apparent leg injury. Dennis-Sutton came into the game leading the Nittany Lions with 21 quarterback pressure, and after an attempt to return to the field in the second half, the former five-star recruit was lost for the game. 

A few minutes after Dennis-Sutton was lost, starting quarterback, and fellow 2022 five-star recruit, Drew Allar was sacked and came up limping. He attempted one more pass before heading to the locker room early for halftime. Allar emerged from the locker room with a brace on his left knee but was unable to return. Backup QB Beau Pribula led two touchdown drives in the second-half comeback, and now Allar’s status is up in the air for next week. 

Though there could not be a more significant loss than the team’s starting quarterback, another key piece of the offense also left the game. Starting right tackle Anthony Donkoh did not play in the second half after sustaining an injury and was replaced by former Wisconsin Badger Nolan Rucci. Donkoh beat out Rucci for the starting right tackle spot in fall camp. 

Penn State Week 9 injuries vs. Wisconsin:

• Drew Allar, QB: Knee (did not return)
• Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE: Leg (attempted to return)
• Anthony Donkoh, RT: Undisclosed (did not return)

Ohio State has injury issues of its own on the offensive line, but if Allar is unable to go, Penn State could miss its best chance to beat the Buckeyes since a one-point loss in 2018. James Franklin has only beaten Ohio State once in his 10 seasons leading Penn State, back in 2016 at Beaver Stadium.