These 3 Nittany Lions deserve praise after nail-biting loss against Indiana

On Saturday, Penn State football had a tough task in front of it as it faced No. 2 Indiana. The Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) nearly lost to the Nittany Lions (2-6, 0-6 Big Ten), scraping out a 27-24 win at Beaver Stadium with a touchdown to reclaim the lead in the final two minutes of the game. Despite the loss, Penn State put together its most hopeful performance of the 2025 season and these three Nittany Lions earned recognition for their contributions on Saturday.

Running back Nicholas Singleton had the kind of game that was expected of him heading into the season. In the first three weeks, he had 179 yards and five touchdowns, but still wasn't the threat Penn State wanted out of its star rusher. Over the next five games, Singleton accumulated just 113 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. Against Indiana, though, he broke out from the shadows and reminded everyone the kind of player he is.

On Saturday, he had 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. In the pass game, he recorded another touchdown and 22 receiving yards on three catches.

Singleton's third score, his reception he took into the end zone, put the Nittany Lions in the lead for the first time in the game. Over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, he connected with quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer just behind Indiana's 20-yard-line behind the line of scrimmage. Not allowing himself to get tripped up by a Hoosier defender, he used that momentum to power through and brush by another to cross over into the end zone. Penn State took a 24-20 lead with Singleton's effort.

Singleton got Penn State on the board early in the second quarter, tying the game at seven. The senior broke free for the two-yard touchdown run.

Then, as part of the Nittany Lions' comeback attempt in the second half, Singleton went untouched and soared off for a 59-yard carry. Defensive back Jamari Sharpe outstretched his arm to try and bring Singleton down by his shoulder, but the Penn State running back could not go down until defensive back D'Angelo Ponds made a diving effort to pull him to the ground before Singleton made it into the end zone.

Two plays later, Singleton refused denial in the end zone and posted his second score of the afternoon.

Singleton's lack of production earlier in the season made running back Kaytron Allen the main star in the backfield rather than Singleton retaining his starting spot. On Saturday, though, it was No. 10's day to shine and he put together a performance that reminded everyone what a preseason No. 2 team is capable of.

Safety King Mack is a name on the Nittany Lions' defense that doesn't get talked about enough, and if it wasn't for his big-time play on Saturday, Mack would have gone under the rug another week.

Late in the fourth quarter with Penn State trailing 20-17, quarterback Fernando Mendoza scurried out of the pocket to target wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr.. Zooming in front of Williams seemingly out of nowhere, Mack snatched the football and continued his momentum into the Nittany Lions' sideline to celebrate.

The interception put Penn State's offense inside the Indiana 30-yard-line. Grunkemeyer turned this pick into a touchdown, capitalizing on the prime field position while giving the Nittany Lions the lead late in the game.

Though his interception was a difference-maker with potential to catalyze a game-winning finish for Penn State, Mack was impactful in other areas of the afternoon. He had three tackles and a quarterback hurry on top of the pick.

When the Hoosiers' offense took the field, a drive that eventually gave Indiana the victory, Mack left it all out on the field. On second-and-7, Mendoza looked to connect with Williams Jr. again. However, the safety put the pressure on the Heisman Trophy candidate and forced an incompletion. This was one of two stops inside the 10-yard-line the Nittany Lions had before wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. completed arguably the best catch of the 2025 college football season.

Penn State had a rather quiet day from on special teams.

Wide receiver Trebor Pena, who was also the leading pass catcher of the afternoon with six receptions for 99 yards, continued his success on special teams. Field position was critical on Saturday, and the transfer made smart decisions on punt return whether it was bringing the ball out or letting it fly into the end zone or out of bounds.

Early in the first quarter at the end of Indiana's opening drive, Pena returned a 45-yard punt to the Penn State 42-yard-line for a 16-yard advance. Though the Nittany Lions eventually were forced to punt on their first possession as well, the good field position immediately lit up the energy on the sideline that carried throughout the rest of the game.