In its ‘White Out’ game, Penn State can’t let last week’s loss to Michigan snowball vs. Minnesota

For Penn State, Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota is about more than just the Governor’s Victory Bell — a trophy awarded to the victor after each meeting since 1993.

It’s about the 16th-ranked Nittany Lions not letting a deflating loss at No. 4 Michigan snowball over the rest of the season, as it did last year after a loss at Iowa. The two-for-one “White Out” and homecoming game kicks off at Beaver Stadium at 7:30 p.m. (6ABC).

Penn State (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) got pummeled on the ground by Michigan last week. Coach James Franklin noted that Minnesota (4-2, 1-2) may take a similar approach as a team that wants to “constrict the life out of the game in terms of time and possession.”

Minnesota is outrushing its opponents 1,448 yards to 740, led by sixth-year back Mohamed Ibrahim (138.8 yards per game). The Gophers hold possession on average more than 10 minutes more than opponents per game. The Nittany Lions can’t expect to win if they don’t contain the run and get their defense off the field.

Feel free to call Penn State-Minnesota the battle of veterans fighting through injuries. Penn State’s Sean Clifford and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan are sixth-year quarterbacks entering their final seasons of eligibility. Neither had been confirmed as the starter as of Friday morning.

» READ MORE: Minnesota vs. Penn State odds, prediction: Are the Nittany Lions a vulnerable favorite?

Clifford exited the Michigan game with an undisclosed injury. Franklin had no specific updates as of Tuesday, but Clifford was seen practicing this week. Freshman Drew Allar likely would start in the event he is unable to play.

Morgan is in a similar situation. He took a shot to the head last week in a loss at Illinois. If Morgan is ruled out, his replacement could be fourth-year sophomore Cole Kramer. Or it could be the redshirt freshman, Athan Kaliakmanis, who stepped in for Morgan last week.

Penn State has gotten the better of the Gophers nine times since 1993 and lost six times. The Governor’s Victory Bell rivalry trophy was introduced by the Big Ten 29 years ago commemorating the Nittany Lions joining the conference.

Minnesota has possession of the trophy after upsetting Penn State, 31-26, in Minneapolis in 2019. The last matchup at Beaver Stadium was in 2016 when Penn State won, 29-26, in overtime.

“I got a text from [Dolphins tight end] Mike Gesicki on Sunday when I was breaking down the film, and in 2016, we lost to Michigan and played Minnesota the following week and found a way to get that win,” Franklin said. “The rest of the season went pretty well. … So I’m not going to look too far ahead. Not going to look too far behind.”

Next Saturday is a return to Beaver Stadium against No. 2 Ohio State — arguably Penn State’s toughest matchup of the year (noon, Fox). The Buckeyes notably feature St. Joseph’s Prep alumnus Marvin Harrison Jr., who ranks second in receiving touchdowns among FBS schools.