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Penn State enters bye off tough loss

Northwestern keeps Christian Hackenberg off the board and wins on its kicker’s redemption.

Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) is penalized after tackling Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) during the first quarter at Ryan Field.
Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) is penalized after tackling Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) during the first quarter at Ryan Field.Read more(Caylor Arnold/USA Today)

IN PENN STATE'S six previous games, Christian Hackenberg had thrown 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Saturday at 21st-ranked Northwestern, he had no TDs and a pick. And the Nittany Lions (7-3, 4-2 Big Ten) lost on a 35-yard field goal by Jack Mitchell with 9 seconds left, 23-21.

Mitchell had earlier missed twice, from 39 and 47, and also missed a PAT. Last year he kicked a 41-yard game-winner in overtime against Notre Dame, after tying it late in regulation from 45.

Hackenberg did complete 21 of 40 passes for 210 yards.

The Wildcats, who led 20-7 at halftime, are 7-2, 3-2. Zack Oliver, who replaced injured Northwestern starting quarterback Clayton Thorson late in the first quarter, passed for a TD and ran for another. Solomon Vault returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score. It was his second kickoff-return TD of the season and third in his career, both Northwestern records. Justin Jackson rushed for a career-high 186 yards.

Penn State did get a 32-yard TD pass from wide receiver Geno Lewis (off a jet sweep) to DaeSean Hamilton. Saquon Barkley rushed for 120 yards and two scores, including a 13-yard run with 12:22 left that put the Lions ahead for the first time. But he was stopped on a third-and-1 from the PSU 15 with 2 1/2 minutes to go.

Lions defensive end Carl Nassib, from West Chester, got a sack early in the fourth quarter to give him 15 1/2 for the season, a program record. It also leads the nation.

The Nits get their bye this week. On Nov. 21 they host Michigan (7-2, 4-1) before closing the following Saturday at Michigan State (8-1, 4-1).

Penn 26, Princeton 23 (OT)

At Franklin Field, the Quakers (5-3, 4-1 Ivy League) won their fourth straight. It means they'll be heading to FCS No. 11 Harvard (8-0, 5-0) this Saturday with a share of first place on the line.

Donald Panciello had to block a 35-yard field goal by Nolan Bieck on the final play of regulation. Bieck had been 10-for-10 this season, including two in this game (from 43 and 39).

On the first possession of OT, Bieck made a 42-yarder. But Penn, which trailed 20-10 at the half, then scored on an 11-yard pass from Alek Torgersen to Eric Fiore on a first-down play to beat the Tigers (5-3, 2-3).

The last time Penn won in OT, two years ago against Dartmouth at home, it also blocked a FG as time expired. That one went four extra periods, the longest game in Ivy history.

Torgersen, who passed for 178 yards, also rushed for a career-high 96 on 13 carries. Justin Watson had a career-best 13 receptions for 117 yards and fellow sophomore Brandon Mills finished with a career-best 15 tackles.

Penn kicker Jimmy Gammill's 42-yard field goal tied it with 3:22 showing.

The last time Penn beat Harvard, in 2012, it also won the title. The Crimson has won 22 straight. Penn last won at Harvard in 2009, its only win there since 2003.

Villanova 19, Rhode Island 3

The Wildcats (5-4, 4-2 Colonial) have given up two field goals in the last two games.

It was 7-3 at intermission. The visiting Wildcats got seven points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth. Zach Bednarczyk threw for 116 yards and ran for 74 (on 11 attempts). He scored a TD and passed for another. Matt Gudzak rushed for 118 and a score on 10 carries.

Villanova rushed for 284 yards, and held the Rams (1-8, 1-5) to 208 yards total offense.

Now the Wildcats host Richmond (7-2, 5-1), which saw its seven-game winning streak end at New Hampshire (5-4, 3-3), 30-25. They finish at James Madison (7-2, 4-2), which was off after losing two straight following an injury to QB Vad Lee.

West Chester 41, East Stroudsburg 27

West Chester (7-3) clinched the PSAC East title with its home win over East Stroudsburg (5-5), coupled with Kutztown's 51-27 win over Shippensburg. The Rams will play in the state championship game for the first time since 2008, this Saturday at home against Slippery Rock (9-1). They haven't won the crown since 1971, going 0-6 in state title games. They're 6-8 overall in title games, 2-3 against Slippery Rock.

Michael Jack's Top 10

1. Ohio State (9-0). Beat Minnesota, 28-14. Saturday: at Illinois. In my book, the Buckeyes stay here until they lose. Sorry.

2. Clemson (9-0). Beat Florida State, 23-13. Saturday: at Syracuse. All that stands between Tigers and playoffs are at South Carolina and ACC title game. So who you betting on? Our man Ryan Lawrence deserves to see it happen.

3. Alabama (8-1). Beat Louisiana State, 30-16. Saturday: at Mississippi State. Beat Bulldogs at home last year when MSU was No. 1.

4. Oklahoma State (9-0). Beat TCU, 49-29. Saturday: at Iowa State. Time to take these Cowboys maybe a little more seriously. Or even a lot.

5. Notre Dame (8-1). Beat Pittsburgh, 42-30. Saturday: vs. Wake Forest. DeShone Kizer's not too shabby for a QB who was originally supposed to redshirt this season.

6. Stanford (8-1). Beat Colorado, 42-10. Saturday: vs. Oregon. Lost big at Oregon last season, after upsetting Ducks both of the two years before that when Ducks were ranked 1 and then 2.

7. Baylor (8-0). Beat Kansas State, 31-24. Saturday: vs. Oklahoma. Has beaten Oklahoma 3 of last 4 years. Last year it was by 34 on road. In 2013, it was by 29 in Waco.

8. Louisiana State (7-1). Lost at Alabama, 30-16. Saturday: vs. Arkansas. So much for that Heisman Trophy for Mr. Fournette. Lost at Arkansas last year, 17-0.

9. Florida (8-1). Beat Vanderbilt, 9-7. Saturday: at South Carolina. Has lost 2 straight to South Carolina, and last 2 at South Carolina.

10. Utah (8-1). Beat Washington, 34-23. Saturday: at Arizona. Body of work still very impressive, even if Utes do fly under the radar. Lost last year to Arizona at home when both were ranked, 42-10.

Next five: Iowa (9-0), Texas Christian (8-1), Oklahoma (8-1), Michigan State (8-1) and Michigan (7-2).

Michael Jack's Fraud Five

Memphis - It's OK to lose to Navy and the option, even at home after you'd won 15 straight. And Navy's only losses in its previous 14 were to Notre Dame. But 45-20? Please.

Louisiana State - I know Alabama is maybe a different team at home. But that's 5 in a row to the Tide. And you didn't even look like you belonged.

Texas Christian - It's OK to lose at fellow unbeaten Oklahoma State, even though you were favored. I just expected more of a fight.

Michigan State - I don't care about the controversial touchdown call at the end. Nebraska was 3-6. And it drove the length of the field in the final minute. Shouldn't happen. But you could see this coming for a while now.

Toledo - It's not OK to lose to 3-loss Northern Illinois for the sixth straight time, especially at home, when you're trying to maybe get to a New Year's Day bowl. You thought we forgot because they played Tuesday?

Dishonorable mention: Mississippi, for losing to Arkansas at home in overtime after Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25 in the OT. And Texas A&M, for losing to Auburn by 16 at home. Ugh.