Penn State Receivers Held without Catches in Loss

In the 2023 Orange Bowl, Penn State's wide receivers were completely ineffective, failing to record a single catch against Notre Dame, which exposed a significant weakness in their offense. Quarterback Drew Allar targeted the wideouts only five times, resulting in four incompletions and an interception that ultimately led to Notre Dame's game-winning field goal. Despite a strong rushing performance and a standout game from tight end Tyler Warren, the absence of a reliable receiving threat hampered Penn State's chances in the tightly contested match, which ended 27-24. This marked a historic low for the Nittany Lions, as they became the first non-service academy team this season to have no receptions from wide receivers in a game. The disappointing performance has intensified criticism towards head coach James Franklin amidst calls for accountability as the team reflects on its shortcomings heading into the next season.