Message Games—

“Message Games” are not statement games, per se, but a friendly reminder to the other team (typically a rival) that Penn State is still a real problem for you… “Penn State still lives rent-free in your head”… Occasionally, the message can’t be sent as quickly as one might prefer… A year or two might go by, but the wait can be worth it as was the case with the 2023 “White Out Shutout”… This game could have been classified as a “Statement Game” had it not been for the events in Iowa City in 2021…

2023 vs. Iowa—The Whiteout Shutout

Penn State coaches and players were not pleased with the Iowa fans booing or the Iowa coaches reactions to legitimate injuries suffered by PSU players like defensive tackle PJ Mustipher in the 2021 loss at #3 Iowa… Fans booed Mustipher while he lay on the field to the point that one fan photo became a meme for questionable sportsmanship… Iowa’s concern was this injury appeared to slow the game for Iowa’s so-called “hurry-up” offense… An offense that actually huddled frequently… A “flopping” imitation by an Iowa assistant that was caught on camera, and post-game comments by Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz seemed to suggest that the PSU injuries were fakes…. When in fact they were serious… Notably, Mustipher would be out for the season and would require surgery on his left knee… And, all of this was on top of Penn State losing starting QB Sean Clifford to an undisclosed upper body injury in the 2nd quarter that opened the door for Iowa’s comeback to win 23-20…

Their next scheduled meeting in rainy, soggy Beaver Stadium on the evening of Sept 23, 2023 for the Whiteout game gave PSU the chance to “deal” with Iowa on the field… And deal they did, handing the Hawkeyes a staggering 31-0 beatdown on national television in front of the second largest crowd in Penn State history at that time… The Iowa offense managed a mere 76 yards in total offense with only 4 total first downs… Penn State held the ball for over 45 minutes of game time and delivered 3 sacks and collected 4 fumble recoveries (2 of the recoveries were by linebacker Curtis Jacobs including one on a muffed punt)… At one point, Iowa was 3-and-outed on five straight possessions during which they netted exactly one yard on offense…. Three Iowa possessions in the game resulted in negative yardage… Seven of ten Iowa drives resulted in a net yardage of 7 or fewer yards each… It was Iowa’s first shutout loss since 2000 and the first time PSU had shutout a ranked opponent since #18 Texas A&M in the 1999 Alamo Bowl…

Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson indicated after the game that the Nittany Lion players were reminded all week about the 2021 situation and they took it out on the Hawkeyes, limiting quarterback Cade McNamara and his backup to 6 of 16 passing for 56 yards, while stuffing the Hawkeye running backs for a paltry 20 yards on 17 carries… Video, not seen on the telecast, surfaced after the game showing Chop and linebacker Abdul Carter doing celebratory mock “flops” on the field after Chop’s strip sack of McNamara—payback for the 2021 sideline coach flop… Several defensive players also reportedly “face timed” Mustipher after the victory…

Message sent… and received…. Big Time!!!

Interestingly, Iowa’s recruiting of quarterback Cade McNamara would land the Hawkeyes in hot water in August 2024 when it was announced that Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz would be suspended for that season’s opener due to improper contact with Cade while the quarterback was still a player at Michigan; prior to his official entry into the NCAA Transfer Portal in 2022...

For Other Message & Statement Game Stories—CLICK HERE

2013 at Wisconsin—2012 was not a fluke

1995 at Iowa—Hawkeyes on the menu

1975 at Pitt—Not here, not now