Penn State lost the Outback Bowl to the Florida Gators on Saturday, 37-24. Matt McGloin’s five-yard touchdown pass to Derek Moye gave the Nittany Lions a 7-0 lead early, but Omarius Hines scored on a reverse on a 16-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, and Lerentee McCray returned a blocked punt for another touchdown seven minutes before halftime.
A short rushing touchdown by Michael Zordich and a field goal gave Penn State a 17-14 lead at the half, and following a Florida field goal in the third, the Nittany Lions widened their lead on a two-yard touchdown run by McGloin. After that, though, it was all Gators. Florida sealed the deal on an 80-yard interception return by Ahmad Black, who anticipated a short pass by McGloin, with less than a minute left to play.
Penn State outgained Florida in total yards, 350 to 279, but five interceptions by McGloin, along with the blocked punt, sealed the Nittany Lions’ fate. One of those five was with only a few seconds left with Penn State down by 13, so that’s understandable, but the fourth one, which resulted in Black’s touchdown, really stung.