Penn State's momentum following its third quarter touchdown in the TicketCity Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas to pull within 27-14 of Houston doesn't last long.
The Cougars get the ball back and move down the field in the blink of an eye, driving into the Nittany Lions' redzone with a mix of intermediate passes by quarterback Case Keenum and a big rush by running back Charles Sims. Before the Penn State defense even knows what hit it, the unit faces a crucial 3rd-and-goal at its own 4-yardline.
Fortunately, it keeps the Lions alive by forcing an incompletion. A touchdown there probably would have been the end for Penn State, but the Nittany Lions' defense comes up the with stop when he absolutely needs it.
Matt Hogan comes on and hits a 22-yard field goal, and with14:52 remaining, Penn State trails Houston by a score of 30-14.