Coming into this game, the Nittany Lions looked completely overmatched against the LSU Tigers. The Tigers had been beating their opponents by 30 points a game, while the Lions had already lost at the hands of UMass, and struggled to put away other teams along the way. Anyone who would have envisioned this one turning into an LSU blowout would have been justified in thinking it.
As it happens, Penn State had other plans. The Lions played the kind of slow-paced, defensive slugfest they are well known for, forcing LSU to work for every possession. This led to the Lions holding the lead for most of the first half, with the exception of a few minutes where the Tigers took an 8-12 lead.