The result was as expected, but the road there was not.
Top-ranked Penn State won its 42nd straight dual meet on Sunday, turning back No. 18 Rutgers, 25-15, in front of a boisterous, record-setting sellout crowd at the Rutgers Athletics Center in Piscataway. The Nittany Lions were heavy favorites to win the match, and did. But it was nowhere near the runaway many expected for several reasons – some in Rutgers’ control, others not.
The big swing: Penn State’s No. 1-ranked Jason Nolf, one of five national champions in the heart of its lineup, was forced to injury default due to a leg injury, throwing six unexpected team points the Scarlet Knights’ way.