STATE COLLEGE | After video replay confirmed Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr.’s touchdown catch, Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith was fuming and leaned into the officiating crew. It was the most anger and frustration Smith has shown on the sideline in his four weeks on the job.

Fernando Mendoza is back in the driver's seat on the road to the Heisman Trophy. The Indiana quarterback delivered a game-winning drive for the ages in the Hoosiers' electric 27-24 win at Penn State and in turn climbed back into betting favorite status in the award race.

The Penn State Nittany Lions suffered a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. Here are the highlights.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Indiana Hoosiers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAAF game from November 8, 2025 on ESPN.

Penn State hasn't beaten a top-10 Big Ten opponent since 2016 when it topped Ohio State, as ESPN noted in a story about Franklin's poor record in big games contributing to his firing. So yeah, James Franklin is no longer with Penn State, but that didn't spare him from being the butt of many jokes after the Hoosiers held on for the win.

MSU (7-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) led 3-0 after two periods and was able to cruise to the end. Center Charlie Stramel scored two goals and picked up two assists to get a four-point day. Trey Augustine put up a shutout, stopping all 36 shots that he faced.

"We refused to lose in the bleakest, more dire moments when it looked impossible," Cignetti said after Indiana handed Penn State its latest soul-crushing defeat, 27-24, on Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium.

But then it collapsed. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza made one spectacular play after another and the Hoosiers ripped Penn State’s heart out, winning the game on a beautiful throw by Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr. The air was sucked out of Beaver Stadium.