Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (44) runs past Washington cornerback Jordan Shaw (3) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

STATE COLLEGE — This was a hollow victory if there ever was one.

A week after its goal-line offense was completely inept in the game of the year against Ohio State – twice getting nothing out of advances inside the 5 and losing by a touchdown — Penn State finished its first three scoring drives Saturday night with precisely the red-zone ingenuity it lacked when it really mattered.

The result contributed to a 35-6 victory over Washington before a White Out crowd of 110,233 at Beaver Stadium.

For those who witnessed it, the loss to Ohio State will never be forgotten because the Lions didn’t get the ball to Tyler Warren or use Beau Pribula’s legs when the situation called for it and because their alternatives didn’t work.

James Franklin himself acknowledged the biggest calls should be about “players, not plays,” in inexplicably going away from Warren.

So he righted the grotesque wrong.

Pribula, ignored against the Buckeyes, scored on a first-and-goal from the 8 on an option left to give the Lions a 7-0 lead over UW.

On the next two touchdown drives, both on third-and-goal from the 2, Warren leaped over the pile for scores.

Fans could only shake their heads and wonder what might have been had those plays been called against Ohio State.

Warren, though, wasn’t among the doubters. He and the team moved on mentally after Ohio State and are pleased to now be 8-1.

“There hasn’t been a week this year where I doubted the game plan,” he said.

Franklin’s teams have at times allowed big regular-season losses to linger. After Ohio State, he mentioned the importance of “not letting them beat us twice.”

Warren bought in. The versatile tight end called the Lions “mature,” and in attributing the resilient effort, he used the word “trust,” in offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and the entire team.

He didn’t say that his role was reinforced in short-yardage moments, but did say, “We had a good goal-line plan. We had it all week. It was just a matter of us executing.”

Penn State’s renewed goal-line diversification, defensive effort and overall resolve settled this one by half, which the Lions carried 28-0.

“Our guys played exceptionally well – particularly in the first half,” Franklin said.

Washington managed a mere 71 yards at halftime, and 50 of those came on the Huskies’ first drive, which ended with a missed field goal.

“We wanted to respond in the right way, and that’s what we did,” defensive end Abdul Carter, who dominated with four tackles for loss and a forced fumble, said. “I came out of it with a chip on my shoulder, for sure. Obviously, it didn’t go the right way last week. We just had to bounce back and get better.”

The opponent helped as Penn State didn’t punt.

Washington’s transition to the Big Ten has been steep. After playing in last year’s national championship game and losing its coach, Kalen DeBoer, to Alabama, the Huskies are dealing with style and travel adjustments.

UW is now 0-4 on the Big Ten road.

“Yes, this team has been recruited as a primarily Pac-12 team,” coach Jedd Fisch said. “It’s a huge adjustment. The Big Ten is a lot of physical big guards and defenders. As we continue to go eastward and play these games, you can see the offensive and defensive lines are about 1,100 pounds heavier than ours. We just got to get more physical.”

Penn State had its way on both sides of the ball, and Franklin’s recruiting continues to plug holes for injured players. Standout tailback Nick Singleton was added to that list Saturday when he didn’t carry the ball in the second half following a long kickoff return that was called back.

With the season likely stretching into December due to the expanded playoff, there’s a cautious approach being displayed along with a mentality that one game can’t ruin everything.

“I feel like the last two years of college football, if we lost that game last week, it probably would have ended our season,” Carter said. “College football is different this year.”

Penn State remains in prime playoff position. With No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Miami losing on Saturday, the Lions are up to No. 4 behind Oregon, Ohio State and Texas.

If they win out – which includes road games at hapless Purdue and Minnesota, where the Gophers have a history of causing PSU problems, and a home finale with Maryland – they could be well rested and poised for a CFP home game.

As Warren said, the new format means, “It’s not the end of the world when you lose one (in the regular season).”

Especially if you’ve learned from it – albeit a week late — for the next time a touchdown is needed when there’s a championship at stake.

Neil Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.