Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen power hot Penn State rushing attack into CFP semifinals

Any time Penn State tight end Tyler Warren moves in motion, opposing defenses take notice.

Warren, the undisputed starring actor within opponents’ film preparations for the Nittany Lions, has earned that kind of attention.

Through 15 games, as Penn State continues its College Football Playoff run, no team has fully neutralized Warren’s versatility as a blocker, pass-catcher and direct-snap quarterback.

The next opponent to take a crack at that will be seventh-seeded Notre Dame (13-1), which meets the No. 6 Nittany Lions (13-2) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Orange Bowl for a berth in the national championship game.

However, on top of guarding against Warren, the Fighting Irish also face a red-hot Penn State ground game, which has elevated Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen over 1,000 yards each heading into the CFP semifinals.

“When those guys are going out, obviously the run game in any football game is going to be really important,” Warren said Saturday over Zoom. “So having that is huge for us as an offense. We have a pass game, we have a run game — we have a lot of different things you have to defend. That’s going to help us and be able to let us to do a lot of different things.

“It’s been great, and this is as good a time as any for them to be playing the way they have been. It’s been awesome to be able to block for them. The way they’ve run the ball has been great.”

Against Boise State in the quarterfinals, Allen and Singleton combined for 221 yards on 29 carries, with both backs averaging north of 7 yards per carry.

Singleton crushed any hopes of a Boise State comeback in the fourth quarter with a 58-yard touchdown, and Allen’s highlights included a 50-yard burst in the second quarter that was called back because of penalty.

TOUCHDOWN NICK SINGLETON! BEAUTIFULLY BLOCKED pic.twitter.com/t2pwkG97PM

— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) January 1, 2025

When Kaytron Allen is running like this. Look out pic.twitter.com/wjmwa7MBBb

— ????Hardcore Penn State Football (@HardcorePSUFB) January 2, 2025

While fully complimentary of Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty, Penn State coach James Franklin believes his one-two punch of Allen and Singleton is as good as any backfield in the nation.

“I know there was a ton of conversation about Mr. Jeanty, and deservedly so, from Boise, and he earned that type of conversation. But I’d make the argument we’ve got the best duo in all of college football,” he said. “I think we’re obviously about to play a team that’s got some good backs, too, but again, we’re a part of that conversation.”

Allen and Singleton, both juniors, splitting handoffs has produced numerous benefits for Penn State.

Most obvious is the lessened wear and tear on their bodies, as opposed to either of them taking 25-30 carries per game in a lead back role.

Instead, Allen (who’s played all 15 games this year, with Singleton missing the Oct. 5 contest vs. UCLA with an injury) has taken 201 carries, compared to 157 for his backfield mate.

“I feel good with it,” Singleton said of the split duties. “Not being all beaten up, taking reps off you, taking reps off each other — me and Kaytron, we’re really good with each other. You just feel good not getting that beating, staying healthy with this long season now. It’s been really good.”

Also a plus for Penn State is that its two running backs also are close friends.

“I think (Singleton) and Kaytron have developed a really good relationship,” Franklin said. “Sometimes, that’s not always the case — it can be adversarial — but they’ve been really good friends both on and off the field. I think they’re complementary pieces to each other.”

Allen and Singleton have been riding high since the Big Ten championship game, where they put up 229 combined yards in a losing effort against No. 1 Oregon.

In the first round of the CFP vs. SMU, the pair scored three total touchdowns, maintaining momentum in the quarterfinals against Boise State.

Credit for the current potency of Penn State’s ground attack is widespread, from coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s play -calling to offensive line coach Phil Trautwein and his players’ contributions up front.

Also deserving praise are the wide receivers.

“A lot of times, a way to make your run game more explosive is having the receivers make one or two blocks on the perimeter that might take you from 10 yards to a 25-yard run, so that’s been good,” Warren said.

“Having the run game going is going to open up the pass game. I think that’s kind of been the biggest thing toward the end of this year, how we picked it up.”