Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo goes “crazy” while criticizing Penn State’s playcalling blunder after disappointing Indiana loss

Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo set his sights on the Penn State Nittany Lions and their playcalling in the Week 11 game against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Nittany Lions lost by a slim margin after some late-game heroics from Fernando Mendoza.

During Wednesday’s episode of First Take, Russo said,

"The Indiana-Penn State game. What is Penn State doing? They’re 0-6 in the league. They have won three games. They fired James Franklin. They got a chance to beat Indiana at home. With a minute and a half to go in the game, and he’s a good kid, this guy, this new interim coach, they’re running the ball. Nothing. Why? They’ve got one time out."

The outspoken analyst continued,

"You have got a chance to beat Indiana. Make your season. Indiana calls their final time out. They throw this little play to the tight end. He has got no chance to get 10 yards on that play. What do they do? Two-minute warning, what does Mendoza do? Goes right down the field. They score a touchdown, and they lose. How in the world are those big plays when you’ve got a chance to beat Indiana? You run the ball, run the ball and then throw to the tight end."

He concluded, saying,

"He’s the interim coach. He wants the job full-time. Penn State’s got a chance to help their season by upsetting Indiana, and they played not to lose. Oh, that drives me crazy. I hated it. I really did."

The Nittany Lions had the game in their hands as the game drew to a close. However, they let the Hoosiers come back and seal one of the most dramatic wins of the season.

The Hoosiers improved their record to 10-0 while the Nittany Lions suffered their sixth consecutive loss. The loss means that Penn State has no more margins for error if it's to play in a bowl game this season.

Penn State up against Michigan State in Week 12

The Penn State Nittany Lions don't have much time to dwell on their loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. They have a Week 12 showdown against the Michigan State Spartans to navigate.

The Spartans enter the game with a 3-6 record, and could be a potential banana skin if the Nittany Lions don't put up a much better showing than in the previous game. One more loss this season would mean the Nittany Lions will miss out on playing in a bowl game for the first time in years.

The last time Penn State didn't play in a bowl game was the 2020 season. The season was shortened due to the pandemic, and the Nittany Lions finished with a 4-5 record. They reached a bowl game in the next four seasons under James Franklin.

Following the Michigan State game, Penn State has matchups against Nebraska and Rutgers. It's shaping up to be a thrilling end to the campaign for the Nittany Lions fans and neutrals.

Edited by Nick Igbokwe