For the second consecutive week, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen were held to less than 100 combined yards.

The duo had 73 of Penn State football’s 117 rushing yards in the 26-25 nailbiter win over Minnesota. Penn State averaged 200 rushing yards per game before playing the Golden Gophers.

Singleton had 63 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and Allen was held to just 10 yards on seven carries against a Minnesota rush defense that averaged 119.8 yards allowed per game coming into the matchup.

“I feel like we didn’t start fast, but at the end of the day, we finished strong. We found a way to win,” Singleton said postgame.

This has been a recurring struggle for Singleton and Allen since the USC game. Neither back has had over 100 yards in a game since September and the two have only combined for over 100 yards twice over the last six games.

Last week against Purdue, Singleton and Allen combined for 60 yards and Singleton led the way with 40 of those yards. In the biggest game of the season against Ohio State, Allen led with 27 yards and Singleton was held to just 15.

“Offensively, we stopped ourselves more than they stopped us,” quarterback Drew Allar said after the loss to Ohio State.

Before going to Los Angeles, Singleton had 408 rush yards in four games and including Saturday’s game, he’s had 238 yards in the last six weeks. As for Allen, he had 367 yards before the trip and has 297 yards since.

The drop-off in yardage is significant, but perhaps the biggest concern is the run game’s reliability.

Penn State was faced with 11 third downs against the Golden Gophers. Of those opportunities, the Nittany Lions ran the ball seven times and converted once on a 3-yard scramble from Allar for the only conversion of the game.

Singleton had the ball for only two of the seven carries, Allen didn’t touch it once, and Allar and Tyler Warren took the rest of the carries.

“Minnesota, they’re a good team. They showed us different looks. They’ve got athletes on that side of the field too,” Singleton said. “That’s one area we’ve got to improve on too, so we’ll see the film tomorrow.”

The Nittany Lions are 10-1, staring at their first-ever College Football Playoff berth, and potentially hosting a home playoff game. It could be all for naught if Singleton and Allen can’t get going on the ground.

Luckily, Singleton has made an impact elsewhere and freshman Corey Smith has stepped up recently too.

Singleton has developed into a pass catcher these past couple of weeks. Before playing USC, he had 74 receiving yards and a touchdown and since that game, Singleton has had 201 yards and a touchdown.

“Got to give a shoutout to the tight ends, quarterbacks, and receivers,” Singleton said. “I feel like my passing game has been really good. Just seeing how they run routes and they’re talking me through stuff.”

As for Smith, he has only played in two games this season but already has 132 yards and is averaging 10.2 yards per carry, despite playing against Minnesota. Last week against Purdue, he had eight carries for 37 yards.

“He’s competitive as Hell,” Singleton said of Smith after the Purdue game. “He’s fast, strong, he’s getting stronger, and he changes direction like I’ve never seen before.”

Penn State scraped by against Minnesota, but the inconsistent run game from Singleton and Allen has been a concern. The Nittany Lions have turned to Beau Pribula, Allar, and Warren as well, but even they combined for 12 yards against Minnesota and if it wasn’t for Luke Reynold’s 32 yards on the fake punt, the Nittany Lions would’ve had 85 yards.

However, Singleton is still taking the positives from this game and using it for the rest of the season.

“That momentum is going to carry us for the rest of the season,” Singleton said. “We play Maryland next week. They’re a good team and whatever happens, happens.”