In the aftermath of Penn State’s shocking loss to UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, many expected the team to take a step back and really grieve the loss. After all, it was the first time an 0-4 team beat an AP top-10 opponent since 1985.

While Penn State definitely took its time to get back on its feet – with some players citing the flight home as “not great” – the Nittany Lions found their way back to Happy Valley and the practice field quickly.

Coming off of two extremely painful losses, Penn State can do nothing but move forward and focus on Northwestern. However, the Nittany Lions definitely have some added motivation from the back-to-back embarrassments to really zero in on getting more competitive.

“Nothing has changed. If anything, the energy has been picked up more, and then seeing a lot more from the Tuesday-Wednesday practices,” tight end Andrew Rappleyea said on Wednesday. “You see a lot. The D squad has been busting their tails for us, and it’s honestly been more competitive for us in these situations, so I think it’s only helping us.”

Rappleyea also said that he felt Penn State didn’t bring all the energy it could against UCLA. He said the team was motivated to get back in the win column following its White Out loss to Oregon, but a flat start combined with UCLA’s surprise onside kick made it difficult for the Nittany Lions to take command of the game.

However, by Sunday night, the team flushed the loss out after reviewing all the film and immediately shifted gears to Northwestern. Rappleyea said each player knows what they have to change and how each individual can be better, and it’s all about executing and putting into play during practice.

“There’s been a lot more physical interactions between players, not in a good way in the sense of we’re getting much better looks, it’s more competitive,” Rappleyea said. “Before, I could have said it was more like we’re just executing against looks that we could’ve had better looks for. But I think that intensity on both sides of the ball has been picked up.”

Rappleyea said that the intensity is seeping through the entire team, not just the starters or those who saw time on the field against UCLA. He shouted out linebacker Cam Smith for his aggressive play against him at practice on Tuesday. Smith got his first career snap against the Bruins as Dom DeLuca stepped out for a breather in the first half. James Franklin named the freshman as someone in the mix for more reps with Tony Rojas now out for the season.

Rappleyea emphasized that Wednesday’s practice was “one of those days.” It was an intense practice with the team channeling its pent-up frustrations of the last two weeks into its week seven matchup against the Wildcats.

Defensive backs Audavion Collins and King Mack also shared the same sentiment, highlighting Wednesday’s practice as one of the most intense all year. Collins said the team understands where it’s at and the steps necessary to get back in the win column, while Mack said the Nittany Lions have been very intentional in their regimen in hopes of reaching a new level.

That increased intensity starts with the players. The coaches can only do so much to bring some juice to the team, but it starts and ends with the players. Multiple players weren’t afraid to step up as leaders for the team when the going gets tough. They just want to get better and end the skid.

Mack highlighted Zane Durant, Drew Allar, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Amare Campbell, and A.J. Harris as players who specifically stepped up going into practice after the UCLA loss. The main message they’ve brought forward is the same as Rappleyea mentioned – there’s no point in dwelling over the loss. Penn State simply has to move forward, and it starts with the energy the players can create for themselves ahead of Saturday.