Saturday night was not a dream, folks.

Kaytron Allen surpassed Evan Royster as Penn State football’s all-time leading rusher, while Nick Singleton tied Saquon Barkley for the rushing touchdown record with his 43rd score in blue and white. Both performances set up Penn State for its second consecutive win in a 37-10 domination of Nebraska.

Allen teetered on the record at the end of the third frame as Beaver Stadium held its breath every time he carried the ball. He broke it on a 13-yard run on the last play of the quarter before negating the play with a face mask penalty. Allen didn’t wait long with the end goal in sight, pushing himself to the top with a 3-yard run in the top of the fourth quarter.

Singleton found the end zone twice, with his record-tying score coming on a 10-yard waltz into the end zone in the final two minutes.

However, this season hasn’t had the feel-good vibe all the way through for the pair. Penn State’s running game and offense as a whole struggled through the first half of the year. Singleton wasn’t producing, yet was getting substantially more carries than Allen.

Fans voiced concerns about James Franklin’s possible misuse of the two backs with Allen flashing more production in his limited opportunities. The situation seemed like a contributing factor to Franklin’s eventual firing.

When Terry Smith took over as head coach, he had two objectives for the offense: pass the ball downfield and give Singleton and Allen 35+ touches each per game. And run the ball they did.

While Allen has still distanced himself far and away as Penn State’s most productive back, Singleton made his presence felt again with a 78-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Indiana Hoosiers on November 8. That set the scene for another productive day for the pair against Michigan State, where Allen rushed for a career-high 181 yards.

It all came down to Senior Day. Allen and Singleton didn’t disappoint in front of their last-ever Penn State home crowd as they both etched their names into Nittany Lion lore forever.

“It mean a lot. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I’m glad I got the opportunity to do this. It’s been a long four years, and I get to do it on Senior Night,” Allen said postgame.

Allen and Singleton have been a combination package since they both walked into the Lasch Building as freshman prior to the 2022 season. They’ve split carries their whole career. They’ve practiced together their whole career. They’ve become bonded by their work, and neither of them takes that lightly.

“There’s no downfall. There’s no jealousy. There’s nothing like that,” Singleton said postgame. “We’re happy for each other. We want the best for each other. He’s on the field doing good, I’m on the field doing good. We just support each other. That’s just my brother.”

Allen shared the same sentiment.

“It’s special, because all the winter workouts, things like that. Pushing each other, feeding off each other. It just mean a lot,” Allen said. “He like a brother from a different mother, and I mean, we just tight. We always talking to each other and things like that, off the field, on the field. He help me grow. I hope I help him grow.”

Allen got a little banged up near the end of the third quarter as he inched dangerously close to the record. He said the only thing that would’ve taken him out of the game was if he had to be carted off. Many people reached out to him before the game, urging him to have no mercy in pursuit of the achievement, one of which being former Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider.

Smith knew the importance of putting the cherry on top of the duo’s careers at home in front of their very own fans. While the season didn’t turn out how anybody expected, Allen, Singleton, and Penn State fans will always have the record.

“Kaytron Allen. Penn State’s been playing football for an awful long time. And to be the No. 1 rusher in the history of this place, it is an impressive thing that he accomplished tonight,” Smith said. “And what makes it even more impressive is that he is a guy that had to share carries for four years. And to break the record tonight, hats off to him. Game ball to him. Unbelievable effort, performance. I think he had 160 yards tonight, just a tremendous effort from him.”

Yet, it’s almost the end of the line for the pair. Senior Day has passed and gone, and their last-ever regular season game is on tap for Saturday’s bout against Rutgers.

“You fast-forward four years now, like, we’re at the same position. It’s so unreal. I didn’t take a moment to think about it like that,” Singleton said. “It’s just been, it’s been so fast. But tonight I’m going to think about it. I’m going to just sit back and just thank God for it.”

Both backs know how instrumental Smith was in putting them in the position to be at the top of Penn State’s record books. Neither Allen or Singleton is taking Smith’s increased usage of them since he took over for granted when reflecting on the season.

“I appreciate him for believing in me, giving me these opportunities. Like, a few years ago I had went to they [Smith’s] house for Thanksgiving because I couldn’t have Thanksgiving here,” Allen said. “It just means everything just coming in full circle for real. And I’m glad I got the opportunity to do it with coach Terry.”

Allen still has the opportunity to pad his lead atop Penn State’s career rushing leaders, and Singleton can still overtake Barkley with one touchdown on Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey. Twilight is setting on this chapter of Penn State’s rushing attack, but Allen and Singleton are enjoying every second.