Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new information
Indiana football looked to be on the cusp of a historic collapse at Penn State for its first loss of the season, which could have dropped the Hoosiers in the rankings precipitously after entering the game ranked No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Then Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. stepped in.
Facing third-and-goal at the Penn State 7-yard line, Mendoza and Cooper connected for a touchdown, with the latter making a ridiculously impressive toe-tapping catch to give the Hoosiers the 27-24 win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Beaver Stadium.
‘That’s the best catch I’ve seen all season long,’ Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt said on the broadcast of Cooper Jr.’s catch.
Watch: Omar Cooper Jr. makes game-winning TD catch for Indiana vs Penn State
Here’s a look at Cooper Jr.’s game-winning touchdown catch for Indiana:
The heroic touchdown from Mendoza to Cooper Jr. put an end to Penn State’s late fourth-quarter run that included two touchdowns from Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton and an interception from Mendoza. Singleton’s second touchdown of the fourth quarter, his third of the game, put Penn State up 24-20.
‘It felt amazing,’ Cooper Jr. told Fox Sports’ Jenny Taft after the game on the feeling of reeling in that catch. ‘There was a lot that I missed earlier in the drive before. I made mistakes. I just went to Fernando, ‘That was my fault and we’re going to get another chance. Our defense is going to get a stop and we are going to drive (down the field) and get a touchdown.’ That is what we came here to do.’
The game-winning catch from Cooper Jr. also created a piece of history for the Hoosiers, giving Indiana its first-ever win against Penn State at Beaver Stadium in program history. It is just the Hoosiers’ third-ever win in program history against Penn State. The Nittany Lions now lead the all-time series record to 25-3.
Indiana’s perfect season continues at 10-0 going into its Week 11 home game against Wisconsin.
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