[13][14][15] In a defensive struggle, the only scoring of the game came at the close of the second quarter, as Penn State threw for a touchdown on a fake field goal, leading to a 7–0 win for the Nittany Lions.

[16] With each team successfully kicking two field goals, the winning margin was a third-quarter touchdown by the Crimson Tide, as Alabama won, 13–6.

[18] Penn State had a chance to tie in the fourth, but Chuck Fusina threw an interception into the Alabama end zone.

Then the Crimson Tide had a chance to put the game away, but fumbled the football back to Penn State at the Nittany Lion 19-yard-line with four minutes to go.

[18] On fourth down, Penn State was stopped again, Barry Krauss meeting Mike Guman and throwing him back for no gain.