Inside the box score: The one key stat where Penn State actually beat Wisconsin

Inside the box score: Penn State had no business winning at Wisconsin if you just glanced briefly at the box score

Penn State Defense

Tariq Castro-Fields – 5 tackles

Castro-Fields showed some nice flashes throughout this game. The Penn State secondary as a whole really looked impressive, especially late in the game with two interceptions in the final minutes.

Jaquan Brisker – 4 tackles

Brisker had himself a solid game. It’s important to note that he did go down twice in the first half with two minor injuries. However, Brown finished strong, intercepting Mertz in the final minutes of the game.

Brandon Smith – 6 tackles

Smith looked impressive throughout this game, finishing as the second leading tackler for the Nittany Lions.

Ji’Ayir Brown – 2 tackles and an interception

Brown was a key factor throughout this game, but his presence played a crucial role late in the game. One important point to note is that Brown did have a minor injury early in the game where he was on the sideline bike for a while. But he eventually entered back into the game.

PJ Mustipher – 6 tackles

As mentioned, Mustipher is one of the heart and souls of this Penn State defense, and even though he only had six tackles, he was still very productive throughout this game.

Ellis Brooks – 8 tackles and a sack

Brooks really showed out this game before his ejection for targeting Graham Mertz. Penn State lost a lot on their defense, but their linebacker core looked like they didn’t miss a beat.

That’s a look at how some of the key players for the Nittany Lions performed. But how did some of Wisconsin’s top players fare in the box score?

NEXT: Key stats from the Wisconsin box score