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PASADENA, Calif. -- The significance of Monday's decisive Rose Bowl victory wasn't lost on Nick Singleton.
Meeting reporters under the bleachers in a sprinkling rain, the Nittany Lions' star freshman running back, whose electric 87-yard touchdown was one of the key plays in the 35-21 win over Utah, saw the game for what it was: A statement on Penn State's immediate future.
"A win like that means a lot going into next year," Singleton, who rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries, said. "Hopefully we'll rank up a little higher, but it means a lot for this program and the Penn State community."
Indeed, this felt like more than one W.
"I think when you're a Penn State team going against a Top 10 opponent who won the Pac-12," tight end Theo Johnson said, "it's a big deal."
And it was.
The win allowed the Nittany Lions to cap an 11-2 record, send the seniors who have been outstanding leaders out as winners and tame the albatross on James Franklin's back in big games (previously 0-11 against the Top 10).
No, this wasn't Ohio State or Michigan, but it sure gives the Lions a ton of confidence heading into 2023.
"We have all the pieces to the puzzle," Johnson, whose 28-yard reception set up the Lions' first touchdown and whose key block sprung Singleton's long TD run, said. "Next year, it's about putting it together and shooting for a championship."
Beating Utah didn't move the needle of enthusiasm for 2023 as much as the way the Nittany Lions did it.
They did it by combining power -- using their versatile and strong-blocking tight ends in the goal line offense (for those of us who appreciate fullback play) -- and their explosive speed.
Singleton's blazing third-quarter touchdown broke a 14-14 tie.
Running backs coach Ja'Juan Snider had been texting Ki-Jana Carter about which of the backs was going to bust a long run in the Rose Bowl.
Carter's 83-yard touchdown run opened the scoring in the 1994 Rose Bowl, and Saquon Barkley added a historic 79-yard cutback touchdown run here in 2017.
"In these types of games a Penn State running back had that special moment," Seider said afterward. "I told them someone in this room needs to have it. We've watched Ki-Jana Carter run. We've watched Saquon (Barkley) run."
Singleton's run, the third-longest in Rose Bowl history, was on schedule to be the play of the game until it was trumped by Sean Clifford connecting with KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 88-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that bumped the lead to 28-14 and proved to be the dagger.
The Lions' season total of 85 explosive plays (20-plus yards) under James Franklin was exceeded only by the 2016 team, which had offensive stars all over the field.
When he got to the end zone, Lambert-Smith, apparently a prankster, appeared to pull up lame as he faked a hamstring injury, something he got from celebrating NFL receivers.
"It's a popular move right now," he said afterward.
Franklin wasn't amused.
"I wanted to kill him because, because literally, (assistant coach) Terry Smith said on the headset to me, 'I think KeAndre pulled his hamstring,''' Penn State coach James Franklin said. "Whatever (celebration) he's watching, stop watching it."
At the same time, Franklin loves to celebrate wins, big and small, and this one was huge, so he overlooked Lambert-Smith's shenanigans and kept smiling.
He has plenty to smile about.
When the final Associated Press poll is released next week, Penn State will likely be ranked No. 7 with a chance to be in the 2023 preseason top five.
All the pieces are in place for a run at the College Football Playoff next year and definitely in 2024.
Drew Allar got experience this season and will be the anticipated No. 1 quarterback.
Singleton and Allen, who combined for nearly 2,000 yards as freshmen, are back.
Tight end, despite Brenton Strange leaving, has become a position of strength.
There are receiving needs, but the Lions have young talent and transfer possibilities.
The offensive and defensive lines return experience and depth.
The defense will be led by Abdul Carter and Kalen King, who are two of the better players at their positions in the Big Ten if not the country.
In coordinators Manny Diaz and Mike Yurcich, along with the other assistants, the Lions' coaching staff is in good hands.
And it's certainly time to give Franklin his due. He doesn't have the Lions to his desired goal of a national championship, but they're getting closer, and his star is on the rise.
The Lions will finish in the Top 10 for the fourth time in the last seven years - better than any such stretch since the 1990s.
Franklin can now claim wins in three New Year's Six bowl games -- Rose, Cotton (2019) and Fiesta (2017). Alabama (7), Ohio State (6), Georgia (5) and Clemson (4) are the only other programs with more than three since 2014.
That's pretty elite company, and based on what unfolded this season and was underscored at the Rose Bowl, it's clear the Nittany Lions are closing that gap.
Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.