The 84^th Classic will be remembered as one of the all-time head-scratchers: A matchup featuring a highly-regarded Penn State defense produced some of the greatest offensive performances in Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic history. The Nittany Lions held off a strong charge from Memphis to win, 53 - 39.

Ultimately, it was the Nittany Lion defense that came up with the game-deciding plays. But only after both offenses nearly exhausted themselves.

By the time the last piece of confetti fell, Penn State and Memphis combined for the most points (92) and second-most yards (1,071) in Cotton Bowl history. Penn State's seven total touchdowns tied another Classic mark.

Memphis placekicker Riley Patterson set the all-time bowl record with six field goals, including a 51-yarder, the longest in Cotton Bowl history. His 21 points (including three PATs) were eight more than the previous Classic record for points by a kicker.

The numbers heading into the game didn't foretell such an offensive onslaught. No. 10 Penn State (11-2) boasted the seventh-ranked scoring defense (17.1 points per game) in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

The Nittany Lions, playing in the vaunted Big Ten, were ranked fifth in rushing defense (97.7 yards per game) and led the FBS with 20 forced fumbles.

No. 17 Memphis (12-2) featured a big play offense on its way to securing the highest spot among Group of Five teams in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

The American Athletic Conference champions were making their debut in a New Years Six game, but without the head coach, Mike Norvell, who guided them in the regular season. Norvell left to become the head coach at Florida State.

Instead Ryan Silverfield, who had been the deputy head coach and offensive line coach, made his debut as Memphis' head coach on the Cotton Bowl stage.
The Memphis offense didn't skip a beat and scored on its initial possession with the first of Patterson's six field goals. Penn State answered with a 32-yard touchdown run by Journey Brown, setting the course for a whirlwind first half.

Brown, a junior running back, rushed for 203 yards on 16 carries – a whopping 12.3 yards per carry. He scored two touchdowns and was awarded the Sanford Trophy as the Outstanding Offensive Player.

Penn State trailed, 13-7, after the first quarter, then heated up with a Classic record 28 points in the second quarter to hold a 35-23 lead at halftime.

Brown ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run, one of three rushing touchdowns in the second quarter by Nittany Lions who finished with 396 rushing yards.

The 58 combined points in the first half broke another Cotton Bowl record. Penn State's 35 points were the most in a first half in Classic history.

Patterson booted a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to begin a 13-point swing for the Tigers. Memphis found the end zone on the opening possession of the second half, then an interception by Austin Hall set up another Patterson field goal to trim Penn State's lead to 35-33.

Patterson's six field goals (48, 37, 44, 51, 41 and 42 yards) were three more than any previous kicker had made in a Cotton Bowl. However, they were symptomatic of a Penn State defense that bent in allowing 479 passing yards but not a single passing touchdown.

Memphis was still within two points of the lead, 38-36, with 38 seconds left in the third quarter when Penn State's defense showed its bite.

Linebacker Micah Parsons crashed into Memphis quarterback Brady White, who slung the ball forward and into the hands of safety Garrett Taylor.

Taylor returned the interception 15 yards for a touchdown and a 45-36 Penn State lead.

The highlight play was one of two sacks by Parsons, who recorded 14 tackles (three for loss) and earned the McKnight Trophy as the game's Outstanding Defensive Player. Parsons, a sophomore, was already being touted as the nation's best defensive player entering the 2020 season.

After a sixth field goal by Patterson tightened the score to 45-39 early in the fourth quarter, Penn State's offense took control. The Nittany Lions ground out a 12-play scoring drive, taking 5:30 off the clock in the process.

Noah Cain, who rushed for 92 yards, scored his second touchdown from a yard out. A successful two-point conversion pass gave Penn State a 14-point lead.

Memphis' playmakers weren't done yet and the Tigers moved quickly into Penn State territory. However, White, who passed for an impressive 454 yards, was picked off by Marquis Wilson with 4:36 left and the Nittany Lions ran out the clock.