Know Your Opponent: Penn State Could Be The Best In The Big Ten
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Head Coach: James Franklin 4th Season at Penn State
Overall: 53-30 7th Year
At PSU 29-15 (15-11)
Bowl Appearances at PSU: 3
2017 Record: 4-0 Last Game: Won 21-19 at Iowa
Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 1 (1-0)
Mascot: Nittany Lion
Colors: Blue and White
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 2
Conference Titles: 5
Heisman Winners: 1
Talking Points
1. Is This the Best Team in the Big Ten?
Penn State will enter Saturday’s game as the number four team in America according to both the Coaches and AP polls and they may be the best team in the Big Ten, although that is still up for debate.
Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin all loom in the top-11 in both polls and will have their say in determining who hoists the Big Ten Championship trophy in Indianapolis in December, but right now it looks like Penn State is in the driver’s seat. The Lions just pulled off a last-second win at Iowa, always a tough place to play. They are 4-0, have a dual-threat QB, the best running back in the country and a typical Penn State defense that is surrendering just 8.3 points per game.
2. The Dynamic Duo of Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley
The Nittany Lions have one of the best back field combinations in the country with quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley. The two have combined for 2,088 total yards and 16 total touchdowns. Through four games, that’s pretty darn good.
Saquon Barkley is now the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy after his spectacular performance at Iowa where Barkley accounted for 305 total yards and a score. Barkley is an absolute beast and has 518 yards on 66 carries (7.85 YPC) and four touchdowns while also leading the Lions in receiving yards as well with 335. Last season, the Hoosiers held Barkley in-check, but shutting him down two years in a row is going to be extremely difficult.
Calling the signals behind center is junior Trace McSorley, who came on strong last season to led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Title and a Rose Bowl berth. 2017 hasn’t been a letdown for McSorley either. He has upped his competition percentage from 57.9 in 2016 to 66.1 in 2017. He has thrown for 1,037 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. What sets McSorley apart is his ability to make plays with his legs as well. He’s rushed 40 times for 198 yards and two more touchdowns. He killed IU last season with his ability to extend plays and throw deep balls.
3. Defense is Pretty Good Too
Penn State is known for their defense and the 2017 Nittany Lion D is shaping up to be another great unit. Penn State is allowing just 8.3 points per game (second nationally) over their first four games and are 17th nationally in total defense. The defense averages three sacks a game, led by sophomore defensive lineman Shareef Miller who has taken down the quarterback twice, and leads the nation in tackles for loss with 41 totaling a loss of 144 yards.
There are playmakers at every level of the defense. Miller leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss, while safety Marcus Allen leads the team with 23 tackles and senior linebacker Jason Cabina is right behind him with 21. Corner Grant Haley leads the team with two interceptions. This defense is nasty and aggressive and IU will have to be careful not to force too many things on offense.
4. Penn State Has Never Lost to Indiana at Home
Indiana has not fared well against Penn State. It’s not anything that can be ignored either. The Hoosiers are winless in Happy Valley (0-9) and have only topped PSU once. Beaver Stadium is a tough place to play and the Lions have just been better than Indiana since Penn State joined the Big Ten. However, this is a chance for Indiana to have one of the breakthroughs that Tom Allen has talked about.
5. Kicker Tyler Davis Could be the Chink in the Armor
There are not many weaknesses for this Penn State squad, but there may be a chink in their armor. That weakness is place kicker Tyler Davis, who has struggled in 2017 going just 4-of-8 on field goals after a spectacular 2016 season (22-of-24). If this game does come down to a field goal, Indiana has the advantage with Griffin Oakes.