Just a few months ago this game was labeled as one of the best on the conference slate. The No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (9-0,6-0) lived up to their part, but Penn State (3-5, 0-5) has not as the bottom has fallen out in State College. While the luster may be off the matchup, there is still going to be a collision of NFL talent on the field.
Penn State has two NFL caliber running backs who have rewritten the Penn State record books in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. Both returned to Penn State to chase a national title and beat Ohio State. While neither of those things happened, they are still dangerous and playing hard.
“Having two of them makes each other even more difficult to stop because they can rotate them in and out and keep them fresh. They’re both explosive. They’re both fast. One might be a hair bigger than the other one, one might be a tad quicker than the other. But those are NFL guys. They were impressive against Ohio State.” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Monday.
Allen and Singleton have combined for 980 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. With Allen being the main ball carrier with 119 carries to Singleton’s 82. Both are also a threat to catch the ball out of the back field too with a combined 28 catches for 166 yards. If Penn State is going to upset the Hoosiers at home, these two running backs will be the key ingredient on offense.
The Hoosiers have the best run defense in the Big Ten, allowing just 80 yards per game and just 62.33 yards per game against conference opponents. IU has only surrendered three rushing touchdowns (two came against ODU) this season. This will be a strength on strength matchup.
The Hoosier defense should get a boost as Cignetti has said he feels “very optimistic” that All-American linebacker Aiden Fisher will play after missing last week’s game against Maryland. Getting Fisher back to go along with Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy puts IU’s linebacker corps at full strength.
IU also has a very disruptive defensive line that has tallied a Big Ten best 76 tackles for loss. Tyrique Tucker and Hosea Wheeler have stuffed up the middle of the line and if they are not making the play, they allow Stephen Daley and the linebackers to come in behind them and make plays.
Singleton and Allen represented most of Penn State’s offense in the Nittany Lions’ 38-14 loss at Ohio State. The two running backs combined for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
While Penn State’s interim head coach Terry Smith said he would throw the ball down field more this week with backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, Singleton and Allen are still Penn State’s two best offensive players.
Cignetti was complementary of Grunkemeyer who is filling in for an injured Drew Allar.
“This is a talented guy that was very highly recruited out of high school, set a lot of records in Ohio. He’s tall. He can spin the ball. He moves well enough to get out of trouble. He’s made some impressive throws. He can get it out of his hand fast.” Cignetti said.
Cignetti did touch on what changes he expects from Penn State after their coaching change.
“Penn State really landed on the line on tape; impressed with that football team. But the coordinators are still in place, so schematically there’s not a big change.”
The Hoosiers and Nittany Lions kickoff at Noon ET on FOX at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA.