Know Your Opponent: No. 10Penn State Nittany Lions

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Head Coach: James Franklin

Overall: 84-37 at Penn State (108-52 overall)

Bowl Appearances at Penn State: Eight

2022 Record: 11-2 (7-2)

Mascot: Nittany Lion

Colors: Blue and White

Outfitter: Nike

National Titles: Two (1982 and 1986)

Conference Titles: Five

Heisman Winners: One – John Cappelletti (1973)

Last Week: 20-12 Loss to Ohio State

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Drew Allar – 136-223 (61%) for 1445 yards with 13 TDs and 0 INTs

Rushing: Nicholas Singleton – 98 carries for 410 yards with six TDs

Receiving: KeAndre Lambert-Smith – 37 catches for 454 yards with three TDs

Tackles: Curtis Jacobs – 32 tackles including 22 solo

Stat of the Week: Penn State has improved from average to good to great under James Franklin. However, they are clearly the third wheel in the Big Ten and still behind Michigan and Ohio State. Franklin is now just 3-16 against top ten teams and 1-13 against Ohio State or Michigan when those teams are ranked in the top ten.

Nittany Lions Talking Points

1. Another Elite Defense

 The Indiana Hoosiers have struggled on offense, regardless of opponent. That written, it must be acknowledged that the Hoosiers have had to go through a murderers row of defenses. Ohio State and Michigan are both elite on that side of the ball. Louisville and Rutgers are well better than average on defense. The Hoosiers will take on another top-level defense on Saturday, going against the Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. After surrendering 18.2 points per game in 2022, Manny Diaz’s unit has turned it up a notch and they are now allowing only 9.7 points per game. Teams are running for only 2.32 yards per rush and only 3.67 yards per play against the Nittany Lions.

2. Lack of Verticality

The major weakness for this Penn State offense has been a lack of difference-makers at the wide receiver position. PSU has a very strong rushing attack and the offense was expected to make a leap forward under former five-star quarterback Drew Allar but the Nittany Lions have been unable to stretch the field vertically. Allar is completing 61 percent of his passes but only averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. He has been very solid and has not made many mistakes (no interceptions) but the lack of explosive plays cost them against Ohio State. The Nittany Lions top wideout is KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He has 37 catches and the next highest total for a wideout is Harrison Wallace with 15. No receiver averages more than 14.56 yards per reception so defenses have been able to defend PSU with multiple extra defenders in the box.

3. Will PSU Be Locked-In?

The 2023 season for most Penn State fans, players and coaches really boils down to two games: at Ohio State and versus Michigan. The Nittany Lions have reached the point as a program where they know they will win nine or ten games as a floor for a season. The success or failure of the campaign comes from whether or not they can reach that next level. James Franklin summed it up after losing to Ohio State: “We went from average to good and from good to great but we have not gone from great to elite yet.” That seems to be a fair assessment of where the Nittany Lions are. Despite much progress being made, they still come up short against Ohio State and Michigan. The Wolverines appear to be the best team in the country this season and the smart money would be on PSU finishing 10-2 yet again. That is certainly still a very good season but there will undoubtedly be an air of disappointment in the air on Saturday in Happy Valley.