Penn State Nittany Lions vs Indiana Hoosiers Preview
Can Penn State follow up last week’s dramatic win with another win over Indiana.
Penn State’s first road test of the season was almost too much for the Nitany Lions to handle. A last-second touchdown pass from Trace McSorley to Juwan Johnson shocked the Kinnick Stadium crowd and have Penn State an important win over Iowa. Up next is a home matchup with Indiana.
- No. 4 Penn State (4-0) vs Indiana (2-1)
- Venue – Beaver Stadium
- Kickoff -3:30 p.m.
- TV – Big Ten Network
- Coaches – James Franklin vs Tom Allen
- Conferences- Big Ten vs Big Ten
Sitting at 4-0 and ranked No. 4 in the nation, Penn State is off to a great start this season. Now with a win such as the one at Iowa, the Nittany Lions should carry a lot of confidence throughout the rest of the season.
McSorley didn’t have his best game against the Hawkeyes, but he came through when he was needed the most. He finished with 284 yards with a touchdown and interception. The dual-threat quarterback added 61 yards on the ground.
The story of the Penn State offense against Iowa was undoubtedly the play of star running back Saquon Barkley. The junior racked up 358 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. He led the team in rushing (211 yards) and also was the top receiver (12 receptions for 94 yards).
Barkley shone on the national stage and showed why he’s considered by many to be the top player in all of college football.
Indiana’s defense will have its hands full with Barkley this week. The Hoosiers have the worst run defense in the Big Ten and could be in for a very long day.
Barkley was held to just 58 yards on 33 carries but did score two important fourth-quarter touchdowns in last year’s matchup with the Hoosiers. Indiana nearly upset Penn State last year, but was unable to hold onto a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter.
This year, Indiana is 2-1 with wins over Virginia and Georgia Southern. The Hoosiers opened the season with a Thursday night home game against Ohio State and was able to hang with the Buckeyes through the first half. However, Ohio State took control after halftime and walked out with a win.
Quarterback Richard Lagow leads a very potent Indiana passing attack. Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. is someone the Penn State secondary will need to keep its eye on.
Next: Know Your Penn State Opponent: Indiana
Saturday’s meeting will mark the 21st meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Hoosiers. Penn State holds an overall record of 19-1 against Indiana.