Outback Bowl: 3 key matchups as Penn State Football takes on Arkansas
By Nick Kreiser
As Penn State Football takes on Arkansas in the Outback Bowl, there are a few key matchups that will more than likely decide the outcome of the game.
The Outback Bowl will ultimately come down to two things.
When Penn State Football has the ball, can they have success in the passing game?
And when Arkansas has the ball, can Penn State limit their running game?
The Nittany Lions‘ offensive line will need to allow time for Sean Clifford to go through his progressions, and Clifford himself will need to have a big game through the air, all while protecting the football.
Defensively, a depleted Penn State Football front seven will be tasked with slowing down an excellent trio of running backs and a dual-threat quarterback, who will be running behind one of the top offensive lines in the country.
To win the Outback Bowl, Penn State Football will need to win at least two of, if not all three of these matchups.
Penn State Football’s offensive line vs Arkansas’ pass rush
This one is a little obvious, as games are often times decided in the trenches, which is something that Penn State Football fans know all too well.
If the Nittany Lions hope to be able to consistently move the ball through the air (which they’re going to have to), Clifford needs to be protected.
The Razorbacks are not a team with an overwhelming pass rush by any means, finishing tied (with Penn State, among others) for 89th in the country with 22 total sacks on the year. If the offensive line could protect Clifford against Auburn, they can do it against Arkansas too.
For comparison, Auburn is tied for 28th in the country with 34 sacks on the season, and the Nittany Lions’ offensive line did not allow a sack and only allowed one QB pressure in their week 3 win over the Tigers.
It’s no coincidence that Clifford has his best career game that night, completing 87.5% of his passes for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Arkansas’ team leader in sacks, Tre Williams, who had 6 sacks on the year, has opted out of the bowl game which is a plus for the good guys.
It seems likely that Rasheed Walker will miss the game with a lower-body injury, so expect Bryce Effner to remain at left tackle.
At the end of the day, the offensive line will need to provide their quarterback with a clean pocket for the offense to have success in the Outback Bowl.