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Three reasons why Penn State Football matches up well with Purdue

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Keyvone Lee #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Keyvone Lee #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Reason #2 – Penn State Football’s running game vs Purdue’s front seven

Penn State could not run the ball last year, but it’s looking like that may change in 2022. We won’t know for sure until they prove it out on the field, but Purdue is not expected to have that great of a front seven or be that good of a run defense.

Purdue allowed 4.3 yards per rush last season, which was 77th nationally, and it doesn’t figure to be much better this time around.

As a result, even if the Nittany Lions’ ground game does not improve all that much, they should still be able to have some success on the ground against the Boilermakers.

Not only are there some young, talented offensive linemen expected to start alongside a pair of veterans in Juice Scruggs and Caedan Wallace, but the running back rooms figures to be more dynamic, explosive, and just overall better than a year ago.

Although Keyvone Lee will likely start game one, James Franklin will look to get Nick Singleton some touches early and often. If the offensive line can give him just a glimmer of daylight, he’ll be gone; and a few chunk plays from the running game could be the difference on that side of the ball.

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