Penn State Football: Predicting the outcome of each game this season
Week 9: At Indiana
Following this gauntlet, Penn State will head to Indiana on Nov. 5.
Last year, the Nittany Lions dominated the Hoosiers 24-0. The Hoosiers had a rough year overall, going just 2-10 after starting the season ranked.
Both the offense and the defense were a mess for Indiana in 2021. The offense averaged just 17.2 points per game while the defense gave up 33.2 points a game.
The offense will try to find a new identity after quarterback Michael Penix Jr. decided to transfer out. Jack Tuttle is slated to take over behind center. Tuttle attempted just 87 passes last year with five being intercepted.
The running game is also looking for a fresh start. Stephen Carr, who led the team with 600 yards last year, is gone. Auburn transfer Shaun Shivers looks like the new starter at tailback. He has 1,020 career rushing yards in four years at Auburn.
Indiana’s best defensive player, Micah McFadden, is also gone. He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. The team’s second leading sack recorder, Ryder Anderson, is also no longer there. Indiana had only 14 sacks last year and the guys responsible for nine of them are gone.
This defense will not be a good unit.
The only thing Indiana may have going for them is that Penn State might start slow after the hangover from the Ohio State game. Once the Nittany Lions wake up though, this game could get out of hand.
Prediction: PSU 34 Indiana 10