Three reasons why Penn State Football will beat Purdue on Thursday

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 02: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Strength vs Strength

As mentioned, Purdue is a pass-first team and it’s not particularly close.

The Boilermakers averaged 355 passing yards per game last year and nearly three passing touchdowns per game. A lot of the receiving production from last year is gone though.

David Bell caught 93 passes for 1,286 yards and six touchdowns. Milton Wright caught 57 passes for 732 yard and seven touchdowns. Jackson Anthrop caught 53 passes for 570 yards and five touchdowns.

This is a lot of production to lose and try to replace in one off-season.

So, O’Connell and his new starting set of receivers will be going up against Penn State’s highly touted secondary. The secondary is considered a top ten secondary in college football.

The group returns corner backs Joey Porter Jr., Kalen King, Daequan Hardy and Johnny Dixon. Porter Jr. has been projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Joining them is a safety group headlined by Ji’Ayir Brown, who was tied for the national lead in interceptions last year.

A new set of starting wide receivers against one of the best secondaries in the nation may make life difficult for O’Connell. Add in the fact that we’re expecting him to face a lot of pressure from Penn State’s defensive line, and it could be a rough night.

If the Nittany Lions want to escape West Lafayette with a win, they’ll have to shut down this Purdue passing attack. Luckily for them, they’re better equipped than most teams to do just that.

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