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Penn State Football: five reasons for optimism for the Nittany Lions’ trip to The Big House

By Nick Kreiser

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball ball behind offensive lineman Landon Tengwall #58 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball ball behind offensive lineman Landon Tengwall #58 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Reason for optimism #2 – the run defense

Michigan running back Blake Corum has been extremely productive so far this year, but now he’ll run into what is statistically one of the nation’s top run defenses.

Corum has carried the ball 118 times so far this season for 735 yards (6.2 yds/carry) and 11 touchdowns. However, the best run defense he has faced so far has been Iowa, who currently ranks 27th in the country in rush yards allowed per game.

In that matchup, Corum did rush for 133 yards and a touchdown, but that came on 29 carries. So, the Hawkeyes held him to 4.6 yards per carry, his lowest yards per carry average in a single game so far this season.

Well that was against the 27th ranked run defense in the country, but now he’ll be squaring off with the fifth ranked run defense in the country: Penn State.

The Nittany Lions are allowing just 2.95 yards per rush and 79.6 rushing yards per game on the season, and will certainly be a challenge for Corum–though he’ll obviously be a challenge for them as well.

Penn State Football has also not allowed a rushing touchdown since the second quarter of the week two game against Ohio, and they’ve allowed a total of just three on the entire season which is tied for sixth in the country.

Will the Wolverines’ star running back have some success on Saturday? Probably, but it probably won’t be to the same extent that he’s had in all their other games so far this year.

He’ll likely surpass 100 yards and find the endzone once or twice, but that will also come on 25 or more carries. With the depth of this Penn State defense and how often they rotate, it’ll be tough for Corum to physically wear down the Nittany Lions’ front seven.

The run defense for Penn State Football is plenty good enough to neutralize Michigan’s biggest strength.

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