Sept. 14, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; - Penn State plays its final non-conference home game of the season on Saturday when it hosts The University at Buffalo. Kickoff is at 12:00 p.m. in Beaver Stadium and the contest will air on the Big Ten Network, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics.
The game will air on DirecTV (Ch. 218) and DISH Network (Ch. 440, SD; Ch. 9501, HD). Approximately 100 cable providers within the Big Ten footprint are carrying the Big Ten Network, including D&E Communications, Millheim TV Transmission and Penn State campus cable in Central Pennsylvania.
The No. 12 Nittany Lions and Bulls are meeting for the first time since Thanksgiving Day in 1900, when host Buffalo captured a 10-0 decision. Penn State is coming a 31-10 pasting of Notre Dame last week, in front of a frenetic white-clad crowd of 110,078, while Buffalo thumped Temple, 42-7, in Philadelphia.
The Nittany Lion defense is again shaping up as one of the nation's best and has allowed only three offensive touchdowns in the past eight games. In the first two games of this season, the defense has given up a total of three points and 258 total yards (144 Notre Dame / 114 FIU). The Lions have allowed minus-3 rushing yards on 57 carries, recording 13 sacks for minus-100 yards and have held their first two opponents to 3 of 31 on third down conversions, including 2 of 16 by Notre Dame, and just 16 first downs (nine by ND).
Penn State has earned high rankings in at least six national categories. Penn State is No.1 in the nation in rushing defense (minus-1.5 ypg), with Iowa second at 22.5 ypg, and tied for No. 1 in sacks at 6.5 per game, along with Indiana. The Lions are No. 2 in total defense at 129.9 ypg, trailing only Ohio State, and No. 2 in third down conversion defense at 9.7 percent (3 of 31). Wyoming leads, having not allowed a first down on 13 third down plays.
Penn State is No. 6 in scoring defense at 5.0 ppg. Eliminating the seven points that Notre Dame scored on an interception return would bring the Lions into a tie with Iowa for No. 1 at 1.5 ppg.
Senior tailback Austin Scott tied his career-high with 116 yards on a career-best 28 carries and scored two second half touchdowns in the win over Notre Dame. Junior wideout Derrick Williams swung the momentum with a 78-yard punt return touchdown late in the first quarter to begin a run of 17 consecutive points for the Lions. The electrifying play was voted the Pontiac Game Changing Performance by a landslide, as 52 percent of voters on espn.com selected the play.
The Nittany Lions (2-0) begin their 15th season of Big Ten competition at Michigan on Sept. 22. The clash will be an ABC national telecast at 3:30 p.m., with Ohio and Chicago receiving the game on ESPN.