Sept. 17, 2013
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GAME INFORMATION
TELEVISION: BTN
Kevin Kugler (p-by-p) and Chuck Long (analyst)
TV APPEARANCES: The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 232nd time in their last 234 games.
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations):
Steve Jones (p-by-p), Jack Ham (analyst), Loren Crispell (sideline).
Sirius: Ch. 136; XM Ch. 197
Local: 93.7 FM & 1450 AM.
Kent State Radio Network: Ty Linder (p-by-p), Rob Polinsky (analyst), Matt Miller (sideline).
WEB: GameTracker, Live Video and Audio available at GoPSUsports.com
SERIES:Penn State has met Kent State three times on the gridiron, winning all on-field clashes. The first meeting came in 1965, with more recent match-ups in 2003 and 2010.
COACHES
Bill O'Brien
PENN STATE RECORD: 10-5, 2nd year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. KENT STATE: First Meeting
NOTABLE: Named Penn State's 15th head football coach on Jan. 6, 2012...Won first career game vs. Navy on Sept. 15, 2012...2012 Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year...2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year...Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick...Coached NFL MVP Tom Brady from 2009-11.
PAUL HAYNES
KENT STATE RECORD: 1-2, 1st year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. PENN STATE: First Meeting
AT A GLANCE
Penn State hosts Kent State in the Nittany Lions' final non-conference game and the fourth meeting between the schools. The Nittany Lions are looking to bounce back after dropping a tough, 34-31, decision to undefeated UCF last week in front of an enthusiastic primetime crowd in Beaver Stadium.
Penn State is 2-1 on the season and Kent State enters with a 1-2 mark. The Golden Flashes fell at No. 8 LSU, 45-13, last week. The Nittany Lions have a 3-0 on-field record against the Golden Flashes, winning their meetings in 1965, 2003 and 2010.
Against UCF, Zach Zwinak ran for 128 yards on 21 carries (6.1) and scored a career-high three touchdowns. He posted the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career and also caught one pass for 19 yards to lead the team with 147 all-purpose yards.
Freshman Christian Hackenberg was 21-of-28 for 262 yards, with one touchdown pass and no interceptions to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the second time. Hackenberg hit Allen Robinson on a fourth quarter touchdown pass, with Robinson grabbing nine passes for 143 yards, his third straight 100-yard receiving game.
UCF took a 21-10 advantage into halftime, but Hackenberg and Zwinak helped the Nittany Lions close a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to three points, but the Knights ran off the final 2:50 to secure the win.
Students from Penn State's Commonwealth campuses are attending the game for All-University Day. Fans are encouraged to wear blue attire to support the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) for a BlueOut.
Kent State is led by Colin Reardon, who has thrown for 548 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 106 yards and one score. Dri Archer (RB/WR) returned at LSU after an ankle injury he suffered against Liberty.