Nov. 5, 2013
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GAME INFORMATION
TELEVISION: ESPN2
Beth Mowins (p-by-p), Joey Galloway (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
TV APPEARANCES: The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 237th time in their last 239 games.
RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations):
Steve Jones (p-by-p), Jack Ham (analyst), Loren Crispell (sideline).
Local: 93.7 FM & 1450 AM.
Minnesota Radio Network: Mike Grimm (p-by-p), Darrell Thompson (analyst), Justin Gaard (sideline).
WEB: GameTracker and Live Audio available at GoPSUsports.com.
SERIES:Penn State and Minnesota have met 12 times, with Penn State owning an 8-4 on-field advantage in the series. The two teams last met in 2010, a 33-21 Nittany Lions victory in Minneapolis. After this week's meeting, Penn State and Minnesota are not scheduled to meet again until Oct. 1, 2016 in Beaver Stadium.
COACHES
Bill O'Brien
PENN STATE RECORD: 13-7, 2nd year
OVERALL RECORD: Same
VS. MINNESOTA: 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.
JERRY KILL
MINNESOTA RECORD: 16-18, 3rd year
OVERALL RECORD: 143-91, 20th year
VS. PENN STATE: First Meeting
AT A GLANCE
Penn State travels to Minneapolis for the first meeting between the Nittany Lions and Golden Gophers since 2010. The winner claims the Governors' Victory Bell, which has been awarded since the first meeting in 1993.
The Nittany Lions own an 8-4 on-field advantage in the series, including a 33-21 victory in Minneapolis on Oct. 23, 2010. The teams first met in 1993 during Penn State's first season in the Big Ten and will not meet again until Oct. 1, 2016 in University Park, Pa.
Bill Belton became the first Nittany Lion to rush for 200 yards since Larry Johnson did so in 2002 vs. Michigan State, when he gained 201 yards on 36 carries and scored once vs. Illinois. He earned Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. Belton has run for 384 yards (128.0 ypg) over the last three games.
Allen Robinson caught 11 passes for 165 yards against Illinois and has posted double-digit catch efforts in three of four Big Ten games. He caught 12 passes for 173 yards against both Indiana and Ohio State. Robinson leads the Big Ten in receptions (8.2 rpg) and receiving yards per game (130.4), ranking 8th and 2nd, respectively, in the NCAA . He needs 42 yards to break Bobby Engram's school season record of 1,084 receiving yards.
True freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg became the first 2,000 yard passer in the Big Ten and leads the conference in completions (164) and passing yards (253.0 ypg). He is also tied for fifth in touchdown passes (13). Hackenberg has six 200-yard passing games this year to break to Penn State freshman record.
Minnesota has utilized a two-quarterback attack, with Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner sharing the snaps. Nelson averages 117.8 passing yards per game, while Leidner throws for 45.8 yards a game and adds 47.6 rushing yards a contest. The running games averages 221.1 yards per game, led by David Cobb's 89.2 yards per game and six total touchdowns. Leidner has also run for seven touchdowns.