| PENN STATE vs.INDIANA | |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 - Noon ET | |
| Beaver Stadium | University Park, Pa. | |
| Game Day Information: | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
| TV: ESPN |
| Radio: 93.7 FM | 1450 AM | Sirius: 135 | XM: 195 |
| Live Video | Live Audio |
| Football Blog | Football Media Central |
| Follow Us: @PennStateFBall | Facebook | Instagram |
| Gameday Central |
| Game Notes: Penn State | Indiana |
| Statistics: Penn State | Indiana |
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | IU | |
| 24.4 | Scoring* | 36.0 |
| 14.4 | 1st Downs* | 25.8 |
| 157.4 | Rushing* | 224.4 |
| 171.2 | Passing* | 273.8 |
| 328.6 | Total Offense* | 498.2 |
| 2/1 | Fumbles/Lost | 3/1 |
| 29/241 | Penalties/Yards | 40/372 |
| 30/35.3 | Punts/Avg. | 28/33.2 |
| 30% | 3rd Down % | 41% |
| 29% | 4th Down % | 44% |
| 21 | Sacks | 12 |
| 3 | Interceptions | 5 |
| 16/18 | Red Zone | 20/23 |
| 28:47 | Time of Possession | 32:27 |
* - Per Game Statistics
Oct. 5, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State carries a four-game winning streak into its fifth consecutive game in Beaver Stadium, as the Nittany Lions resume Big Ten play by hosting Indiana for Homecoming. The noon contest will be televised on ESPN and conclude a five-game homestand.
Penn State's defense, led by sophomore linebacker Jason Cabinda, shined against Army West Point's unique triple-option offense. Cabinda made a career-high 14 tackles, recorded his first two career sacks and forced a fumble. His final sack ended Army's hopes of a comeback in the 20-14 contest.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt freshman Nick Scott rushed for his first touchdown early in the game to give Penn State a lead it would never relinquish. The rainy conditions made holding on to the ball difficult for both teams, but Chris Godwin was able to haul in a 49-yard pass to set up the game-deciding touchdown drive at the end of the third quarter. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg then completed the three-play, 91-yard drive by finding tight end Mike Gesicki on a 33-yard play, allowing Gesicki to score his first career touchdown on his birthday.
The game was the final non-conference contest of the regular season for Penn State. After earning a win over Rutgers in its first conference game of the season, Penn State resume its conference slate by hosting Indiana. The Hoosiers also bring a 4-1 record into the game after suffering their first loss of the season to No. 1 Ohio State in their last outing.
It will be an interesting matchup for Penn State's pass rush. The Lions rank third in the nation with 4.2 sacks per game, but Indiana has only yielded three all season, tied for eighth fewest in the nation. However, Army had only yielded two sacks before visiting Beaver Stadium and the Lions were able to total three sacks to Army's one passing completion and attempt.
After the Indiana game, the Lions hit the road for their next two games, traveling to top-ranked Ohio State next Saturday and meeting Maryland in Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium the following week. Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium on Halloween to host Illinois.
INDIANA HEAD COACH KEVIN WILSON
• Kevin Wilson is in his fifth season as head coach of Indiana. He has guided the Hoosiers to an 18-35 record.
• In Wilson's first four seasons, his teams set 43 school records, including points, total yardage, passing yardage and rushing yardage in a single season.
• He arrived in Bloomington after spending the 2002-10 seasons at Oklahoma, where he served as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (2002-05) and offensive coordinator (TEs and FBs) (2006-10).
• He won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2008.
• His 2008 offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, shattered NCAA records by scoring 60-or-more points in five straight games and 716 total points for the entire season to average more than 51 points per contest.
• He was also instrumental in the development of Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,925 yards his freshman campaign - an OU single-season record and the highest total for a freshman in NCAA history.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
• Indiana won its first four games of the season against non-conference opponents, defeating Southern Illinois, FIU, Western Kentucky and Wake Forest.
• The Hoosiers lost to No. 1 Ohio State in their last outing, 34-27. It was the most points allowed by the Buckeyes all season.
• Indiana's offense leads the Big Ten with 498.2 yards per game, but its defense ranks 14th yielding 502.6 yards per game.
• Indiana (+9) and Penn State (+8) are both among the nation's leaders in turnover margin. • The Hoosiers have yielded three sacks all season.
• Running back Jordan Howard ranks second in Big Ten and ninth in the nation with 141.8 yards rushing per game.
• Quarterback Nate Sudfeld leads the Big Ten with 14.68 yards per completion and is second with 255.4 yards passing per game.
• Wide receiver Ricky Jones is second in the conference with 89.2 receiving yards per game and fifth with three receiving touchdowns.
FIVE IN A ROW AT HOME
The Nittany Lions are playing the final of five consecutive home games, as they are in the midst of their first five-game homestand since 1922 and the third in program history. The stretch has included wins over Buffalo (27-14, Sept. 12), Rutgers (28-3, Sept. 19), San Diego State (37-21, Sept. 26) and Army (20-14, Oct. 3).
Penn State last played five consecutive home games in 1922, going 5-0 with wins over St. Bonaventure (54-0), William & Mary (27-7), Gettysburg (20-0), Lebanon Valley (32-6) and Middlebury (33-0).
The Nittany Lions also hosted five-straight home contests in 1920. Penn State also was perfect in those games with wins over Muhlenberg (27-7), Gettysburg (13-0), Dartmouth (14-7), NC State (41-0) and Lebanon Valley (109-7). The 109 points scored against Lebanon Valley still stand as the program's game scoring record.
While Beaver Stadium has never seen five consecutive home games, it has hosted four in a row five times, doing so in 1977, 1982, 1986, 2002 and 2009.
GREAT START
• With four consecutive victories in four consecutive home games, the Nittany Lions are off to their best home start since 2008.
• Penn State has started 4-0 at home 22 times in Beaver Stadium history, but only four times since 2000 (2005, 2007, 2008, 2015).
HOME SWEET HOME
With a 269-71 all-time record in Beaver Stadium, PSU boasts the seventh-best winning percentage (.791) in its current home venue amongst current FBS schools, and leads the Big Ten. Ohio State ranks eighth overall with a 420-110-20 (.782) mark in Ohio Stadium, which was built in 1922. Only Alabama (.816) and Auburn (.795) boast higher winning percentages than Penn State in facilities older than Beaver Stadium. Baylor leads the country with a perfect 8-0 mark in the brand new McLane Stadium (2014).
PENN STATE VS. BIG TEN
• Penn State owns a 189-94-3 mark against Big Ten Conference teams since the Nittany Lions first opposed Ohio State in 1912.
• The Nittany Lions began play as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 1993 and have a 110-67 mark.
• Prior to joining the conference, Penn State played 107 games vs. the current Big Ten alignment and was 79-25-3 in those games.
• Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2014.
COACHING STAFF CONNECTIONS
Penn State special teams coordinator/running backs coach Charles Huff and Indiana co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach William Inge both worked with the Buffalo Bills in 2012.
PENN STATE-INDIANA CONNECTIONS
• PSU redshirt freshman running back Mark Allen and junior tight end Brent Wilkerson and Indiana freshman Tyler Green played together at DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland.
• PSU freshman tight end Jonathan Holland and Indiana freshman cornerback Devonte Williams played together at The Bullis School in Maryland.
NITTANY LION FROM INDIANA
Freshman quarterback Tommy Stevens is the only Nittany Lion on the roster from Indiana, hailing from Indianapolis and Decatur Central High School.
NEW BEGINNINGS
• Redshirt freshman running back Mark Allen and sophomore safety Troy Apke made their first career starts against Army, becoming the 10th and 11th Nittany Lions to make their first career starts this season.
• Allen started at running back, becoming the fourth freshman to start a game for Penn State this season, joining redshirt freshman linebacker Troy Reeder and true freshmen John Reid and Brandon Polk.
• Redshirt freshmen Johnathan Thomas, Robby Leibel and Daquan Worley became the 19th, 20th and 21st freshmen to play this season (five true, 16 redshirt).
YOUTH MOVEMENT ON OFFENSE
• True freshmen have accounted for nearly 40 percent of Penn State's 13 offensive touchdowns this season, as Saquon Barkley has rushed for three and caught one, while wide receiver Brandon Polk has one.
• True and redshirt freshmen account for eight of the 13 touchdowns, as running back Nick Scott tallied his first touchdown against Army. Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins has a rushing touchdown and running back Mark Allen has a touchdown reception.
• Underclassmen in eligibility account for 11 of the 13 touchdowns, as sophomores Mike Gesicki, DaeSean Hamilton and Chris Godwin each have a receiving touchdown.
• Junior running back Akeel Lynch (two rushing touchdowns) is the lone upperclassmen to find the end zone. Junior Austin Johnson's 71-yard fumble return against San Diego State accounts for the lone defensive score for Penn State.
• Two of Penn State's three touchdowns against Buffalo were scored by true freshmen playing in just their second games. It was the first time since 2005 that a pair of true freshmen were able to find the end zone in the same game. Barkley had the Nittany Lions' final touchdown against UB, while Polk had the first.
• Polk had demonstrated on the very first play of the season at Temple that he was a threat in the running game, and continued to be so against Buffalo, running for a 22-yard score for the Nittany Lions' first touchdown of the game.
YOUTH MOVEMENT ON DEFENSE
• True sophomore linebacker Jason Cabinda leads the team in tackles with 37. He made a career-high and team season-high 14 tackles against Army, and also recorded his first two sacks (minus-33) and a forced fumble.
• True freshman linebacker Manny Bowen made his first career fumble recovery in the second quarter against Army and recorded a career-high six tackles (five solo) in the win.
• Sophomore safety Troy Apke made a career-high five tackles in his first start against Army.
• Redshirt freshman defensive end Torrence Brown, sophomore corner back Grant Haley and sophomore defensive end Curtis Cothran all made a career-best four tackles against Army.
• True freshman John Reid and sophomore Grant Haley both hauled in interceptions against Rutgers.
• Against UB, true freshman linebacker Jake Cooper, who was supposed to redshirt this season until injuries in the season opener pressed him into action, made a season-high three stops, including a sack.
GREEN LIGHT IN THE RED ZONE
Penn State was 3-of-3 in the red zone vs. Army and for the season is 16-of-18 (8 TD, 8 FG). The Nittany Lions have scored on their last nine red zone opportunities.
STINGY DEFENSE
• Penn State has held opponents to less than 325 yards of total offense for 12 consecutive regular season games, which is the longest streak in the nation.
• Additionally, the Nittany Lions have held their last four opponents under 300 yards of total offense.
• The Penn State defense has been particularly stingy at home, having held its last eight opponents and 10 of its last 11 to less than 300 yards of total offense, dating back to last season. Northwestern is the lone team to gain more than 300 yards against the Nittany Lions.
• The Penn State defense has not allowed more than seven points in the first half of 11 consecutive games.
• The unit 15th in the nation in total defense (284.0 ypg) and 18th nationally in scoring defense (15.8 ppg).
• In 2014, Penn State ranked in the Top 10 in the FBS in fewest first downs allowed (2nd, 190), pass efficiency (2nd, 101.14), total (2nd, 278.7 ypg), rushing (3rd, 100.5 ypg), third down (6th, 30.2) and scoring defense (7th, 18.6 ppg).
QUARTERBACKS BEWARE
• Penn State is second the nation with 21 total sacks, while its average of 4.2 per game ranks third nationally. Oklahoma State leads the country with 22 sacks.
• The Nittany Lions made the most of their few chances for sacks against Army's run-heavy triple-option offense, totaling more sacks (3) than passing attempts (1) and completions (1).
• Sophomore linebacker Jason Cabinda registered two sacks in the Army win, including on fourth down to end the Black Knights' comeback hopes.
• Senior defensive end Carl Nassib recorded one of the sacks versus the Black Knights and has posted a sack in each game this season. He leads the team and is second nationally with 8.0 sacks for an average of 1.60 per game.
• Nassib's 8.0 sacks this season are tied with Anthony Zettel (2014) for the most sacks in a season by a Penn State player since 2009.
STOPS BEHIND THE LINE
• In addition to ranking second in the nation in total sacks, Penn State ranks fourth in the nation and tops in the Big Ten with 9.2 tackles for loss per game.
• Penn State leads the nation in both tackle for loss yardage (247) and sack yardage (186). Florida is second in the nation in tackle for loss yardage at 222 yards. Penn State and Florida are the only teams to push opponents back for more than 200 yards.
• Penn State's 15 tackles for loss against Temple were the second-most in the country during the opening week, trailing only Colorado State, which racked up 16 against FCS-level Savannah State. Eleven different Nittany Lions were credited with at least an assist, led by Carl Nassib, Brandon Bell and Anthony Zettel with 2.5 TFL each, while Trevor Williams had 2.0.
• Nassib was again a force in the backfield against Buffalo, racking up three of Penn State's six sacks on the day. Austin Johnson added 1.5 sacks and totaled 2.5 TFL against the Bulls.
DEFENSIVE LINE LEADER
• Senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel had one tackle for loss to move into a tie for 14th place on Penn State's career TFLs chart. He is tied with Anthony Adams (1999-02) with 33 career TFLs.
• Zettel's 0.5 sacks against SDSU gave him 16.5 for his career, moving him into 15th place at Penn State. He trails Justin Kurpeikis and Maurice Evans, who are tied for 13th place with 17.0 career sacks.
NASSIB BREAKING THROUGH
Senior defensive end Carl Nassib has rewarded the Nittany Lions for putting him in the starting lineup, as the former walk-on is enjoying a breakout season by breaking through opposing offensive lines.
• In addition to ranking second in the country in sacks with 1.60 per game, he ranks fifth with three forced fumbles, and 10.0 tackles for loss (2.0) ranks fifth nationally.
• Nassib made a career-high 10 tackles in the season opener at Temple. His previous high was four stops on October 5, 2013 at Indiana. Nassib also recorded what was then his second career solo sack, good for a 12-yard loss in the second quarter, and his 2.5 tackles for loss were a career-best.
• Nassib made even bigger plays the following week against Buffalo, recording three sacks, including back-to-back sack-fumbles to stifle a UB comeback. He also hauled in an interception deep in UB territory after senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel tipped a pass from the quarterback.
• He recorded his fifth sack of the season against Rutgers.
• Nassib tallied two sacks against San Diego State, forcing a fumble on one that led to defensive tackle Austin Johnson's 71-yard touchdown run after scooping up the ball.
• He continued his sack streak with one against Army.
TURNING TURNOVERS INTO POINTS
• Across the SDSU and Army games, Penn State turned four consecutive fumbles into four consecutive touchdowns.
• Penn State converted three San Diego State fumbles into 21 points, and then Garrett Sickels recovered a fumble on Army's very first offensive play, which led to a PSU touchdown. • For the season, the Nittany Lions have turned 11 turnovers gained into 34 points.
• The Nittany Lions entered the SDSU game having converted five turnovers into three points in the first three games.
• Austin Johnson's fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the Nittany Lions' first fumble return for a touchdown since Mike Hull vs. Navy in 2012.
• It was the first touchdown of Johnson's career.
• It was also the first defensive score for Penn State since Grant Haley returned an interception for a touchdown in 2014 vs. Temple.
FUMBLE!
• Penn State is tied with California for the lead nationally in fumble recoveries with eight.
• Penn State's six fumble recoveries in its last two games (3 vs. San Diego State and 3 vs. Army) are its most in a two-game span since having six at Virginia (3) and vs. Navy (3) in 2012.
• Defensive end Garrett Sickels and linebackers Von Walker and Manny Bowen made their first career fumble recoveries against the Black Knights.
TAKING CARE OF THE FOOTBALL
• Penn State ranks eighth in the nation with a plus-8 turnover margin (11 takeaways, 3 turnovers).
• A pair of interceptions (Temple, Rutgers) represent the lone offensive turnovers. A muffed punt against SDSU is the only lost fumble.
GODWIN LEADS RECEIVING CORPS
• Sophomore wide receiver Chris Godwin has caught at least four passes in each game this season for a team-best total of 23 for 349 yards.
• He now has at least one catch in 17 of 18 career games and four career games with five or more grabs, joining his seven-catch night vs. Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
• Averaging 4.6 catches and 69.8 yards per game, Godwin ranks in the Top 10 in the Big Ten.
THREE AND OUT
• Penn State's defense continues to shine under Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop. The Nittany Lions have forced 24 three-and-outs this season on 65 drives, equating to 36.9 percent of the time that Penn State has not allowed their opponents to gain a first down on a drive. Penn State matched a season-high of six three-and-outs against SDSU.
• at Temple -- 6 three-and-outs in 14 drives.
• vs. Buffalo -- 5 three-and-outs in 12 drives.
• vs. Rutgers -- 5 three-and-outs in 13 drives.
• vs. SDSU - 6 three-and-outs in 15 drives.
• vs. Army - 2 three-and-outs in 11 drives.
• PSU has forced three-and-outs or less on the opponent's first offensive possession in four of five games this season, with the exception being SDSU.
• Penn State's average of 4.80 three-and-outs per game ranks 27th in the country.
SPECIAL TEAMS ARE SPECIAL
• Placekicker Joey Julius ranks 15th in the nation and second in the Big Ten with a .889 field goal percentage.
• Penn State is averaging 26.6 yards per kickoff return to rank 19th nationally.
• Against SDSU, Julius booted a career-long 40-yard field goal in the first quarter. His previous long was 34 yards against Temple. Julius set a career-high with three field goals in the game.
• Against Rutgers, Chris Gulla took over the starting punting job for the Nittany Lions against Rutgers and helped Penn State to control field position as he averaged 41.0 yards per punt. He also dropped all five of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
• The punting average was the highest for the Nittany Lions since averaging 48.8 yards per punt against Akron last season.
• His five punts downed inside the 20-yard line equal the total number by the Nittany Lions last season and are the most in a single game since having six punts inside the 20 against Nebraska in 2013.
• Penn State saw success in all three phases of the game in its win over Buffalo, including a pair of big returns on special teams. The game had an electrifying start as redshirt freshman Nick Scott returned the opening kickoff 58 yards to the Buffalo 42. It was the longest kickoff return for Penn State since Chaz Powell had a 92-yard return against Purdue in 2011.
• Classmate DeAndre Thompkins returned a punt 58 yards, on which he was barely tripped up by UB punter Tyler Grassman on a diving play, preventing him from reaching the end zone. It was the longest punt return by a Nittany Lion since Derrick Williams' 63-yard punt return for a TD at Wisconsin in 2008.
• Thompkins' return was also the longest non-scoring punt return since Mike Archie had a 62-yard return at Michigan State in 1993.
• The last time that Penn State had both a punt return and kick return of at least 58 yards in the same game was against Notre Dame in 2007. In that game, Derrick Williams had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and A.J. Wallace had a 68-yard kickoff return.
GROUNDED
• Army's one pass attempt was the fewest against Penn State since at least 1966.
• The Nittany Lions recorded more sacks (3) than Army had passing attempts (1) or completions (1).
• Army's one pass completion is the fewest against the Nittany Lions since Ohio State had one completion in 1976. Since 1966, today's game marked just the fourth time a Penn State opponent had zero or one completions.
• Army was 1-of-1 passing for 32 yards. The one completion is tied for the fewest by a team in FBS this year (by Georgia Southern vs. Western Michigan). The Black Knights' one pass attempt are the fewest by an FBS team this season.
• Army's 32 passing yards are the fewest against the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten era (since 1993). • Army was the first Penn State opponent with fewer than 10 pass completions and 10 attempts since Ohio State in 2004 (6-of-8, 59 yards).
• Nebraska in 2003 was the last Penn State opponent with fewer than five completions (4-of-6, 60 yds).