Nov. 16, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Following a bye, the Nittany Lions return to action this week for the penultimate game on the 2015 schedule.
Penn State will battle No. 14 Michigan on Senior Day in Beaver Stadium. Additionally, the Nittany Lion faithful will take part in one of the program's greatest traditions in the annual Penn State White Out game.
Always a fan favorite, Beaver Stadium will play host to a complete stadium Penn State White Out on Saturday afternoon (12 p.m.). A tradition stretching back to a student section white out in 2004, the Penn State White Outs have created an unrivaled atmosphere inside the 107,000-seat home of Penn State football.
Saturday's game will mark the eighth time the Nittany Lions will host a full stadium Penn State White Out. The history of the event began on Oct. 9, 2004 when the first student white out was held when the Nittany Lions hosted Purdue. Since then, there has been either a student section white out or full stadium white out in each of the past 11 seasons.
The first full stadium Penn State White Out took place on Sept. 8, 2007 when the Lions defeated Notre Dame, 31-10. Saturday will mark the second time Penn State has played Michigan in a full stadium Penn State White Out. The Lions outlasted the Wolverines in a thrilling four-overtime game (43-40) during Michigan's last visit to Beaver Stadium on Oct. 12, 2013.
Penn State White Out History
Oct. 9, 2004 vs. Purdue (student section)
Oct. 8, 2005 vs. Ohio State (student section)
Oct. 14, 2006 vs. Michigan (student section)
Sept. 8, 2007 vs. Notre Dame (full stadium)
Sept. 27, 2008 vs. Illinois (full stadium)
Sept. 26, 2009 vs. Iowa (full stadium)
Oct. 30, 2010 vs. Michigan (student section)
Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Alabama (full stadium)
Oct. 27, 2012 vs. Ohio State (full stadium)
Oct. 12, 2013 vs. Michigan (full stadium)
Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Ohio State (full stadium)
The Lions will meet the Wolverines at noon on ABC in the final game inside Beaver Stadium for 2015.
Statistical Update on Carl Nassib
With the Nittany Lions idle over the weekend, senior defensive end Carl Nassib's stellar season statistics remained the same as they were last week. However, Nassib will head into the final two weeks of the regular season as the national leader in sacks (15.5) and tackles for loss (19.5).
The Penn State season record holder in sacks, Nassib has averaged 1.55 sacks per game during the first 10 games of the season. He has at least one sack in every game this season. Additionally, Nassib has averaged 2.0 tackles for loss per game.
Nassib is 3.0 sacks clear of Maryland junior defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who is second in the nation in sacks at 12.5 on the season. Duke defensive back Jeremy Cash is second nationally in tackles for loss with 17.5.
Early Look at Michigan
Led by first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan (8-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is the 14th-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 this week. The Wolverines topped Indiana in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington. Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock connected with wide receiver Jehu Chesson on a fourth down touchdown in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. Michigan outlasted the Hoosiers in double OT by a score of 48-41. Rudock and Chesson were superb in the victory, with Rudock tossing six touchdown passes and finishing with 440 yards through the air. Chesson had 10 catches for 207 yards and four touchdowns.
For the season, Rudock has thrown for 2,220 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes. Junior running back De'Veon Smith is Michigan's leading rusher with 582 yards and five touchdowns. Amara Darboh leads the Michigan receivers with 45 receptions for 567 yards. Michigan's offense is ranked No. 3 in the nation inside the red zone (95.2 percent).
Defensively, Michigan is among the national leaders in several statistical categories. Michigan is No. 2 in the nation in total defense (268.7 yards per game). Additionally, the Wolverines are ranked No. 8 in rushing defense (103.2 yards per game), No. 6 in passing yards allowed (165.5 yards per game) and No. 6 in scoring defense (14.8 points per game).
Penn State and Michigan will meet for the 19th time on Saturday. The Nittany Lions are 7-11 all-time against the Wolverines and 4-5 in games held at Beaver Stadium. Penn State has won the last three against Michigan in Beaver Stadium, including the thrilling 43-40 four-overtime win in 2013.