Penn State-Iowa Game Notes

PENN STATE at IOWA Saturday, Sept. 23 | 7:30 p.m. Kinnick Stadium | Iowa City, Iowa GAME DAY INFO TV: ABC Radio: 93.7 FM | 1450 AM Sirius/XM: 81/81 Stadium Map Game Day Guide Directions/Parking Tickets Bag Policy GAME DAY LINKS | Live Audio Gameday Central Football Blog | Media Center Game Notes: Penn State | Iowa Statistics: Penn State | Iowa Connect with @PennStateFball Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog

Sept. 18, 2017

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 4 Penn State opens its 25th season of Big Ten football at Iowa in primetime Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

Penn State and Iowa bring undefeated non-conference records and touchdown tossing quarterbacks to their conference opener. Both feature 3-0 records, and Iowa's Nathan Stanley and Penn State's Trace McSorley rank one and two in the Big Ten and in the top-eight nationally in touchdown passes with 10 and nine, respectively.

Helping McSorley is Saquon Barkley, who leads the Nittany Lions in both rushing and receiving yards. Ranking second in the country as only one of two players averaging more than 200 all-purpose yards per game, Barkley became Penn State's career leader in receiving yards by a running back with 142 receiving yards against Georgia State, highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown reception.

Additionally, Penn State's defense looks to continue its stingy start, only yielding 14 points with shutouts in two of three games this season to help Penn State become the early leader in FBS point differential.

Last season, Penn State earned a 41-14 victory over Iowa in Beaver Stadium, limiting the Hawkeyes to 30 yards rushing, while gaining 599 yards of total offense.

Penn State is leaving Beaver Stadium for the first time this season, but finished 2016 with three consecutive wins in true road games. The streak included its highest point total of the year (62 at Purdue) and lone shutout win (39-0 at Rutgers).

PSU returns home the following week to host Indiana in the "Generations of Greatness" game, which will feature throwback uniforms featuring design cues to multiple eras.

HEAD COACH KIRK FERENTZ

• Kirk Ferentz is in his 19th season as head football coach and 28th season overall at Iowa.
• Ferentz shares the distinction of being the longest-tenured head football coach in the nation.
• Ferentz led the 2015 Hawkeyes to a perfect regular season, setting a school record with 12 wins (12-2), and earning a Rose Bowl appearance. He was recognized with both the Hayes-Schembechler and Dave McClain Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year awards and multiple national coach of the year honors.
• Ferentz has guided Iowa to 14 bowl appearances in 18 seasons. His six bowl victories put him in a tie for third all-time among Big Ten coaches.
• Ferentz attended Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh and graduated from Connecticut in 1978. He was a football captain and an Academic All-Yankee Conference linebacker at UConn.

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES

• Iowa is 3-0 after season opening wins over Wyoming, Iowa State and North Texas.
• First-year starting quarterback Nate Stanley leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth in FBS with 10 touchdowns, and he has thrown just one interception. He is second in the Big Ten only to Penn State QB Trace McSorley in points responsible for.
• The Hawkeyes excel on third down on both sides of the ball, ranking third in the Big Ten and 24th in FBS in third down conversion percentage (.478) and second in the Big Ten and 11th in FBS in third down conversion percentage defense (.237).
• Iowa's kickoff return defense will provide an intriguing matchup, as it ranks second in the Big Ten and eighth in FBS with an average of 14.78 yards per return. Penn State ranks third in the Big Ten and 17th in FBS averaging 26.75 yards per return. Similarly, Iowa's punt return defense leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth in FBS, averaging zero yards, while Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten and ninth in FBS averaging 17.92 yards per punt return.
• Iowa and Penn State contrast sharply in time of possession. Iowa averages 35:35 to rank sixth in FBS, while Penn State averages 24:07 for the fifth-lowest average.

PENN STATE IN 25TH BIG TEN SEASON

• After 106 years as an independent in football, Penn State began play in the Big Ten Conference in 1993 and will play its 25th season in the conference in 2017.
• The Nittany Lions were Big Ten Champions in 1994 and 2016 and shared the title in 2005 and 2008. Penn State has played in the Rose Bowl three times as a member of the Big Ten, beating Oregon to win the 1995 Rose Bowl and playing USC in the 2009 and 2017 Rose Bowls.

LIONS UNDER THE LIGHTS

• The 2017 season marks the 17th straight with at least one regular season night game on the schedule, and the 10th since 2000 with multiple night games in the same season.
• After defeating Georgia State in the first primetime game of the season, Penn State has won its last five night games, dating back to a 4-0 mark last season, and five of their last six dating back to 2015.
• Penn State is playing consecutive night games for the first time since 2014 (at Michigan; vs. Ohio State).
• Penn State is playing Iowa under the lights for a third consecutive time and the fourth time in the last five meetings. Penn State has won the last two night games.
• Penn State has the potential to play more primetime regular season games this season as four of the nine remaining game times are to be determined.
• Penn State is 47-29 at night all-time. The figure breaks down to 13-10 at home, 21-12 on the road and 13-7 in neutral site games. Penn State is 1-1 at regular season neutral sites, 11-6 in bowl games and 1-0 in conference championship games.
• The Georgia State game was the Nittany Lions first non-conference matchup under the lights since hosting UCF Sept. 14, 2013.
• The Lions' night games since 2000 include: Iowa and Georgia State (2017); Ohio State, Iowa, Rutgers and Wisconsin (2016); Ohio State and Rutgers (2015); Boston College (Pinstripe Bowl), Ohio State, Michigan and Rutgers (2014); Ohio State, Michigan and UCF (2013); Iowa and Ohio State (2012); Northwestern (2011); Alabama, Iowa and Michigan (2010); Iowa (2009); Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State (2008); Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M (2007), Michigan (2006), Illinois, Ohio State and Florida State (2005), Minnesota and Boston College (2004), Nebraska (2002 and `03), Miami (Fla.) (2001) and Indiana (2000).
• On Oct. 12, 2013, the Nittany Lions claimed the longest game in Big Ten history when they edged Michigan under the lights, 43-40, in front of a sellout Beaver Stadium crowd of 107,844 on Homecoming.

B1G ANNOUNCES 2020 & 2021 SCHEDULES

• Annual cross-division meetings between Penn State and Iowa will take place through at least 2021. Already scheduled through 2019, the series continues in the latest Big Ten schedule announcement.
• Penn State hosts five conference games in 2020 and four in 2021.
• The 2020 Big Ten schedule opens Sept. 26 against Northwestern, followed by a road trip to Michigan Oct. 3. Following a bye week, the Nittany Lions host Iowa (Oct. 17) and Ohio State (Oct. 24) in back-to-back weeks before hitting the road for a pair of games at Indiana (Oct. 31) and Nebraska (Nov. 7). Rounding out the 2020 Big Ten slate are home games against Michigan State (Nov. 14) and Maryland (Nov. 21) with the regular-season finale at Rutgers (Nov. 28).
• In 2021, Penn State plays its first two conference games on the road at Wisconsin (Sept. 4) and Iowa (Oct. 9). The Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium to meet Illinois (Oct. 16) before a trip to Michigan State (Oct. 23). The remaining conference home games feature Indiana (Oct. 30), Michigan (Nov. 13) and the regular-season finale against Rutgers (Nov. 27), while the remaining conference road schedule includes trips to Maryland (Nov. 6) and Ohio State (Nov. 20).
• Previously, Penn State announced non-conference matchups at Virginia Tech (Sept. 12, 2020) and vs. Ball State (Sept. 11, 2021) and Auburn (Sept. 18, 2012).

PENN STATE-IOWA CONNECTIONS

• Penn State OL coach Matt Limegrover was the offensive line coach at Emporia State while Iowa WR coach Kelton Copeland played there as a quarterback from 1999-2000.
• Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz were both graduate assistants at Pitt. Ferentz was on staff in 1980 and Moorhead in 1998-99.

HISTORIC SERIES

• Penn State has many long and storied series on the gridiron. The Nittany Lions have played 19 teams 20 or more times in the 131-year history of the program.
• Penn State owns a winning record against 16 of the 20 teams that it has met 20 or more times.
• Eight of the 20 teams are on the 2017 schedule; including Pitt (98 meetings), Iowa (25), Indiana (20), Michigan (20), Ohio State (31), Michigan State (31) Rutgers (25) and Maryland (37).
• Since 2012, Penn State has played or has a future meeting scheduled meeting with 13 of the 20 teams (all of the FBS teams except Navy). Those opponents include: Army (2015), Illinois (2014-15, '18), Iowa (2016-18), Pitt (2016-19), Syracuse (2012), Temple (2014-16) and West Virginia (2023-24), while the Lions will meet yearly with Big Ten East Division opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Rutgers.
• Fifteen of the 20 programs are currently members of NCAA Division I FBS. Bucknell, Lehigh and Penn are in NCAA Division I FCS, while Gettysburg and Lebanon Valley are Division III programs.

PENN STATE VS. BIG TEN

• Penn State owns a 201-99-3 mark against Big Ten Conference teams since the Nittany Lions first opposed Ohio State in 1912.
• Penn State has won its last nine games against Big Ten opponents for its second longest conference winning streak since winning 12 from 1993-94.
• The Nittany Lions began play as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 1993 and have a 121-72 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.

TOP FIVE

• Entering Week 4, Penn State is ranked No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches Polls.
• The No. 4 ranking marks the third consecutive week Penn State has been ranked in the Top Five of both polls - a feat not accomplished since Penn State held strong in the Top Five for 10-straight weeks in 1999.

BEST POINT DIFFERENTIAL

• Amongst teams that have played more than one game, Penn State leads FBS with an average margin of victory of 42.3 points.
• Penn State has posted two shutouts and two 50-plus point scoring efforts in its first three games.
• The Nittany Lions have recorded two shutouts in the first three games for the first time since earning two shutout victories in the first three games of the 1981 season (52-0 vs. Cincinnati; 30-0 vs. Temple).
• The Nittany Lions have scored 50 or more points twice in the first three games for the first time since 2008 (66-10 vs. Coastal Carolina; 55-13 at Syracuse).

END ZONE MANAGEMENT

• Penn State is tied for seventh in FBS with 19 touchdowns scored, and in a three-way tie for the national lead with just one touchdown allowed.
• That gives the Nittany Lions (3 games played) a touchdown s scored-allowed ratio more than 2.7 times that of second place Houston (2 games played) with seven touchdowns scored to one allowed.
• Amongst teams that have also played three games, Mississippi State is the closest to Penn State with 18 touchdowns scored to three allowed, the Nittany Lions still hold a ratio more than three times greater.

ON TV

• Penn State has had 283 of its last 285 games televised, including 176 consecutive games.
• Over the last 13 seasons, every Penn State game has aired on either ABC, FOX, BTN, NBC or an ESPN channel.

MILESTONE WATCH

• Running back Saquon Barkley is 121 yards shy of 3,000 career rushing yards and 196 yards shy of 1,000 career receiving yards. He would be the first Penn State player to achieve both milestones.
• Safety Marcus Allen is 32 tackles shy of 300 for his career.
• Kicker Tyler Davis is eight extra point conversions away from 100 extra points made.

MILESTONES ACHIEVED

• Mike Gesicki surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards against Pitt, making him the 25th player achieve the
• feat at Penn State.
• Head coach James Franklin earned his 50th career victory with the Nittany Lions season opening win.
• With 74 receiving yards against Akron, DaeSean Hamilton surpassed 2,000 yards for his career.
• Trace McSorley surpassed 4,000 career passing yards with 280 against Akron.
• Jason Cabinda surpassed 200 career tackles for his career with three against Akron.

STREAKING

• Penn State QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games, dating to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, extending his Penn State record.
• McSorley's consecutive games with a touchdown pass streak is tied for the second-longest active streak in FBS. Marshall's Chase Litton has the longest active streak at 24, while Middle Tennessee's Brent Stockstill is tied with McSorley at 18 games.

POPULAR NITTANY LIONS

• Penn State ranks third in the nation with an average home attendance of 104,776.
• The attendance of 109,898 for the Pitt game was the seventh-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history and the largest since Penn State faced Ohio State in 2009 in front of 110,033 in 2009.
• It was the 15th-largest crowd to ever watch a Penn State football game.
• The crowd set a record for the current configuration of Beaver Stadium, which has had a capacity of 106,572 since 2011.
• The Penn State Student Section sold out more than 21,000 tickets in just 89 minutes, highlighted by the sold-out allotments of the senior (20), junior (10) and freshmen (15) classes in less than 20 minutes each.
• The Penn State Student Section has consistently sold out for four decades, showing the unwavering passion and dedication of Penn State students.
• Penn State sold more than 9,000 new season football tickets for the 2017 campaign. The season ticket renewal rate topped 95 percent to help the Nittany Lions exhaust their season ticket allotment for the first time since 2008.

DISCIPLINED

• Penn State has been one of the most disciplined teams through the first three weeks of the season, averaging just 3.67 penalties per game rank second in the Big Ten and rank in a tie for 10th in FBS.
• Navy leads the country with 1.0 per game and Fresno State is second with 2.0 per game, while Ball State, South Alabama, Pitt and Arizona State are all tied with the Nittany Lions at 3.0.
• Penn State has had no more than five penalties in a game and had just one against Pitt.

NITTANY LION DEBUTS

• A total of 23 Nittany Lions have made their debuts this year, including three true freshmen, 14 redshirt freshmen, two sophomores and four juniors.
• Seven made their debut in the win over Georgia State. Juniors included: CB Desi Davis and OL Charlie Shuman. Sophomore included: TE Joe Arcangelo. Redshirt freshmen included: WR Dae'Lun Darien, QB Michael Shuster, RB Nick Eury and WR Isaac Lutz.
• A total of 16 Nittany Lions made their debuts in the season opening win over Akron, including three true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. True freshmen included: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, CB Lamont Wade and DE Yetur Gross-Matos. Redshirt freshmen included: CB Zech McPhearson, DE Shane Simmons, OL Will Fries, OL Alex Gellerstedt, DE Shaka Toney, DT Ellison Jordan, K Alex Barbir, DT Antonio Shelton, OL Michael Menet and DT Daniel Joseph. Sophomore included: S John Petrishen. Juniors included: LB Jason Vranic and LS Kyle Vasey.

HIGH SCORING

• With 56 points in its win over Georgia State, Penn State became the fifth Big Ten team to score 30 or more points in 10 consecutive games.
• The 10-game, 30-plus point streak marks the longest stretch for the Lions since a string of 15-straight games with 30+ points from 1993-94.
• Penn State's 10-game 30-plus point streak ranks as the third longest active streak in FBS. USF leads with a 20-game streak, while Oklahoma is second with a 13-game streak.
• It is also the 10th consecutive game Penn State has scored 33 or more points, which is a program record.
• Penn State has scored 228 points (45.6 ppg) in the last five games, which is its most since scoring 249 (49.8 ppg) in a five-game span in 2008 (first 5 games).
• Penn State has scored 460 points (46.0 ppg) in the last 10 games, which is its most since scoring 470 (47.0 ppg) in the final 10 games of 1994.
• Penn State's scoring average of 47.0 points per game ranks 11th in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
• The 56-point margin of victory by Penn State against Georgia State in its most recent outing is the largest for the Nittany Lions since they won by 56 (66-10) against Coastal Carolina in 2008. It was also the largest shutout victory since a 59-0 win over FIU in 2007.
• Penn State continued its high scoring ways from 2016 in the season opener, as the Nittany Lions totaled 52 points against Akron, which were the most since scoring 62 last year at Purdue.
• It was Penn State's eighth consecutive game scoring more than 35 points, a school record. It was the longest active 35-point streak among Power 5 teams. The previous longest such streak for the Nittany Lions was seven games in 1973.
• In the Akron game, the Nittany Lions scored 50 or more points in a game at home for the first time since scoring 52 vs. Eastern Illinois in 2009. It was also the first time scoring 50 or more at home vs. an FBS team since a 59-0 win over FIU in the 2007 season opener.
• Penn State averaged 37.7 points per game in 2016, which is its highest scoring rate since averaging 38.9 points per game for the 2008 season that also concluded in Pasadena.

OFFENSE COVER GROUND, QUICKLY

• Penn State is averaging 469.0 yards of total offense per game to rank fourth in the Big Ten and 41st in FBS, and wasting little time getting down the field.
• With an FBS sixth-ranked 8.28 yards per play, the Nittany Lions have found success despite having the fifth-lowest time of possession average (24:07) in FBS.
• According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks seventh in FBS in getting a first down on first down, doing so 28 times (45.9 percent).
• Penn State has surpassed 500 yards of total offense twice in the first three games, most recently totaling 526 yards against Georgia State.
• The Lions' 569 yards of total offense (322 passing, 247 rushing) against Akron were their most since recording 599 yards total offense last season vs. Iowa.
• The 569 yards of total offense were also the most in a season opener since the Nittany Lions gained 594 yards against Coastal Carolina in 2008.
• Penn State's offense averaged 432.6 yards per game last season, which was its most since 2013 (433.2).

FAST STARTS

• According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks 10th in FBS in points in the first half (28.0 avg.) and seventh in first-quarter scoring (14.0 avg.).
• Penn State has scored 14 points in the opening stanza of three consecutive games for the first time since 2008 (14 vs. Coastal Carolina; 14 vs. Oregon State; 21 at Syracuse).
• Penn State was known as a second-half team in 2016, only scoring more points in the first half than in the second half on three occasions. However, Penn State has gotten off to two of its best starts in recent years against Akron and Georgia State.
• Against both Akron and Georgia teams, Penn State scored 35 points in the first half. Before this season, the Nittany Lions had not scored as many in the first half of a game since scoring 38 against Eastern Illinois on the way to a 52-3 victory in 2009. The last time that the Nittany Lions scored 35 in a first half against an FBS team was in 2008 at Syracuse, a game that Penn State won 55-13.

PICKING UP CHUNKS - TEAM

• According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks 12th in 12-plus yard runs with 13 and 12th in 15-plus yard passes with 22. That gives Penn State a total of 35 big plays this season, which equates to 20.59 percent of its plays to rank fifth in FBS.
• According to cfbstats.com, Penn State is among the national and Big Ten leaders in "chunk plays" of 20 yards or more.
• Penn State ranks in the top-25 nationally in plays of 20, 30, 60, 70 or 80 or more yards.
• Penn State is the only team in the Big Ten with an 80- yard play this season.
• Penn State and Oklahoma are the only two teams with two 80-plus yard plays this season.
• Penn State is averaging 8.28 yards per play to rank sixth in FBS and second in the Big Ten.

BALANCED ATTACK

• Against Georgia State, Penn State had eight different players score touchdowns for the first time since nine scored in a 70-24 win over Akron in 1999.
• It is the first time that eight different Nittany Lions have scored an offensive touchdown since eight scored offensively in the same game against Akron.
• Twelve different Lions have scored points through the first three games. A total of 16 scored in all of 2016

GOING 80

• Penn State has two 80-yard plays this season, both featuring RB Saquon Barkley. He is the only player in FBS with two 80-plus yard plays from scrimmage.
• Barkley is the only player in Penn State history with both an 80-plus rushing and receiving play.
• Against Georgia State, the 85-yard pass from QB Trace McSorley to Barkley in the first quarter was the third-longest pass play in Penn State history, and the longest since an 86-yard pass play from Steve Joachim to Jim Scott in 1971 at Navy.
• The 85-yard pass play is the longest Penn State passing play ever at home. The previous long pass play in a home game was 82 yards on two occasions: Matt Knizner to Eric Hamilton vs. Pittsburgh in 1986 and Kerry Collins to Freddie Scott vs. Rutgers in 1994.
• The 85-yard pass was the longest of McSorley's career. His previous long pass was an 80-yard pass to Irvin Charles vs. Minnesota last season. It was also a career long reception for Barkley, whose previous long was a 46-yard reception the week prior vs. Pittsburgh.
• McSorley is the first quarterback with two 80-plus pass plays in school history.
• Barkley's 80-yard rush in the second quarter against Akron was the second-longest of his career and tied for the 10th-longest in program history. His career long is an 81-yard dash in 2016 at Purdue.
• Barkley and Ki-Jana Carter are the only players in program history to have multiple 80-yard rushes in their career. Barkley has two career 80-plus yard rushes and Carter had three.

BARKLEY ALL-PURPOSE

• Saquon Barkley is doing it all this season, from running to pass catching to returning, and he ranks second in FBS and tops in the Big Ten with 218.3 all-purpose yards per game.
• Barkley is trailing San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, who is averaging 258.0 all-purpose yards through the first two weeks. They are the only two FBS players averaging more than 200 yards per game.
• Barkley currently leads Penn State in rushing yards per game (102.3) and receiving yards per game (80.3).
• Barkley ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in FBS averaging 8.08 yards per carry and his 102.3 rushing yards per game are fifth in the Big Ten and 29th in FBS.
• Barkley recorded 226 (47 rushing, 142 receiving, 37 return) all-purpose yards against Georgia State. His 142 receiving yards were a career high, surpassing his previous mark of 77 set last season at Michigan.
• With 246 yards, Barkley totaled the second-most FBS all-purpose yards in the opening week, earning 172 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns, 54 yards on three receptions and 20 yards on a kickoff return against Akron. His rushing total of 172 yards ranked 13th for the week.
• His five total touchdowns rank in ties for first in the Big Ten and 10th in FBS.

AIR BARKLEY

• Saquon Barkley's career-high 142 receiving yards against Georgia State were enough to give him the
• Penn State career receiving yards record with 804 career receiving yards. He broke the record of 799 yards held by Tony Hunt (2003-06).
• Barkley set the Penn State the single-season running back receiving yards record last year with 402 yards in 14 games. With 241 yards receiving in three games in 2017, Barkley 60 percent of the way to last season's record.
• The 142 receiving yards against Georgia State are the second-most by a running back in Penn State history. Len Krouse had 155 yards receiving out of the backfield at Syracuse in 1940.
• The 142-yard receiving yards were the most by a Big Ten running back since Ohio State's Curtis Samuel had 177 vs. Bowling Green in 2016.
• Barkley's 100-yard receiving game was the first 100- yard receiving game by a PSU running back since Tony Hunt had 110 yards receiving at Minnesota in 2004.

200 CLUB

• Saquon Barkley is one of 10 active FBS players with multiple career 200-yard rushing games.
• Ray Lawry (Old Dominion) and Larry Rose III (New Mexico State) lead the group with four 200-plus yard rushing performances, while Barkley and the other seven have two such performances.
• Joining Barkley are D'Angelo Brewer (Tulsa), Rashaad Penny (San Diego State), Diocemy Saint Juste (Hawaii), Damarea Crockett (Missouri), Derris Guice (LSU), Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M) and Justin Crawford (West Virginia).
• Both of Barkley's 200-yard rushing efforts were in 2016 (202 yds. vs. Maryland; 207 yds. at Purdue).

TOSSING TOUCHDOWNS

• In addition to his streak of 18-straight games with a touchdown pass, Trace McSorley has two or more touchdown passes in six-straight games, dating back to the regular season finale against Michigan State last year. He has two or more TD passes in nine of the last 10 games.
• His nine touchdown passes on the season rank second in the Big Ten and eighth in FBS.
• McSorley is averaging 22.0 points responsible for per game to lead the Big Ten and rank ninth in FBS.
• Against Pitt, McSorley threw for at least three touchdown passes for the fifth time in his career and first time this season.
• McSorley threw four touchdown passes against Georgia State, marking the fourth time he has had at least four touchdown passes in a game and the sixth time he has had at least three touchdown passes in his career.

HISTORIC HALF

• QB Trace McSorley's 258 yards passing in the first half against Georgia State was a Penn State record for a first half. The previous record was 254 by Daryll Clark vs. Akron in 2009.
• McSorley threw an 85-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley in the frame to become the first Nittany Lion quarterback with two career 80-plus passing yard plays to his credit.

QUARTERBACKS DOING IT ALL

• QB Tommy Stevens has four receptions on the season for 27 yards, and he caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter, while lined up as a running back.
• Stevens also threw his first career touchdown pass in the third quarter, a 35-yard pass to Saeed Blacknall in the third quarter.
• Stevens is the first Nittany Lion to have a touchdown pass and reception in the same game since Christian Hackenberg did it against Illinois in 2015.
• Against Georgia State, Trace McSorley had his ninth career game with both a touchdown pass and rush and his second of the season.
• McSorley's 36-yard rush in the opening stanza against Pitt was the longest of his career. His previous long rush was a 26-yard scamper against Minnesota in 2016.

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

• The tandem of QB Trace McSorley and WR Brandon Polk is one of 13 QB/WR combinations from the same high school active on the same team in FBS. Both attended Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Virginia.
• Polk has four receptions from McSorley, catching two passes last season in an injury shortened redshirt year and two in 2017.
• The duo teamed up for their first collegiate touchdown, as Polk caught a 15-yard TD from McSorley against Georgia State.
• In 2013, McSorley and Polk teamed up to lead the Falcons to the Virginia 5A State Championship game. The duo totaled 635 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

LIMITED ACCESS

• Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in Penn State leads the Big Ten and trails only Vanderbilt (4.3 points per game allowed) in scoring defense, averaging 4.7 points allowed so far this season. Penn State owns a pair of shutout victories and only yielded 14 points to Pitt.
• Penn State is the only team with two shutouts in 2017.
• Penn State has been particularly strong at the start of games, ranking as one of nine teams yet to give up a first quarter point yet (Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Southern Miss, UTSA, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest), according to Coaches by the Numbers.
• Additionally, Penn State ranks second in FBS in first half scoring defense, allowing 1.0 point per game, seventh in second quarter score (1.0 avg) and eighth in second half scoring (3.67 avg).
• Penn State has now recorded two shutouts in a single season for the first time since notching two in 2007 (59-0 over FIU; 31-0 vs. Indiana).
• The 14 points allowed by Penn State are the fewest in any three-game stretch since allowing 13 in a three-game stretch in the middle of the 2009 season (52- 3 vs. Eastern Illinois; 20-0 vs. Minnesota; 35-10 at Michigan).
• The 14 points allowed by Penn State in the first three games are the fewest allowed in the opening three games of the season since giving up only 14 points in the first four games of the 1996 season (24-7 vs. USC; 24-7 vs. Louisville; 49-0 vs. Northern Illinois; 41-0 vs. Temple).
• The fourth-quarter touchdown allowed by the Nittany Lions to Pitt was the first touchdown given up by Penn State this season (seven quarters with no touchdowns).
• Not only were Akron and Georgia State held out of the end zone, Penn State kept the Zips out of the red zone and Georgia State crossed the 20 just once.
• The shutout by Penn State of Akron marked the first shutout by the Nittany Lions in a season opener since a 59-0 win against FIU in 2007. The shutout was the first at home for Penn State since a 39-0 shutout of Illinois in 2015.
• This is the third straight year that Penn State has shut out an opponent (39-0 vs. Illinois in 2015; 39-0 at Rutgers in 2016; 52-0 vs. Akron in 2017). It is the longest such streak since a three-year stretch from 1989-91 (17-0 at Rutgers in 1989; 28-0 vs. Rutgers and 9-0 at Alabama in 1990; and 81-0 vs. Cincinnati in 1991).

STOPS BEHIND THE LINE

• Penn State has assumed a familiar position in the NCAA statistical rankings, leading FBS in tackles for loss with an average of 11.3.
• Penn State totaled 14 TFLs against Akron in the season opener, the most by Penn State since recording 15 at Temple in 2015, and followed with nine against Pitt and 11 against Georgia State.
• DE Shareef Miller ranks third in the Big Ten with 1.3 TFLs per game.
• A total of 25 different Nittany Lions have at least assisted on a stop in the back field.
• Penn State finished 2016 tied for seventh in FBS and second in the Big Ten with 8.1 tackles for loss per game.
• Penn State finished 2015 sixth overall and tops in the Big Ten with 8.2 tackles for loss per game.
• Penn State finished 2014 20th overall and second in the Big Ten with 7.1 tackles for loss per game.

COMFORTABLE TURNOVER MARGIN

• Penn State's plus-seven turnover margin leads the Big Ten and ranks second only to Texas A&M (+8).
• The five turnovers forced by Penn State against Georgia State were the most forced by the Nittany Lions since forcing five turnovers (all fumbles) at Indiana last season.
• The 35 points off turnovers in a game by Penn State are the most since at least the 2009 season.
• Sack masters
• The Penn State defense is continuing to find the quarterback, averaging 3.67 sacks through the first three games to rank ninth in FBS and third in the Big Ten.
• DE Shareef Miller tied a career high with two sacks against Pitt, and his 0.67 average per game ranks seventh in the Big Ten.
• The five sacks recorded by the Nittany Lions against Pitt are the most since Penn State had six last season vs. Ohio State.
• With 46 sacks in 2015 and 40 sacks last season, Penn State posted back-to-back 40-sack seasons for the first time since it posted three-consecutive 40-sack seasons in 2005 (41), 2006 (40) and 2007 (46).
• In 2015, led by a record 15.5 sacks by Carl Nassib, Penn State posted 46 sacks.

AIR DEFENSE

• With six interceptions in three games, Penn State leads the Big Ten and is tied for fifth in FBS.
• Penn State recorded three interceptions against Georgia State for its most since grabbing three at Maryland in 2015.
• CB Grant Haley has intercepted a pass in each of the last two games, with both leading to touchdown drives. His 0.7 interceptions per game is tied for the BIg Ten lead and eighth in FBS.
• S Marcus Allen and CB Tariq Castro-Fields both tallied their first career interceptions in the win over Georgia State. Allen returned his pick 50 yards.
• Penn State picked off two passes against Pitt. Haley intercepted a first-quarter pass at the 50 and returned it 42 yards to the Pitt 8, setting up a one play touchdown drive, while S Troy Apke intercepted a pass in the second quarter. Ironically enough, both DBs had parents that attended Pitt.
• Haley's 42-yard interception return was the longest of his career, besting his 30-yard return vs. Temple in 2014.
• CB Amani Oruwariye grabbed the second interception of his career in the first quarter of the season opener against Akron. His first career interception came in last year's season opener against Kent State.
• In addition to the two interceptions against Pitt, Penn State broke up seven passes, its most since breaking up nine last season against Indiana.
• CB Christian Campbell leads the team with 1.7 pass breakups per game, which also ranks fifth in the BIg Ten and 20th in FBS.

FINE ON THE FIELD

• Penn State ranks 22nd in FBS in total defense, averaging 273.7 yards per game allowed, despite averaging the fifth-most time on the field (35:53) in FBS.
• A total of 46 different Nittany Lions have at least assisted on a tackle in 2017, which is already one more than last season's total of 45 different Lions.
• The last time Penn State had as many as 46 players in on tackles was 2010.

KICK RETURN GAME SUCCESS

• Saquon Barkley has taken all four of Penn State's kickoff return opportunities this season, averaging 26.8 yards per return to rank 19th in FBS and third in the Big Ten.
• Barkley had a career-long 37-yard kickoff return on the opening kick against Georgia State, bettering a 33- yard return against USC in the 2017 Rose Bowl.

PUNT AT YOUR OWN PERIL

• Penn State is averaging 17.9 yards per punt return to rank ninth in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
• Punt returner DeAndre Thompkins ranks second in the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation with an average of 20.2 yards per return.
• Thompkins 61-yard punt return for a touchdown against Akron was the first by Penn State since Derrick Williams had a 63-yard return in 2008 at Wisconsin. It was also the first by the Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium since Williams returned a punt 78 yards for a score against Notre Dame in 2007.
• Thompkins averaged 31.8 yards on four returns vs. the Zips, which is a school record. The previous record was 31.7 yards per return by Derrick Williams vs. Temple in 2006.

MIGHT AS WELL PUNT

• Penn State's punt return defense has netted an average of 0.25 yards (9 inches) allowed in the first three games, good enough to rank third in the Big Ten lead and 22nd in FBS.
• P Blake Gillikin's 45.0-yard punting average ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 27th in FBS.
• Gillikin ecorded his 10th career punt inside the 10 in the third quarter of the Georgia State game. He had seven in 2016 and three this season.
• Gillikin had a career-best four punts inside the 20-yard line against Pitt.