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Sept. 25, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 4 Penn State will honor its past during its "Generations of Greatness" game Saturday, as the Nittany Lions will don special uniforms while hosting Indiana in a crucial Big Ten East Division match-up set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. on BTN.
Penn State is coming off a thrilling finish at Iowa, as the Nittany Lions drove 80 yards with less than two minutes remaining for a "walk-off" touchdown pass from Trace McSorley to Juwan Johnson with no time remaining to earn a 21-19 victory. The hard-fought win improved Penn State's start to 4-0 for the first time since 2014.
Now, the Nittany Lions will look to extend their home winning streak of 10 games as they host a Big Ten team for the first time this season.
Leading the way for the Lions has been Saquon Barkley, who is assembling a historic season. Barkley's latest feat was totaling a school-record 358 all-purpose yards at Iowa, and he now leads the nation with 253.3 all-purpose yards per game. His increased versatility is highlighted by his Big Ten-leading 335 receiving yards, while his ground game remains strong with 518 rushing yards in four games to rank in the top 10 nationally. His career-best 211 rushing yards at Iowa was his third career 200-plus yard effort, putting him in elite company with Lion legends John Cappelletti and Larry Johnson.
The Penn State defense has been doing its part as well, averaging just 8.3 points allowed per game to rank second in FBS. Its second safety of the season proved to be a difference maker in the two-point win over Iowa
Indiana presents a challenge with playmakers in all three phases, as linebacker Tegray Scales is a returning All-American, J-Shun Harris II has returned two punts for touchdowns and freshman running back Morgan Ellison nearly rushed for 200 yards in his last outing.
HEAD COACH TOM ALLEN
- Tom Allen was named Indiana University's 29th head football coach on Dec. 1, 2016. He made his head coaching debut in the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl.
- Allen joined Indiana as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator prior to the 2016 season.
- IU's defense improved in every major statistical category under Allen's guidance against a schedule featuring a program-high four top 10 opponents. He was a nominee for the 2016 Broyles Award, which honors college football's top assistant coach.
- A 25-year coaching veteran, Allen was the defensive coordinator at USF in 2015, the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Ole Miss (2012-14), the assistant head coach at Arkansas State (2011) and the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Drake University (2010).
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
- Indiana is 2-1 with wins over Virginia and Georgia Southern after a season-opening loss to Ohio State.
- Indiana has an average margin of victory of 26 points in its last two games.
- Indiana's scoring offense ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging 35.7 points per game, while its scoring defense ranks 12th allowing 27.7 points per game.
- All-American linebacker Tegray Scales leads the defense, ranking fourth in the Big Ten averaging 8.7 total tackles per game.
- J-Shun Harris II has two punt return touchdowns this season, scoring one each in the last two games, to lead the Big Ten and rank second in FBS. He also leads the Big Ten and ranks third in FBS averaging 26.1 yards per return.
- True freshman running back Morgan Ellison leads the ground attack and rushed for 186 yards on 25 carries in his last outing against Georgia Southern.
- Indiana had an unexpected bye week Sept. 16 when FIU was unable to travel to Bloomington due to Hurricane Irma. However, the Hoosiers will not lose a game as they will host Charleston Southern next week during their originally scheduled bye week.
GENERATIONS OF GREATNESS
The Penn State football team will turn back the clock for a special "Generations of Greatness" game Saturday in Beaver Stadium. Elements of the game against the Hoosiers will take fans back in time, while the Nittany Lions will don uniforms with designs elements from uniforms past.
Game Day Elements
- Videoboard -- The Beaver Stadium scoreboards in the North and South end zone will be a flipboard display from the 1950s.
- Music -- The in-game music will be a variety of hits from the 1950s to today.
- Cheer and Dance Teams -- The Penn State cheerleaders and Lionettes will wear historic outfits.
- Honorary Captains -- The coin toss is slated to have honorary captains to represent the 1950s to today.
- Blue Band -- The Blue Band will perform music throughout the game from 1950s to today.
Uniform Elements
- Numbers on Helmets -- The Nittany Lions had the number on the side of their helmet from 1959-61 and then again from 1967-74. A No. 42 also appeared on the side of every Penn State helmet in the season finale against Wisconsin in 2012 to honor injured senior Michael Mauti.
- Block Uniform Numbers -- The block uniform numbers are similar to those uniform numbers that donned the Blue & White from mid-1950s-66.
- White Stripe on Sleeve -- Penn State's uniform had a white stripe on the sleeve several times, including 1957-66, 1982-89 and 1992-2011.
- Stripe on the Pants -- The Nittany Lions had a blue stripe on their pants from 1952-68.
- Striped Socks -- The striped sock pays tribute to those worn on game days from 1970-72.
- Gray Facemask -- The gray facemask was donned by the Nittany Lions from 1959-86.
- White Cleats -- The white cleats were worn by the Nittany Lions in the 1979 Sugar Bowl.
- Gloves -- The gloves for the Indiana game will feature the Lion Shrine on the palm of the hands.
- Lion Shrine -- The image of Lion Shrine appears on the "home plate" of the front of the jersey. It is an original element of the "Generations of Greatness" uniform to pay homage to the Lion Shrine that was a gift from the Class of 1940.
- Back Inside Collar -- The back inside collar of the jersey reads "Penn State 1959" in recognition of the first Liberty Bowl game, played in Philadelphia. Penn State defeated Alabama, 7-0.
PENN STATE-INDIANA CONNECTIONS
- Penn State sophomore tight end Jonathan Holland and sophomore Cam Brown and Indiana sophomore running back Devonte Williams played together at The Bullis School in Maryland.
- Penn State junior running back Mark Allen and redshirt freshman defensive end Shane Simmons and Indiana junior defensive back Tyler Green played together at DeMatha Catholic in Maryland.
- Penn State senior punter Daniel Pasquariello and Indiana sophomore punter Haydon Whitehead both trained with Prokick Australia in Melbourne.
- Penn State special teams/running backs coach Charles Huff and Indiana linebackers coach William Inge both worked with the Buffalo Bills in 2012.
NITTANY LIONS FROM INDIANA
- WR Mac Hippenhammer -- Fort Wayne/ R. Nelson Snider
- QB Tommy Stevens - Indianapolis/Decatur Central
HOME IN HAPPY VALLEY
- Penn State's 10-game home win streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in FBS along with Michigan. Alabama (14) and USC (12) boast the longest active streaks.
- The Nittany Lions went 7-0 at home in 2016 for the first time since 2008 and the fifth time in the Big Ten era (1994, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2016).
- Penn State's 10-game home winning streak is the longest since winning 11-straight from 2007-09 and is the fifth-longest since joining the Big Ten Conference. It ranks tied for the 12th-longest in program history.
- Dating back to 2015, Penn State has won 16 out of its last 17 home games.
COACH TO CURE MD
- This week the Penn State coaching staff will be wearing special arm patches in honor of the AFCA's Coach to Cure MD program. This is the 10th year coaches around the country join together to raise funding and awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- Fans are encouraged to donate by texting "CURE" to 50555 to make a $10 donation or by visiting www.CoachtoCureMD.org.
- Coach to Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Parent Project MD. The program has raised more than $1.5 million over the last nine years. Last year, more than 11,325 coaches at 620 colleges participated.
TOP FIVE
- Entering Week 5, Penn State is ranked No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches Polls for a second consecutive week.
- The No. 4 ranking marks the fourth 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.
STARTING STRONG
- Penn State is 4-0 for the second time under James Franklin and the first time since 2014.
- Before Franklin's tenure, Penn State last won its first four games in 2008 as it started the season 9-0.
- Penn State is one of 24 undefeated FBS teams and one of 16 FBS teams with a 4-0 record.
HISTORIC CONCLUSION
- Trace McSorley hit Juwan Johnson for a 7-yard touchdown strike as time expired for a win Iowa. The "walk-off" play from scrimmage with no time remaining is believed to be a program first.
- The Nittany Lions only other touchdown with no time left came in 1929 against Lafayette. Known as "The Great Punt Return" in Lou Prato's Penn State Football Encyclopedia, Lafayette elected to punt on third down with 15 seconds remaining and a 3-0 lead. Cooper French fielded the punt at the Penn State 40, but pitched it back to Frank Diedrich as defenders encircled him. Diedrich returned the punt for a game-winning touchdown, and the Homecoming crowd of 15,000 stormed the field in celebration, preventing him from attempting the extra point.
- Penn State's victory at Iowa is the first as time expired in regularion since Sam Ficken connected on a field goal against UCF in the Croke Park Classic in 2014.
- The play at Iowa also marked the first time that Penn State won on a touchdown in the final moments since Bobby Engram had a touchdown catch with eight seconds left against Michigan State in 1995.
- Other notable final-second touchdowns in Penn State history include Kirk Bowman's touchdown catch with four seconds left for a 27-24 win over Nebraska in 1982 and Chuck Burkhart's touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion with eight seconds left for a 15-14 win in the 1969 Orange Bowl over Kansas.
STREAKING
- Penn State has won its last 12 regular season games for its longest streak since winning 18 in a row from 1993-95.
- Penn State has won its last 10 games against Big Ten opponents for its second-longest conference winning streak since winning 12 from 1993-94.
- Penn State has won its last 10 games in Beaver Stadium for its 12th-longest home winning streak.
- The Nittany Lions have won their last four road games, the longest streak since winning four in a row in 2011. The streak dates back to 2016 and includes wins over Purdue (62-24), Indiana (45-31), Rutgers (39-0) and Iowa (21-19).
- QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games, dating to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, extending his school record. It is the third-longest active streak in FBS behind Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield (30) and Marshall's Chase Litton (24).
- TE Mike Gesicki has recorded a reception in his last 18 games dating back to the 2016 season opener.
- RB Saquon Barkley has scored a touchdown in his last 11 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak by a running back in FBS.
POINT DIFFERENTIAL
- With a prolific offense and lockdown defense, Penn State ranks fourth in FBS with an average point differential of 32.2 points.
- Penn State 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 13th in FBS with 21 touchdowns scored and tied for fourth with just four TDs allowed, which gives the Nittany Lions a touchdowns scored to allowed ratio greater than 5 to 1 to rank in a tie for second in FBS with Clemson.
- Wisconsin's 17 touchdowns scored to three allowed ranks as the top differential.
MILESTONE WATCH
- QB Trace McSorley is 164 passing yards shy of 5,000 for his career. He would be the ninth Penn State quarterback to achieve the milestone.
- McSorley is nine passing touchdowns shy of 50 for his career. The Penn State record is 48.
- McSorley is 558 yards shy of becoming the fourth Nittany Lion to reach 6,000 yards of total offense.
- RB Saquon Barkley is 102 yards shy of 1,000 career receiving yards. He would be the first Penn State player to have both 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards.
- TE Mike Gesicki is 11 receptions shy of 100 for his career.
- S Marcus Allen is 27 tackles shy of 300 for his career.
- K Tyler Davis is seven extra point conversions away from 100 extra points made.
MILESTONES ACHIEVED
- Running back Saquon Barkley surged past 3,000 career rushing yards and 4,000 career all-purpose yards at Iowa. He is the seventh and ninth Nittany Lion all-time to accomplish the respective feats.
- TE Mike Gesicki became Penn State's all-time tight end receptions leader with five receptions at Iowa to total 89 for his career. He broke the record of 87 set by Andrew Quarless (2006-09).
- 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.
SMITH NAMED TO GOOD WORKS TEAM
- Senior LB Brandon Smith was named Allstate, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. He is among the 11 FBS and 22 overall honorees for their contributions to the community.
- Smith is the fourth Nittany Lion to earn Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honors, joining Ben Kline (2015), Stefen Wisniewski (2010) and Wayne Holmes (1994).
- Fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain now through November 23, 2017. The Team Captain will be honored at this season's The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
- Smith graduated with a degree in kinesiology last December. He is working on a second degree in health policy and administration and owns a 3.81 GPA. He is a seven-time Dean's List honoree and recorded a pair of 4.0 semesters during his academic career.
- In 2016, Smith was selected CoSIDA Academic All-District and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient. He intends on working in health care.
- The senior is also active in the community. In addition to the numerous community service activities that he does as part of the Nittany Lions, Smith helps with his wife's non-profit organization, Honduran Soles, which provides shoes to kids that need them in various countries. He and his wife traveled to Honduras during spring break in 2015 helped build a soccer field. He and his wife have volunteered at homeless shelters, and done other community work through their church, Revival Tabernacle, in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, near his hometown.
- The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2018 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®, where the entire team will also be recognized on the field at halftime.
- In addition, Allstate will honor Good Works Team® players by creating special volunteer events in select markets throughout the season in conjunction with its All Hands In program, which encourages the college football community to come together and do good.
HIGH SCORING
- Penn State's scoring average of 40.5 points per game ranks 23rd in FBS and third in the Big Ten.
- With 21 points in a win at Iowa, Penn State has surpassed 20 points in 14 consecutive games. It is the longest streak since scoring 20 or more points in 16 straight games across the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
- However, Penn State's streak of scoring 30-plus points ended at 10 consecutive games. It was the longest stretch for the Lions since a string of 15-straight games with 30+ points from 1993-94.
- Penn State has scored 200 points (40.0 ppg) in the last five games and 432 points (43.2 ppg) in the last 10 games.
- 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 56-point margin of victory by Penn State against Georgia State 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.
OFFENSE COVERING GROUND
- Penn State is averaging 496.5 yards of total offense per game to rank third in the Big Ten and 20th in FBS, and wasting little time getting down the field.
- According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks 13th in FBS in getting a first down on first down, doing so 38 times (41.3 percent).
- Penn State has surpassed 500 yards of total offense three times in the first four games, including the last two games (579 at Iowa; 526 yards vs. Georgia State.)
- The Lions' 579 yards of total offense (284 passing, 295 rushing) at Iowa were their most since recording 599 yards total offense last season vs. Iowa.
- The 569 yards of total offense against Akron 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).
99 SNAPS
- Penn State tied its program record for total plays in a game with 99 at Iowa.
- Penn State previously ran 99 plays in 2012 in a 39-28 win over Northwestern and in 1966 in a 38-6 win at West Virginia.
- Penn State's season high entering the Iowa game was 65 in the season opener against Akron.
- The previous high with offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead in command of the offense was 82 in 2016 during a 39-0 win at Rutgers.
FAST STARTS
- According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks tied for 19th in FBS in points in the first half (22.25 avg) and tied for 13th in first-quarter scoring (11.0 avg).
- In the first three games, Penn State 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.
B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- RB Saquon Barkley won his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after a record-breaking performance at Iowa. This is Barkley's fourth career conference offensive honor.
- Barkley was also named to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll and as the Rose Bowl Big Ten Player of the Week, both for the second time this season. The Paul Hornung Award is presented to the most versatile player in major college football.
- Barkley had a career-high 211 rushing yards on 28 carries and a touchdown to go along with 12 catches for 94 yards and three kickoff returns for 53 yards en route to a school-record 358 all-purpose yards in a thrilling win over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
- Barkley broke the mark previously held by Curt Warner (341; at Syracuse in 1981). Barkley's 358 all-purpose yards are 10th all-time in Big Ten history.
- His 211 rushing yards rank tied for 15th in Penn State history with Lydell Mitchell (at Iowa; 1971), Curtis Enis (vs. Ohio State; 1997) and Eric McCoo (vs. Ohio State; 1999).
- In addition to a career rushing performance, Barkley's 12 catches were also a career high, doubling his previous personal best of six at Northwestern in 2015.
AIR BARKLEY
- Saquon Barkley has set receiving career highs in each of his last two outings.
- Barkley had a career-high 12 receptions at Iowa. He is the first Penn State player to have 10 or more receptions since WR DaeSean Hamilton had 14 catches against Ohio State in 2014. Barkley's previous high was six at Northwestern in 2015.
- Against Georgia State, Barkley set a career high with 142 receiving yards.
- Barkley set the Penn State the single-season running back receiving yards record last year with 402 yards in 14 games. With 335 yards receiving in four games in 2017, Barkley 83 percent of the way to last season's record, needing just 67 more yards.
- Barkley owns the Penn State career receiving yards record for a running back with 898 yards. He broke the record of 799 yards held by Tony Hunt (2003-06) during the Georgia State game.
- 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 11 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 is third with three such efforts after rushing for a career-high 211 yards at Iowa.
- Following Barkley are D'Angelo Brewer (Tulsa), Rashaad Penny (San Diego State), Diocemy Saint Justice (Hawaii), Damarea Crockett (Missouri), Derris Guice (LSU), Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M), Justin Crawford (West Virginia) and Jalin Moore (Appalachian State).
- Both of Barkley's previous 200-yard rushing efforts were in 2016 (202 yds. vs. Maryland; 207 yds. at Purdue).
- Barkley's 211 rushing yard effort ranks tied for 15th in Penn State history with Lydell Mitchell (at Iowa; 1971), Curtis Enis (vs. Ohio State; 1997) and Eric McCoo (vs. Ohio State; 1999).
- With three career 200-yard rushing games, Barkley is tied with John Cappelletti for second place in Penn State history. He trails Larry Johnson (4) for the career record.
HIGH PITCH COUNT
- Trace McSorley set career highs for completions (31) and passing attempts (51) in the win over Iowa. His previous highs were 24 completions at Pitt (2016) and 41 attempts against Minnesota (2016).
- McSorley's completions and attempts totals were the most by a Penn State QB since Christian Hackenberg completed 34-of-50 passing attempts in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
B1G PASSING LEADER
- QB Trace McSorley among Big Ten passing leaders in multiple categories for a second consecutive season.
- McSorley leads the Big Ten (28th FBS) in passing yards with 1,037, and is averaging 259.3 per game to rank second in the conference (36th FBS) behind Northwestern's Clayton Thorson (280.7).
- McSorley's 10 passing touchdowns rank second (12th FBS) behind Iowa's Nathan Stanley (12).
- McSorley's .661 completion percentage ranks third (30th FBS) behind Purdue's David Blough and Wisconsin's Alex Hornibrook (.700).
- Responsible for 72 points, McSorley ranks second (9th FBS) just behind Ohio State's JT Barrett (74). His 18.0 per game average also ranks second (15th FBS) behind Barrett (18.5).
- McSorley is averaging 308.8 yards of total offense per game to rank second (22nd FBS) behind Michigan State's Brian Lewerke (319.0).
- McSorley's passing efficiency of 158.2 ranks fourth (26th FBS).
TOSSING TOUCHDOWNS
- QB Trace McSorley hit WR Juwan Johnson for the game-winning touchdown at Iowa as time expired, preserving not only an undefeated start to the season for the Nittany Lions, but extending his consecutive games with a touchdown pass streak to 19 games.
- His 10 touchdown passes on the season rank second in the Big Ten and 12 in FBS.
- McSorley is averaging 18.0 points responsible for per game to rank second in the Big Ten and rank 15th in FBS.
- McSorley threw four TD 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.
JOHNSON BREAKING OUT
- WR Juwan Johnson was the hero at Iowa pulling in his first career touchdown catch as time expired to give Penn State a thrilling 21-19 victory.
- Johnson had career highs with seven catches and 92 yards in the Iowa game. His previous personal mark was four receptions for 84 yards against Akron in the season opener.
TOP CATCHING DUO
- DaeSean Hamilton (172) and Mike Gesicki (89) rank ninth in FBS and tops in the Big Ten among active receiving duos with 261 combined catches.
- Hamilton is seven receptions shy of Penn State's all-time receptions record, while Gesicki owns Penn State's tight end receptions record.
LIMITED ACCESS
- Penn State ranks second only to Minnesota (8.0) in scoring defense Penn State at 8.3.
- Penn State owns a pair of shutout victories and has not allowed more than 19 points in a game.
- Penn State has been particularly strong at the start of games, ranking as one of two teams yet to give up a first quarter point (Southern Miss), according to Coaches by the Numbers.
- Additionally, Penn State ranks first in FBS in first half scoring defense, allowing 2.5 points per game, 10th in second quarter scoring (2.5 avg) and 13th in second half scoring (5.75 avg).
- Iowa did not cross the 50-yard line on offense against Penn State in the first half.
- 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 in the first three 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 10.3.
- 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, 11 against Georgia State and seven at Iowa.
- DE Shareef Miller ranks third in the Big Ten and 25th in FBS with 1.5 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 TFLs 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.
HELPING THEMSELVES
- Penn State registered its second safety of the season at Iowa, this time via a Shareef Miller takedown in the end zone of Akrum Wadley in the second quarter.
- The safety proved crucial in the outcome of the game, as Penn State won by two points (21-19).
- This is the first time since 2004 that the Nittany Lions had two safeties in a season.
- Marcus Allen recorded a safety against Pitt. It was the first Penn State safety since Devon Still notched a sack in the end zone at Minnesota in 2010. Allen was named the Lott IMPACT Trophy and a Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week.
COMFORTABLE TURNOVER MARGIN
- Penn State's plus-six turnover margin leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in FBS.
- A forced fumble by Marcus Allen at Iowa led to Penn State's only touchdown drive before its final drive of the game.
- 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 scoring 37 points off of seven turnovers vs. Louisiana Tech in 2000. Penn State won 67-7.
TACKLE LEADER
- With five tackles against Iowa, Marcus Allen moved into a tie for 10th place on Penn State's career tackles chart with Brandon Short (273).
- Allen's 24 tackles lead the team.
- At Iowa, Allen had a career-high two tackles for loss. His previous was 1.5 on three occasions with the last coming at Indiana in 2016.
BLOCK THAT KICK
- Penn State has a knack as of recent for coming up with big field goal blocks.
- Troy Apke blocked a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter at Iowa, and Penn State went on to win by two points.
- A field goal block against No. 2 Ohio State in 2016 that was returned for touchdown gave Penn State a victory that propelled it to a Big Ten Championship.