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Oct. 16, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 2 Penn State begins the second half of its regular season by hosting No. 19/15 Michigan in primetime in its annual Penn State White Out game, with the telecast starting on ABC at 7:30 p.m.
Penn State is also hosting ESPN's College GameDay, as the popular pregame show will visit campus for the first time since 2009, broadcasting live from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Nittany Lions enter the game after a bye weekend and boasts their highest AP poll ranking since 1999. Michigan is playing its second road game in as many weeks after defeating Indiana in overtime last Saturday.
Michigan held the upper-hand against Penn State last season in Ann Arbor, but the Nittany Lions have won their last 14 regular season games and their last 12 games against Big Ten opponents since.
Statistics suggest the match-up could be a defensive struggle, as Penn State leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 9.0 points per game, while Michigan leads the nation in total defense, giving up just 223.8 yards per game.
Saquon Barkley continues to lead the FBS in all-purpose yards per game this season (217.0) and career all-purpose yards per game among active players (145.5), while quarterback Trace McSorley leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (266.2).
Penn State has seen contributions throughout its entire defense, with 26 different Lions recording a tackle for loss this season. Seniors Jason Cabinda and Marcus Allen are among the top tacklers, while Christian Campbell and Grant Haley are among the Big Ten leaders in passes defended.
Penn State will return to the road for its next two games, playing at Ohio State (Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m.) and then at Michigan State (Nov. 4).
HEAD COACH JIM HARBAUGH
- Jim Harbaugh is in his third season as head coach at Michigan. He is the second-fastest coach in program history to reach 20 wins, trailing only Fielding Yost.
- From 2011-14, Harbaugh was head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He led the franchise to the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons and the 2012 Super Bowl.
- From 2007-10, Harbaugh was the head coach at Stanford, leading the Cardinal to an Orange Bowl victory in 2010.
- Harbaugh is the only coach to win both the AP NFL Coach of the Year (2011) and Woody Hayes Coach of the Year Award (2010).
- Harbaugh played for five different organizations during his 15-year NFL career (1987-2001).
- As a quarterback at Michigan, Harbaugh earned first-team All-America honors and finished third in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy in 1986.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
- Michigan is 5-1 this season with its lone loss coming against Michigan State two weeks ago.
- The Wolverines earned a 27-20 overtime win at Indiana in their last outing. The 20 points allowed were a season high. Michigan ranks third in the Big Ten allowing 14.7 points per game.
- Michigan's defense leads the FBS, yielding only 223.8 yards per game. All six of Michigan's opponents this season have been held to season lows on offense.
- The Wolverines also lead the nation in third down conversion percentage defense (.205) and passing efficiency defense (88.85). The unit has also produced three touchdowns and leads the Big Ten averaging 3.33 sacks per game.
- Linebacker Devin Bush leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 8.0 tackles per game.
- The Wolverines lean on their running game offensively, ranking fourth in the Big Ten (185.0). RB Karan Higdon rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries at Indiana, as the Wolverines totaled 329 yards on the ground.
- Michigan boasts the FBS' best kickoff return defense (13.9 ypr), while PSU leads in kickoff returns (30.9).
STORIED PROGRAMS MEET ON GRIDIRON
- The meeting between No. 2 Penn State and No. 19/15 Michigan marks the first match up between Top 25 teams in Beaver Stadium since No. 12 Penn State faced No. 19 Nebraska on Nov. 12, 2011.
- Penn State is 32-2 all-time as the No. 2 ranked team, and 4-1 all-time when facing another Top 20 team in Beaver Stadium.
- It will be the 50th meeting between AP Top 25 teams in Happy Valley and the 48th between Top 20 teams. Penn State is 27-19-1 in those games.
- Penn State and Michigan both rank among the top-10 programs in winning percentage and total victories in NCAA history.
- Four of the top-10 winningest programs in NCAA history are from the Big Ten.
- Penn State sits No. 8 in all-time victories (858) and No. 10 in winning percentage (.685).
- Michigan owns an NCAA-best 940 victories and ranks No. 1 in all-time winning percentage at .731.
- The Nittany Lions and Wolverines are also among the most ranked teams in NCAA history according to the AP poll.
- Michigan has spent 32 weeks ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll (11th all-time) and Penn State has earned the No. 1 ranking by the AP on 19 occasions (t-16th all-time). (Not including preseason rankings).
- Penn State's 607 weeks ranked among the AP Top-25 rank ninth all-time, while Michigan's 832 weeks rank second.
AP Poll statistics are since 1936; according to CollegePollArchive.com
GET UP, IT'S GAMEDAY
- ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot program will be live from Penn State on Saturday.
- This is the 16th time College GameDay has been at the site of a Penn State game.
- The popular pregame college football program airs live from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.
- The seven-time Emmy Award-winning show is hosted by Rece Davis, who is joined by analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as contributors Chris `The Bear' Fallica, Jen Lada, Tom Rinaldi, Maria Taylor and Gene Wojciechowski.
- Saturday's broadcast marks the sixth time College GameDay has originated from Penn State, but first since 2009. College GameDay was also in Happy Valley in 1997 (Michigan), 1999 (Arizona), 2005 (Ohio State), 2007 (Ohio State) and 2009 (Iowa).
- In addition, College GameDay has broadcast live from five Penn State game since 2005, including the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game, 2010 Ohio State and Alabama contests, 2008 Ohio State game and 2005 Michigan State meeting.
NITTANY LIONS FROM MICHIGAN
- CB Donovan Johnson -- Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech
- WR KJ Hamler -- Pontiac, Mich./IMG Academy (Fla.)
PENN STATE-MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
- Penn State junior CB John Reid and sophomore LB Joe DuMond and Michigan junior OL Jon Runyan played together at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia.
- Penn State freshman WR KJ Hamler and Michigan sophomores DB Tyler Cochran and OL Dan Jokisch all attended Orchard Lake St. Mary's outside Detroit.
- Hamler and Michigan freshmen LB Jordan Anthony, and OL Cesar Ruiz played together at IMG Academy in Florida. Hamler and Anthony also competed together in 2016 at The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon.
- Penn State redshirt freshman DT Ellison Jordan and Michigan senior FB Henry Poggi and sophomore OL Stephen Spanellis played together at the Gilman School in Baltimore. Poggi's father, Biff Poggi, coached the team.
- Penn State freshman DT Corey Bolds and Michigan sophomore DL Rashan Gary, freshman LB Drew Singleton and senior OL Juwann Bushell-Beatty played together at Paramus Catholic in New Jersey.
- Penn State freshman CB Donovan Johnson and Michigan sophomore OL Michael Onwenu and freshmen WR Donovan Peoples-Jones and DB Jaylen Kelly-Powell played together at Cass Technical in Detroit.
- Penn State head coach James Franklin, special teams coordinator and RB coach Charles Huff and assistant athletics director for performance enhancement Dwight Galt and Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown were on the University of Maryland coaching staff together in 2009.
- Penn State alum Michael Zordich coaches the Michigan secondary. Zordich was All-American at safety in 1985.
- PSU alum Navorro Bowman played for Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers.
PENN STATE WHITE OUT
- A tradition stretching back to a student section white out in 2004, the Penn State White Outs have created an unrivaled atmosphere inside Beaver Stadium.
- Saturday will mark the 10th time the Nittany Lions will host a full-stadium Penn State White Out.
- Penn State holds a 4-5 record when the full stadium wears white, including a 1-1 record against Michigan.
- Michigan is tying Ohio State as the most frequent Penn State White Out (full stadium) opponent with its third appearance in the annual game.
- Michigan is becoming the most frequent white out opponent overall, making its fifth appearance. The Wolverines were the opponent in two student section-only white outs (2006 & 2010).
PSU ON ABC
- Penn State is appearing on ABC for its fifth time this season and 175th time all-time, the most of any other network.
- The five Penn State appearances on ABC this year are the most since appearing five times in all of 2009 and the most ever in its first seven games of the season.
- Penn State has a 100-73-1 record on ABC, with wins in its last six appearances.
- The primetime clash at Iowa was the most-watched college football game of Week 4, drawing a 3.1 overnight rating on ABC. It featured a total live audience of 5,341,000 viewers and peaked at nearly 8 million viewers.
COMING OFF A BYE
- Penn State has a 16-14 record after a bye week since starting Big Ten competition in 1993.
- The Nittany Lions ended a five-game post-bye week skid with a thrilling win over No. 2 Ohio State last season.
- Penn State fell at Michigan (18-13) following its first bye week of 2014, and fell, at home to No. 13 Ohio State, 31-24 in double overtime, following its second.
LIONS UNDER THE LIGHTS
- The Michigan game will be Penn State's third primetime game of the season, matching last season's regular season total. Three game times (at Michigan State, Nebraska, at Maryland) remain to be determined.
- 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 Iowa in Week 4, Penn State has won its last six night games, including a 4-0 mark last season, and six of their last seven dating back to 2015.
- Penn State played consecutive night games for the first time since 2014 (at Michigan; vs. Ohio State) after battling Georgia State and Iowa under the lights in consecutive weeks.
- Penn State is 48-29 at night all-time. The figure breaks down to 13-10 at home, 22-12 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: Michigan, 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 2003), Miami (Fla.) (2001) and Indiana (2000).
- On Oct. 12, 2013, the Lions claimed the longest game in Big Ten history when they edged Michigan under the lights, 43-40, in four overtimes in front of a sellout Beaver Stadium crowd of 107,844 on Homecoming.
HOME IN HAPPY VALLEY
- Penn State's 11-game home win streak is the third-longest active streak in FBS. Alabama (16) and USC (14) 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 11-game home winning streak is the longest since winning 11-straight from 2007-09 and is tied for the second-longest since joining the Big Ten Conference. It ranks tied for the 13th-longest in program history.
- Dating back to 2015, Penn State has won 17 out of its last 18 home games.
TOP FIVE
- Penn State is ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches Polls. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 3 following their win at Northwestern, and moved up one spot following the bye week.
- It is Penn State's highest ranking in the AP poll since 1999.
- The No. 2 ranking marks the seventh consecutive week Penn State has been ranked in the Top Five of the AP poll - a feat not accomplished since Penn State held strong in the Top Five for 11-straight weeks in 1999.
- Penn State's seven-week run in the AP Top Five ranks in a four-way tie for its seventh-longest stretch in program history. The program record is 17 weeks on two occasions (1968-69; 1977-79).
- Penn State's streak of six-straight weeks in the AP Top Five is the third-longest active streak.
- Penn State's streak of 12-straight weeks in the AP Top 10 is the fifth-longest active streak.
- Penn State's streak of 15-straight weeks in the AP Top 25 is the ninth-longest active streak.
- Penn State is 15-1 in its last 16 games, the best span since going 20-0 from 1993-95.
AP Poll statistics are since 1936; according to CollegePollArchive.com
STARTING STRONG
- Penn State has started a season 6-0 for the first time since 2008, when the team started 9-0.
- This is the first time that James Franklin has led his squad to a 6-0 start on the season in his head coaching career.
- The 3-0 start in Big Ten play marks the first such start since 2012, when Penn State also began 3-0.
- Penn State is one of eight undefeated FBS teams and one of two in the Big Ten (Wisconsin).
STREAKING
- Penn State has won 14-straight regular season games, the longest streak since reeling off 18 in a row from 1993-95. It is the third-longest active streak in FBS, trailing only Alabama (27) and Oklahoma (14).
- Penn State has won its last 12 games against Big Ten opponents, tying its record streak of 12 from 1993-94. It the third-longest active streak in FBS, trailing only Alabama (20; SEC) and Oklahoma (18; Big 12).
- The Nittany Lions have won their last five road games dating back to 2016 for its longest streak since winning six in a row across the 1996-97 seasons.
- Penn State has won its last 11 games at home to tie for its 13th-longest home winning streak all-time. It is the longest streak since also winning 11-straight home games from 2007-09.
- QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 21 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 (31) and Marshall's Chase Litton (26).
- TE Mike Gesicki has recorded a reception in his last 20 games dating back to the 2016 season opener.
- RB Saquon Barkley has scored a touchdown in his last 13 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest active streak by a running back in FBS (Ronald Jones II, USC).
BOWLING AGAIN
- Penn State became bowl eligible when it defeated Northwestern for its sixth win of the season.
- The Lions have appeared in 47 bowl games in program history, tied for ninth-highest among FBS schools at the start of the season.
- Head coach James Franklin has guided his team to a bowl appearance in each of his seven seasons as a head coach (3 at Vanderbilt; 4 at Penn State).
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
- Penn State's plus-12 turnover margin second in FBS only to USF (+13).
- Penn State's 17 takeaways rank tied for third with five other schools, while California leads FBS with 20 takeaways.
- Penn State forced 17 turnovers in the first six games, which is the most turnovers forced in a six-game span since 1993 (18 turnovers forced).
- Penn State has forced at least one turnover in seven-straight games dating back to the 2017 Rose Bowl, its longest streak since forcing a turnover in eight-straight games in the 2014 campaign.
- The Nittany Lions have forced three turnovers in each of their last two games (at Northwestern; vs. Indiana), marking the first time since 2015 that Penn State has had back-to-back games with three or more turnovers (vs. San Diego State; vs. Army).
MILESTONE WATCH
- QB Trace McSorley is six passing touchdowns shy of 50 for his career. The Penn State record is 48.
- McSorley is 18 yards shy of becoming the fourth Nittany Lion to reach 6,000 yards of career total offense.
- McSorley is 604 yards shy of becoming the fourth Nittany Lion to reach 6,000 career passing yards.
- McSorley is 403 yards shy of 2,000 passing yards this season. It would be the 20th 2,000-yard passing season in Penn State history.
- McSorley is 26 completions shy of becoming the seventh Nittany Lion to reach 400 career completions.
- RB Saquon Barkley is 42 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 in a career.
- Barkley is 489 yards shy of becoming the second Nittany Lion to total 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
- Barkley is 198 yards from 1,500 all-purpose yards this year. It would be the 12th time the feat has been accomplished and Penn State and he would be the third Nittany Lion to do it twice.
- Barkley is 16 points shy of 250 for his career. He would be the sixth Nittany Lion to accomplish the feat.
- TE Mike Gesicki is six receptions shy of 100 for his career.
- S Marcus Allen is 16 tackles shy of 300 for his career.
HIGH SCORING
- Penn State's scoring average of 39.7 points per game ranks 17th in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
- With 31 points in a win at Northwestern, Penn State has surpassed 20 points in 16 consecutive games. It is the longest streak since scoring 20 or more points in 16-straight games across the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
- The streak is also tied for the fifth-longest active streak in FBS (Oklahoma State, 34; Toledo, 29; USF, 23; Oklahoma, 18; USC, 16).
- Penn State's streak of scoring 30-plus points ended at 10 consecutive games at Iowa. It was the longest stretch for the Lions since a string of 15-straight games with 30-plus points from 1993-94. However, Penn State has still scored 30-plus points in 12 out of the last 13 games.
- Penn State has scored 186 points (37.2 ppg) in the last five games and 409 points (40.9 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.
McSORLEY CRACKS UNITAS TOP 20
- QB Trace McSorley is among the 20 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, as the watch list was trimmed following Week 6.
- The Golden Arm Award is presented at the end of each football season and the winner is selected based on his accomplishments both on and off the field.
- Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class.
FAST STARTS
- According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks tied for 16th in FBS in first-half scoring (21.2 avg) and tied for fourth in first-quarter scoring (12.1 avg).
- The Nittany Lions scored 28 points in a first quarter against Indiana, marking the first time Penn State scored 28 or more points in the first quarter since 2005 at Illinois (28 points).
- Penn State has outscored opponents 76-0 in the first quarter this season and is the only FBS team yet to allow an opening-quarter score.
- Penn State has scored in the first quarter of all six games this season.
- 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).
- Against both Akron and Georgia State 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.
BARKLEY IN THE RECORD BOOKS
- Running back Saquon Barkley has placed his name all over the Penn State record books.
- Barkley ranks seventh on Penn State's career rushing yards list with 3,221 yards. He trails D.J. Dozier (3,227 rushing yards) for sixth. Barkley is the seventh player in Penn State history to have 3,000 career rushing yards.
- Barkley is fourth on Penn State's career all-purpose charts with 4,511 yards. He passed Evan Royster (4,502; 2007-10) during the Northwestern game.
- Barkley ranks seventh on Penn State's career scoring chart with 234 points. He passed Curtis Enis (230; 1995-97) and Robbie Gould (232; 2001-04) during the Northwestern game with two rushing touchdowns.
- Barkley moved into fourth place in Penn State history with his 30th and 31st career rushing touchdowns at Northwestern. He passed Charlie Pittman (30; 1967-69) for the position.
- Barkley's career-high 211-yard rushing performance at Iowa marked his 12th career 100-yard game to move into a tie with Lenny Moore for ninth place on the Penn State career charts.
- Barkley is one of just eight Nittany Lions to post multiple 200-yard rushing games and ranks in a tie for second with John Cappelletti. He trails Larry Johnson (4) for the career record.
BARKLEY DOES IT ALL
- From running to pass catching to returning, Saquon Barkley leads the nation with 217.0 all-purpose yards per game this season.
- Barkley was named as a midseason All-American by both ESPN and Sporting News.
- Barkley is also the career active FBS leader in all-purpose yards per game, averaging 145.5.
- Barkley ranks third in FBS averaging 174.0 yards from scrimmage per game.
- Barkley and Stanford's Bryce Love (200.9) are the only two FBS players averaging more than 200 all-purpose yards per game this season.
- Barkley currently leads Penn State in rushing yards per game (108.2) and receiving yards per game (65.8).
- Barkley ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 26th in FBS with 6.36 yards per carry and his 108.2 rushing yards per game are third in the Big Ten and 17th in FBS.
- His nine total touchdowns are second in the Big Ten and rank 16th in FBS.
- Barkley accomplished multiple firsts against Indiana, completing a pass to DaeSean Hamilton that went for a touchdown and returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
- Barkley is the first player in the last 20 years with 50 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, a passing touchdown and kickoff return for a touchdown in a game.
- Barkley is the first Big Ten player and sixth FBS player since 1996 with a kickoff return for a touchdown and a passing touchdown in the same game.
- Barkley is the seventh FBS player in the last five years and 20th since 2000 with a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, passing touchdown and kickoff return touchdown in the same season.
- Barkley's first-career passing touchdown was the first for Penn State running back since Nick Scott threw a scoring pass against Illinois during the 2015 campaign.
- Barkley's 16-yard completion was the longest by a Penn State running back since Eric McCoo threw a 63-yard touchdown pass against Illinois in 2001.
- Barkley is the ninth different non-QB to throw a TD pass for Penn State and it is the 10th time that it has happened since 1967.
- Barkley broke the Penn State record for all-purpose yards in a game with 358 yards (211 rush, 94 receiving, 53 return) at Iowa. He broke the mark previously held by Curt Warner (341; at Syracuse in 1981), and the figure also ranks 10th all-time in Big Ten history.
- Barkley's 211 rushing yards at Iowa were a career high, besting the mark set at Purdue (207) in 2016.
- According to ESPN Stats & Info, Barkley's average of 213.3 scrimmage yards in the first four games was the most by a Big Ten player in the first four games over last 10 seasons. No one has topped 200 yards average in the last 10 years.
- Barkley recorded 226 all-purpose yards (47 rushing, 142 receiving, 37 return) against Georgia State. His 142 receiving yards were a career high, surpassing his previous mark of 77 set last season at Michigan.
- Barkley has been named to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll three times (Sept. 11, Sept. 25, Oct. 1) this season. The Paul Hornung Award is presented to the most versatile player in major college football.
B1G LEADING PASSER
- QB Trace McSorley is among Big Ten passing leaders in multiple categories for a second consecutive season.
- McSorley leads the Big Ten (27th FBS) with 266.2 passing yards per game, and ranks third with 1,597 total passing yards.
- McSorley is averaging 295.8 yards of total offense per game to rank third in the Big Ten (20th FBS).
- McSorley's 13 passing touchdowns rank second in the Big Ten and 24th in FBS.
- Responsible for 17.0 points per game, McSorley ranks second (20th FBS).
- McSorley's passing efficiency of 154.1 ranks third (20th FBS).
- McSorley's .670 completion percentage ranks second (13th FBS) behind Purdue's David Blough (.689).
- McSorley is among the most efficient active quarterbacks in FBS, as his career efficiency rating of 152.73 ranks ninth and tops among Big Ten passers.
COULDN'T MISS
- McSorley completed 15-straight pass attempts from the first quarter through the third quarter at Northwestern, breaking the Penn State record for consecutive completions.
- The previous record was set by Kerry Collins when he had 14-straight completions at Minnesota during the 1994 season.
LIMITED ACCESS
- Penn State leads the nation in scoring defense, averaging 9.0 points allowed per game. Alabama is second (10.1).
- Penn State has allowed 21.4 points per game fewer through six games in 2017 than it did in 2016 (31.4).
- Penn State owns a pair of shutout victories and has not allowed more than 19 points in a game.
- The Nittany Lions nearly earned their third shutout of the season at Northwestern, but the Wildcats scored in the final two minutes of the game, snapping a five-quarter shutout streak that started in the second half of the Indiana game.
- Penn State has shutout opponents in at least one half in four games this season (Akron, Georgia State, Indiana, Northwestern).
- Penn State has been particularly strong at the start of games, ranking as the only team yet to give up a first quarter point.
- Penn State ranks second in FBS in first-half scoring defense, allowing just 4.0 points per game, and third in second-half scoring (5.0 avg). The Lions are nearly as strong in the third quarter as they are in the first, ranking second in scoring defense (0.5 avg). (Coaches by the Numbers)
- Iowa did not cross the 50-yard line on offense against Penn State in the first half.
- Penn State has 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 games were 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 PSU in the first three games were 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 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 PSU 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).
SENIOR STOPPERS
- LB Jason Cabinda leads Penn State with 40 tackles this season, while classmate S Marcus Allen is second with 35.
- Allen ranks eighth in career tackles at Penn State with 284. He trails Dennis Onkotz (287; 1967-69) for the No. 7 spot. Cabinda tied a career-high with 14 tackles against Indiana. He previously had 14 tackles against Army in 2015.
- Cabinda's 14 tackles against Indiana mark his seventh career game with at least 10 tackles. He last had double-digit tackles against USC in the Rose Bowl last season.
GETTING OFF THE FIELD
- Penn State is averaging 5.83 three-and-outs per game to rank in a tie for sixth in FBS and third in the Big Ten.
- Penn State has prevented a first down on 35-of-81 opposition drives (43.2 percent).
AIR INTERCEPTS
- With nine interceptions, Penn State is tied for the Big Ten lead and is tied for 12th in FBS.
- CB Amani Oruwariye grabbed his third interception of the season and second in as many weeks at Northwestern to take the team lead.
- Oruwariye is the second Penn State DB to have interceptions in back-to-back games this season, joining Grant Haley (Pitt and Georgia State).
- Haley was the first PSU player with interceptions in back-to-back games since Anthony Zettel in 2014 (at Michigan and vs. Ohio State).
- CB Christian Campbell grabbed his third career interception and first of the season at Northwestern with a pick to end the opening half. It was his first INT since the Purdue game in 2016.
- Combined with nine pass breakups, Campbell ranks tied for eighth FBS and first in the Big Ten with 1.7 passes defended per game.
- Penn State recorded three interceptions against Georgia State for its most since grabbing three at Maryland in 2015.
- 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 a career long, besting his 30-yard return vs. Temple in 2014.
KNOCK IT DOWN
- The Penn State defense had 10 pass breakups at Northwestern, which was its most PBUs in a game for the Nittany Lions since having 10 against Kent State in 2013.
- The 10 pass breakups are tied for the fourth-most in a game for the Nittany Lions since 2000 (16, Purdue in 2000; 14, Michigan State in 2006; 11, Indiana in 2011; 10, UCF in 2004; 10, Kent State in 2013).
- CB Christian Campbell leads the team with nine pass breakups on the season. He has recorded a pass breakup in his last seven consecutive games.
- CB Grant Haley had a career-high three pass breakups at Northwestern, topping his previous high of two, which he had accomplished three times, most recently at the Rose Bowl.
STOPS BEHIND THE LINE
- Penn State has assumed a familiar position in the NCAA statistical rankings, ranking fourth in FBS and first in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with an average of 8.5.
- A total of 26 different Nittany Lions have at least assisted on a stop in the back field, with DE Shane Simmons becoming the latest to tally a TFL.
- DEs Shareef Miller (6.5) and Shaka Toney (5.5) lead the team in tackles for loss.
- 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.
MILLER JOINS BEDNARIK WATCH LIST
- DE Shareef Miller was been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for the nation's College Defensive Player of the Year following the Indiana game.
- Miller joins teammates Jason Cabinda and Marcus Allen on the watch list. Cabinda and Allen were named to the list prior to the season.
- The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. The Nittany Lions' four Bednarik Award recipients are the most of any school in the nation.