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Oct. 2, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 4 Penn State returns to the road and to Ryan Field, as the Nittany Lions take on Northwestern in a cross-division Big Ten football matchup kicking off at noon on ABC.
The Big Ten is proving as challenging as ever in 2017, as the Nittany Lions lead a group of four Big Ten teams ranked in the Top 10 of both major polls: Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State. Penn State will face Michigan and Ohio State later in the month, but Northwestern cannot be overlooked, as it is undefeated at home this year and led Wisconsin at halftime on the road in its last outing. The Wildcats have also prevailed over the Nittany Lions in their last two meetings, most recently winning on a last-second field goal in 2015 on Ryan Field.
Penn State is looking to extend its four-game road winning streak, as well as double-digit conference and regular season winning streaks.
Nittany Lion running back Saquon Barkley is likely to be a major factor, but just how so is difficult to predict, as his most recent game featured a passing touchdown and kickoff return touchdown. Barkley leads all active FBS players in career all-purpose yards and is the 2017 season leader.
Quarterback Trace McSorley continues to standout in the Big Ten, as well, leading the conference in passing yards and ranking among the conference and FBS leaders in passing touchdowns and efficiency.
The Penn State defense has been doing its part, averaging just 9.4 points allowed per game to rank third in FBS and No. 1 in the Big Ten. The unit has yet to allow a first quarter touchdown and most recently blanked Indiana in the second half.
Penn State will have next Saturday off before it hosts Michigan for the annual Penn State White Out.
HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD
- The second-longest tenured Big Ten head coach, Pat Fitzgerald is in his 12th season at the helm of Northwestern.
- He is the all-time winningest coach in Northwestern history and has led the program to seven bowl game appearances. Fitzgerald was at the helm for two of Northwestern's all-time three bowl wins. Most recently, Northwestern defeated No. 23 Pitt in the 2016 New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, 31-24.
- In 2015, Fitzgerald guided the Wildcats to a program record-tying 10 wins.
- Fitzgerald has spent 15 of his 18 seasons as a collegiate coach with the Wildcats. He was the defensive backs coach in 2001, coached linebackers from 2002-05 and was hired as the head coach in 2006.
- As a player in 1995, Fitzgerald led the Wildcats to the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- Northwestern is 2-2 with wins over Nevada and Bowling Green and losses to Duke and No. 10 Wisconsin. The Wildcats are 2-0 at home and 0-2 on the road.
- Northwestern battled the Badgers in its Big Ten opener, leading 10-7 at halftime before getting outscored 26-14 in the second half to fall, 33-24.
- Quarterback Clayton Thorson leads the Big Ten with 22.8 completions per game. He is second only to Trace McSorley (270.4) in passing yards per game (265.3).
- Running back Justin Jackson is second among active FBS players with 4,402 career rushing yards and fifth in rushing yards per game (104.8), just behind fourth-place Saquon Barkley (104.9).
- Linebacker Paddy Fisher ranks third in the Big Ten averaging 9.3 tackles per game.
- Hunter Niswander ranks second in the Big Ten averaging 45.7 yards per punt, but the Wildcats rank 10th in the Big Ten in punt return defense allowing 9.7 yards per return and Penn State ranks second (16.9 ypr). Northwestern ranks last in the conference in punt returns (0.67 ypr), while Penn State leads the conference in punt return defense (1.29).
RETURN TO THE ROAD
- After playing four of its first five games at home, Penn State will play three of its next four on the road.
- The Nittany Lions have won their last four games on the road and last 11 at home.
TOP RUNNING BACKS MEET
- Penn State junior Saquon Barkley (3,146 yds; 9th FBS) and Northwestern senior Justin Jackson (4,402 yds; 2nd FBS) are the leading active rushers in the Big Ten with a combined 7,548 rushing yards.
- The Penn State-Northwestern game will be the first in FBS this season to feature two top-10 active career rushers.
- Barkley (104.9 yds) and Jackson (104.8 yds) are two of just five active players to average more than 100 yards per game for their careers.
- They are two of the most active players in the nation, as Jackson owns an FBS-leading average of 24.05 all-purpose plays per game, while Barkley is fourth averaging 20.87.
- Jackson ranks third in FBS among active players with 5,242 career all-purpose yards, while Barkely is 10th with 4,427 yards.
NITTANY LIONS FROM ILLINOIS
- SN Joe Calcagno -- Elmhurst, Ill./Fenwick
- DE Colin Castagna -- Barrington, Ill./Barrington
- K/P Tyler Davis -- St. Charles, Ill./North
- LB Frank Di Leo -- Elmhurst, Ill./Saint Ignatius College Prep
PENN STATE-NORTHWESTERN CONNECTIONS
- Penn State and Northwestern feature two pairs of opposing brothers. Penn State junior quarterback Billy Fessler and Northwestern sophomore wide receiver Charlie Fessler, as well as Penn State sophomore punter Blake Gillikin and Northwestern redshirt freshman long snapper Tyler Gillikin.
- Penn State and Northwestern are believed to be the only teams to have two pairs of brothers on the same opposing team in FBS.
- The Fesslers played together at played together at Cathedral Prep High School in Erie, Pa., while the Gillikins, who are twins, played together at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
- Penn State junior DE Colin
Castagna and Northwestern junior QB Daniel Kubiuk played together at Barrington (Ill.) High School. - Penn State redshirt freshman DT Ellison Jordan and Northwestern junior wide receiver Jelani Roberts and sophomore defensive back Alonzo Mayo all played together at The Gilman School in Maryland.
- Penn State freshman WR KJ Hamler and Northwestern redshirt freshman OL Cam Kolwich played together at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School in Michigan. Hamler and redshirt freshman LB Jango Glackin are also both IMG Academy products.
- Penn State head coach James
Franklin and Assistant A.D. for Performance Enhancement Dwight
Galt worked with Northwestern's superbacks coach Bob Heffner at Maryland in 2000. Franklin coached the wide receivers and Galt was the director of strength & conditioning, while Heffner was the offensive coordinator. - Also during Galt's stint at Maryland as the director of strength & conditioning, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald served as a defensive graduate assistant at Maryland in 1998.
- Penn State offensive line coach Matt Limegrover was a graduate assistant at Northwestern from 1995-96, which includes Northwestern's 1995 Rose Bowl season on which current Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was a student-athlete. Northwestern defensive backs coach Jerry Brown was also in the same role during Limegrover's stint.
- Limegrover is very familiar with the Windy City and the state of Illinois, as he played (1987-90) football at the University of Chicago and coached (1991-94) at the school, including serving as the interim head coach in 1994. He also coached at Southern Illinois (2001-07) and Northern Illinois (2008-10).
PSU ON ABC
- Penn State is appearing on ABC for its fourth time this season and 174th time all-time, the most of any other network.
- The four appearances for Penn State on ABC this year are the most since appearing four times in all of 2012.
- The four appearances for Penn State on ABC in its first six games of the season are the most since doing the same in 1998.
- Penn State has a 99-73-1 record on ABC, with wins in its last five appearances.
- The primetime clash at Iowa was the most watched college football game of Week 4, drawing a 3.1 overnight rating on ABC, and the third most-watched of the season to date. It featured a total live audience of 5,341,000 viewers and peaked at nearly 8 million viewers.
INCREASED TV EXPOSURE
- Penn State's four appearances on a broadcast network in its first six games this season are the most since doing the same in 2006.
- With Penn State's Oct. 28 game at Ohio State set to be televised on FOX, the Nittany Lions will have at least five broadcast network television appearances this season, its most since appearing on broadcast TV seven times in 2009.
- Penn State has had 285 of its last 287 games televised, including 178 consecutive games.
- Over the last 13 seasons, every game has aired on either ABC, FOX, BTN, NBC or an ESPN channel.
TOP FIVE
- Entering Week 6, Penn State is ranked No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches Polls for a third consecutive week.
- The No. 4 ranking marks the fifth 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 has started a season 5-0 for the first time since 2008, when it started 9-0.
- This is the first time James Franklin has led his squad to a 5-0 start on the season in his head coaching career.
- The 2-0 start in Big Ten play marks the first such start since 2015, when Penn State also began 2-0.
- Penn State is one of 17 undefeated FBS teams and one of eight FBS teams with a 5-0 record (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, USF, San Diego State, Washington, Washington State).
B1G PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Penn State is tied with Michigan with a conference-high four Big Ten Players of the Week honors on offense, defense and special teams.
- WR DaeSean Hamilton was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week and RB/KR Saquon Barkley was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5 following the Indiana game.
- Hamilton caught nine passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns, while Barkley returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
- Barkley has garnered a conference-high three Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season, earning two on offense and one on special teams.
- Barkley won his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after a record-breaking performance at Iowa. 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 claimed co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against Akron in the season opener. He shared the honor with Ohio State's J.T. Barrett. Barkley had a Big Ten-leading 246 all-purpose yards on 18 touches against the Zips. The junior rushed for 172 yards on 14 carries (12.3 ypc) with two touchdowns and added three receptions for 54 yards (18.0 ypr). Barkley broke free for an 80-yard rush, which was the second-longest of his career and tied for the 10th-best rush in program history.
STREAKING
- Penn State has won its last 13 regular season games for its longest streak since winning 18 in a row from 1993-95. It is tied for the second-longest active streak in FBS with Oklahoma (13), while Alabama is carrying a 26-game streak.
- Penn State has won its last 11 games against Big Ten opponents for its second-longest conference winning streak since winning 12 from 1993-94. It is tied for the third-longest active streak in FBS with Western Michigan. Only Alabama (19, SEC) and Oklahoma (17, Big 12) have longer active streaks.
- 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).
- Penn State has won its last 11 games at home to tie for its 13th-longest home winning streak.
- QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 20 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 (25).
- TE Mike Gesicki has recorded a reception in his last 19 games dating back to the 2016 season opener.
- RB Saquon Barkley has scored a touchdown in his last 12 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak by a running back in FBS.
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
- Penn State's plus-9 turnover margin ranks tied for third in FBS with San Diego State and tops in the Big Ten.
- Only USF (+11) and Alabama (+10) have better turnover margins.
- Penn State's 14 takeaways rank tied for third with Utah, while Utah State and USF lead FBS with 16.
- With two touchdowns off of the first two Indiana turnovers, Penn State had converted eight consecutive turnovers into touchdowns. The streak -- which dated back to the Georgia State contest -- was snapped on a missed field goal attempt in the third quarter.
POINT DIFFERENTIAL
- With a prolific offense, lockdown defense and help on special teams, Penn State ranks fourth in FBS with an average point differential of 32.0 points.
- Penn State has been particularly strong in the first quarter, outscoring opponents 73-0. The Lions are the only FBS team yet to allow a first quarter point.
- Penn State posted two shutouts and two 50-plus point scoring efforts in its first three games.
MILESTONE WATCH
- QB Trace McSorley is seven passing touchdowns shy of 50 for his career. The Penn State record is 48.
- McSorley is 262 yards shy of becoming the fourth Nittany Lion to reach 6,000 yards of total offense.
- McSorley is 849 yards shy of becoming the fourth Nittany Lion to reach 6,000 passing yards.
- McSorley is 51 completions shy of becoming the seventh Nittany Lion to reach 400 career completions.
- RB Saquon Barkley is 51 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.
- Barkley is 573 yards shy of becoming the second Nittany Lion to total 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
- TE Mike Gesicki is eight receptions shy of 100 for his career.
- S Marcus Allen is 21 tackles shy of 300 for his career.
- K Tyler Davis is one extra point conversion away from 100 extra points made.
MILESTONES ACHIEVED
- QB Trace McSorley became the ninth Nittany Lion passer to eclipse the 5,000-yard mark for a career with 315 against Indiana.
- RB 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.
BARKLEY DOES IT ALL
- From running to pass catching to returning, Saquon Barkley leads the nation with 243.6 all-purpose yards per game this season.
- Barkley is also the active FBS leader in all-purpose yards per game, averaging 147.6.
- Barkley, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (229.0) and Stanford's Bryce Love (218.6) are the only three FBS players averaging more than 200 all-purpose yards per game this season.
- Barkley currently leads Penn State in rushing yards per game (114.8) and receiving yards per game (77.2).
- Barkley ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 20th in FBS with 6.67 yards per carry and his 114.8 rushing yards per game are second in the Big Ten and 14th in FBS.
- His seven total touchdowns are tied for the lead in the Big Ten and rank 15th 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 third player in the last five years with a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, passing touchdown and special teams touchdown in the same season. He joins Joe Mixon from Oklahoma (2016) and Christian McCaffrey from Stanford (2015) as the only players to accomplish the feat.
- 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 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.
HIGH SCORING
- Penn State's scoring average of 41.4 points per game ranks 14th in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
- With 45 points in a win over Indiana, Penn State has surpassed 20 points in 15 consecutive games. It is the longest streak since scoring 20 or more points in 16-straight games across the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
- 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+ points from 1993-94.
- Penn State has scored 207 points (41.4 ppg) in the last five games and 423 points (42.3 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.
FAST STARTS
- According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks tied for 12th in FBS in points in the first half (23.4 avg) and tied for third in first-quarter scoring (14.6 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 73-0 in the first quarter this season and is the only FBS team yet to allow an opening-quarter score.
- 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.
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 in passing yards (1,352; 19th FBS) and passing yards per game (270.4; 30th FBS).
- McSorley is averaging 306.2 yards of total offense per game to lead the Big Ten (19th FBS).
- McSorley's 12 passing touchdowns rank second (10th FBS) behind Ohio State's J.T. Barrett (13).
- Responsible for 90 points, McSorley ranks second (7th FBS) just behind Ohio State's JT Barrett (92). His 18.0 per game average also ranks second (12th FBS) behind Barrett (18.4).
- McSorley's passing efficiency of 156.4 ranks third (25th FBS).
- McSorley is among the most efficient active quarterbacks in FBS, as his career efficiency rating of 153.25 ranks seventh and tops among Big Ten passers.
- McSorley's .656 completion percentage ranks third (26th FBS) behind Purdue's David Blough (.700).
McSORLEY CLIMBING CARER CHARTS
- Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes against Indiana give him 43 for his career, which is good for a tie for No. 3 at Penn State with Daryll Clark (2006-09).
- On the touchdowns responsible for list, McSorley now has accounted for 53 scores with three more (two passing, one rushing) against Indiana. The total is good for No. 3 on the Penn State career charts. Christian Hackenberg ranks No. 2 on the list with 54 touchdowns responsible for from 2013-15.
- McSorley's 315 yards passing against Indiana marked his seventh 300-yard passing game. He is No. 2 all-time, trailing Christian Hackenberg's nine career 300-yard games. His two 300-yard games in 2017 are tied for fifth on the single season charts.
- It was also McSorley's 15th 200-yard passing game, which is No. 5 on the 200-yard list, trailing Kerry Collins and Zack Mills for third; they each had 16 200-yard passing games.
- McSorley holds ninth place on Penn State's career passing yardage chart with 5,151 yards.
- McSorley's 23 completions against Indiana give him 349 for his career, moving him into 10th place in the Penn State annals, passing Todd Blackledge (341; 1980-82). He trails Kerry Collins (370; 1991-94) for ninth place.
- McSorley has 5,738 career total offense yards to rank sixth all-time at Penn State.
JOHNSON BREAKING OUT
- WR Juwan Johnson has at least one catch in all five games this season and multiple catches the last three consecutive games.
- Most recently, he caught four passes for 63 yards against Indiana.
- 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.
HAMILTON HAULING IT IN
- WR DaeSean Hamilton had nine catches against Indiana to put him atop the Penn State career receptions charts with (181). He passed Allen Robinson (177) and Deon Butler (179) in the game.
- Hamilton caught a career-high three touchdown receptions against Indiana. He previously had one touchdown reception on 10 occasions. The three scoring grabs were the most by a Nittany Lion since Allen Robinson had three, also against Indiana, in 2012.
- Hamilton had 122 yards receiving against Indiana, marking his sixth 100-yard receiving game in his career, which is good for a tie for sixth place at Penn State with four others: Deon Butler, Kenny Jackson, Derek Moye and Freddie Scott.
- With three receiving scores, he is tied for No. 10 on the career touchdown receptions list with Jordan Norwood (2005-08).
- Hamilton has 2,316 receiving yards for his career, which ranks him sixth at Penn State. He trails Derek Moye (2,395 receiving yards) for fifth place.
- Hamilton is the ninth player in program history with 2,000 career receiving yards.
- Hamilton's career receptions total of 181 ranks sixth amongst active FBS players, while his receptions per game average (4.02) ranks 16th. He leads the Big Ten in both.
- Hamilton's career receiving yardage total of 2,316 ranks 10th among active FBS players, while his receiving yards per game average of 51.5 is 14th. He leads the Big Ten in both categories.
EVERY GAME GESICKI
- TE Mike Gesicki became Penn State's all-time tight end receptions leader with five receptions at Iowa. He broke the record of 87 set by Andrew Quarless (2006-09) and now has 92.
- Gesicki holds the team's longest active receptions streak at 19 games, dating to the 2016 season opener.
- Gesicki has four or more catches in 10 of his last 17 games.
- Gesicki entered 2017 with six career touchdowns over three seasons, but caught a career-high two in each of the first two games this season to move within one of the Penn State record for career touchdown catches by a tight end - 11 by Jesse James and within one of equaling the season record in the same category again. Gesicki tied the record of five shared by James and two others last season.
- His four total touchdowns rank tied for sixth in the Big Ten.
- Gesicki has 1,085 receiving yards for his career to rank 22nd all-time at Penn State. He is the 25th player to have more than 1,000 career receiving yards at Penn State.
- After a breakout season in 2016, Gesicki, picked up where he left off with a career day in the season opener Gesicki had a career-high six catches against Akron. His previous high was five on four occasions, the last against Rutgers in 2016.
LIMITED ACCESS
- Penn State (9.4) ranks third only to Alabama (8.6) and Georgia (9.2) in scoring defense.
- Penn State has allowed 21 points per game fewer through five 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.
- 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 fourth in FBS in first half scoring defense, allowing 4.8 points per game, and sixth in second half scoring (4.6 avg). The Lions are nearly as strong in the third quarter as they are in the first, ranking fourth in scoring defense (0.6 avg).
- The only scoring Penn State allowed against Indiana was in the second quarter, as the Nittany Lions shutout the Hoosiers in the second half. It marks the third time this season that Penn State has shutout an opponent for at least one half.
- 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 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 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 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 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.
- Cabinda leads Penn State with 35 tackles this season.
- With six tackles against Indiana, Marcus Allen moves to 279 for his career to move into No. 8 on the career tackles list. He trails Dennis Onkotz (287; 1967-69) for the No. 7 spot.
- Allen's 30 tackles this season rank second on the team.
GETTING OFF THE FIELD
- Penn State is averaging 5.60 three-and-outs per game to rank 16th in FBS and fourth in the Big Ten.
- Penn State has prevented a first down on 28-of-68 opposition drives (41.2 percent).
AIR DEFENSE
- With seven interceptions, Penn State is tied for the Big Ten lead and is tied for 10th in FBS.
- CB Amani Oruwariye grabbed his second interception of the season against Indiana to tie CB Grant Haley for the team lead.
- Penn State recorded three interceptions against Georgia State for its most since grabbing three at Maryland in 2015.
- Haley intercepted a pass each in back-to-back games against Pitt and Georgia State, with both leading to touchdown drives.
- Haley is the first PSU player with interceptions in back-to-back games since Anthony Zettel in 2014 (at Michigan and vs. Ohio State).
- 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.
- 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 1.4 pass breakups per game, which also ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 27th in FBS. He has recorded a pass breakup in his last six consecutive games.
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT
- WR Irvin Charles forced the first fumble of his career in the first quarter against Indiana, which led to a Nick Scott fumble return for a touchdown.
- Charles totaled two special teams tackles in the game, equaling his career high from the 2016 contest vs. Indiana.
- Scott had the second touchdown of his career on his fumble return against Indiana. Scott had a rushing touchdown in 2015 against Army when he was a running back. It was the first fumble recovery of his career.
- Penn State has both punt return and kick return for touchdowns this season, marking the first season with a score of each type since 2008.
- Penn State had a pair of special teams touchdowns vs. Indiana via kick return and fumble recovery, marking the first time that Penn State had two special team touchdowns in the same game since 2001 at Illinois, when Bruce Branch had a 71-yard punt return and Larry Johnson had a 97-yard kick return for a touchdown.
- Penn State last had two special team scores of any type in the same game when forcing two safeties on punts against Iowa in 2004.
RETURN GAME SUCCESS
- The 98-yard opening kick return by Saquon Barkley against Indiana for a touchdown was the first for the Nittany Lions since Chaz Powell had a 95-yard return for a score against Indiana State in 2011. It was the longest kick return since Powell had a 100-yard return against Youngstown State in 2010.
- Thanks in part to his first career kickoff return touchdown run and the longest return of his career, Barkley ranks third in the Big Ten and 11th in FBS averaging 32.3 yards per kickoff return.
- Barkley is one of 19 players in FBS to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season, and the second in the Big Ten (JD Spielman, Nebraska).