Penn State-Maryland Game NotesPenn State-Maryland Game Notes

Penn State-Maryland Game Notes

Nov. 20, 2017

PENN STATE at MARYLAND
Saturday, Nov. 25 | 3:30 p.m.
Maryland Stadium | College Park, Md.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State football's 2017 regular season concludes Saturday, as Penn State makes its first trip to Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium since 1993 to face Maryland with coverage set to begin at 3:30 p.m. on BTN.

Penn State and Maryland are playing for a fourth consecutive year since Maryland joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014. Two meetings have taken place in Happy Valley (2014 & 2016), while the 2015 contest was held in Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.

At 9-2 overall, Penn State is seeking to secure back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009.

Penn State is coming off a prolific offensive performance, gaining 609 yards of total offense and scoring 56 points in a win over Nebraska. Leading the effort was running back Saquon Barkley, who was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three rushing touchdowns in the first half and totaling 224 yards from scrimmage. The touchdowns were enough to make him Penn State's career rushing touchdown record holder. Quarterback Trace McSorley was also a major contributor, responsible for four touchdowns with three passing scores and one rushing, and throwing for 325 yards to tie a Penn State career record for 300-yard throwing efforts.

Maryland is facing its third ranked opponent in as many weeks and sixth of the season. The Terps have a pair of playmakers on offense, as running back Ty Johnson is among the conference leaders in all-purpose yards and second only to Barkley in kick returns, while DJ Moore is the conference's leading receiver, despite having his third starting quarterback of the season, as injuries sidelined two early in the season.

Penn State will await a bowl invitation, which will be announced Sunday, Dec. 3, and focus on final exams.

HEAD COACH DJ DURKIN

  • DJ Durkin was named the 36th head football coach in Maryland history on December 2, 2015.
  • The Terps doubled their win total from the prior season and garnered bowl eligibility in Durkin's first year in College Park.
  • Durkin previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan, leading a defensive unit that ranked fourth in the country.
  • As the defensive coordinator at Florida from 2013-14, Durkin led the Gators to consecutive top-15 rankings in total defense. He was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Florida from 2010-12.
  • Durkin was the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach at Stanford from 2007-09 after two years as an assistant at Bowling Green.
  • As a student-athlete at Bowling Green, Durkin was a starter at defensive end and outside linebacker from 1997-2000. He led the team in sacks in 1998 and served as a team captain for two seasons.

SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS

  • Maryland is 4-7 overall and 2-6 in Big Ten play this season. The Terps won three of their first four games, including the season opener at then-No. 23 Texas, but have come up short in six of their last seven.
  • The Penn State game marks Maryland's sixth game against a ranked opponent this season and third consecutive.
  • Maryland lost two quarterbacks to injury for the season in the first three games of the season. Tyrrell Pigrome was injured in the season opener and Kasim Hill was injured in the third game against UCF.
  • Maryland's plus-four turnover margin is second in the Big Ten only to Penn State's plus-12 margin.
  • Running back and kick returner Ty Johnson is fourth in the Big Ten averaging 131.0 all-purpose yards per game and second only to Saquon Barkley (30.2 ypr) in the Big Ten in kick returns (25.0 ypr).
  • D.J. Moore is the Big Ten's leading receiver with 6.5 receptions per game and 933 receiving yards. He is also second with 84.8 receiving yards per game.
  • Linebacker Jermaine Carter leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in FBS with four forced fumbles. He leads the team in tackles (79) and sacks (3.5).

WINNING WAYS

  • Penn State is 9-2 after 11 games for a second consecutive season.
  • Penn State is 18-3 in its last 21 games, the best span since going 20-1 from 1993-95.
  • Penn State is looking to earn its seventh 10-win regular season since joining the Big Ten and 23rd overall. It is also looking to post back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
  • Penn State completed its home schedule with a second consecutive perfect 7-0 record. It is the first time the Nittany Lions have back-to-back undefeated home seasons since 1985 (6-0) and 1986 (7-0).
  • Penn State started a season 7-0 for the first time since 2008, when the team started 9-0.
  • Penn State's 4-0 start in Big Ten play marked the first such start since 2011, when Penn State began 5-0.
  • Penn State's victory over No. 19 Michigan as the No. 2-ranked team was its first as a top-five team over a ranked opponent since winning 13-6 at No. 10 Ohio State in 2008 as the No. 3-ranked team.

PENN STATE-MARYLAND CONNECTIONS

  • Penn State redshirt freshman DE Shaka Toney, played with Maryland junior wide receiver DJ Moore, at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia.
  • Penn State redshirt freshman defensive tackle Ellison Jordan played with Maryland freshman defensive lineman Antonio DiCerbo, junior defensive end Melvin Keihn and senior linebacker Shane Cockerille at The Gilman School in Maryland.
  • Penn State junior Mark Allen and redshirt freshman defensive end Shane Simmons and Maryland freshman running back Anthony McFarland, freshman OL Marcus Minor, sophomore OL Terrance Davis, sophomore DB Tino Ellis, sophomore DL Oluwaseun Oluwatimi, sophomore WR DJ Turner, sophomore RB Lorenzo Harrison III and senior WR Chris Jones all attended DeMatha Catholic in Maryland.
  • Penn State freshman wide receiver Cam Sullivan-Brown played with Maryland freshman OL Tyler Hamilton and freshman TE Zack Roski at Saint Vincent Pallotti in Maryland.

NITTANY LIONS FROM MARYLAND

COACHING CONNECTIONS

  • Penn State head coach James Franklin spent eight seasons on staff at Maryland. He was the Terrapins' asst. head coach/offensive coordinator (2008-10) and recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach (2000-04).
  • Franklin's wide receivers coach at Vanderbilt in 2011 was Maryland wide receivers coach Chris Beatty.
  • Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Banks served on the Bowling Green coaching staff in 1999 and 2000 during Maryland head coach DJ Durkin's final two seasons as a student-athlete.
  • Banks and Beatty were also on the same coaching staff at Illinois in 2012.
  • Banks served on the Maryland defensive coaching staff from 2003-06.
  • Penn State special teams coordinator/running backs coach Charles Huff was an assistant offensive line coach at Maryland in 2009.
  • Penn State assistant AD of performance enhancement Dwight Galt is a graduate of Maryland and spent 22 years with the Maryland strength & conditioning staff.
  • Assistant director of performance enhancement Dwight Galt IV played for the Terps from 2005-09.
  • Penn State chief of staff Jemal Griffin was the director of football operations at Maryland from 2008-10.
  • Penn State director of football administration Kevin Threlkel served as a football operations intern for two seasons at Maryland.
  • Maryland offensive line coach Tyler Bowen was an offensive graduate assistant coach at Penn State during Franklin's first season at the helm in 2014. Bowen then joined the Fordham staff in 2015 as the offensive line coach under then head coach and current and Penn State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead. Following Moorhead's departure, Fordham promoted its offensive coordinator to head coach and Bowen was promoted to offensive coordinator.

TAKING ON THE NEIGHBORS

  • For the fourth consecutive year, Penn State is playing at least four FBS teams that are within a 250-mile drive (based on Google Maps from stadium to stadium).
  • Penn State went 4-1 against its neighbors last season and is off to a 3-0 start this season with season-opening wins over Akron and Pitt.
  • The only nearby FBS team Penn State has not played since 2012 is West Virginia, but the Mountaineers are on Penn State's schedule in 2023 and 2024.
  • Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State is 42-4 against FBS teams within 250 miles.
  • All-time, Penn State is 288-111-17 against its current FBS regional foes.

IN THE RANKINGS

  • Penn State moved up four sports to No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings (Nov. 14), and is ranked No. 12 by the Associated Press and No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
  • Penn State has been ranked in the last nine CFP rankings, dating back to its first-ever appearance in the first poll of the 2016 season.
  • Penn State's 21-straight weeks in the AP Top 25 is the eighth-longest active streak in FBS. (Since 1936; according to CollegePollArchive.com)

MILLEN ON BTN BROADCAST TEAM

  • Former Penn State and NFL standout Matt Millen will be calling Saturday's meeting between the Nittany Lions and Terrapins.
  • Millen earned first-team All-America honors as a junior in 1978, helping the unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Nittany Lions earn a berth vs. Alabama in the dramatic 1979 Sugar Bowl for the national title. Millen was a team co-captain in 1979, but missed most of his senior year with an injury. He also helped Penn State earn the first of two consecutive 11-1 records in 1977, capped by a win in the Fiesta Bowl.
  • The Oakland Raiders selected Millen the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft to begin a 12-year career that would see him earn four Super Bowl rings. Millen played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1980-88), San Francisco 49ers (1989-90) and Washington Redskins (1991). He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1988.
  • Millen began his broadcasting career in 1992, working NFL games for CBS and then FOX. The Lehigh Valley native left broadcasting in 2001 and was team president of the Detroit Lions for the next eight years. Millen returned to broadcast booth as a college football and NFL analyst with ESPN and the NFL Network in 2009. He joined FOX Sports and BTN in 2015.

PENN STATE IN 25TH BIG TEN SEASON

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

B1G PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

  • Penn State leads the B1G with eight Player of the Week honors on offense, defense and special teams.
  • Junior RB Saquon Barkley garnered Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performances against Nebraska. Barkley wins his sixth Big Ten weekly award of the season and fourth offensive honor.
  • Barkley's six Player of the Week honors this season (four offensive, two special teams) are the most in a single season in Big Ten history (doesn't include Freshman of the Week).
  • Barkley has earned 10 conference honors (six offensive, two freshman, two special teams) in his career. Barkley's six career offensive weekly honors are tied for fifth in Big Ten history, while his four offensive honors this season are tied for second in conference annals and are the most by a player since Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah had four in 2014.
  • Against Nebraska, Barkley ran for three touchdowns and 158 yards and added six catches for 66 yards.
  • Barkley won his second special teams POTW nod after returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State in Week 9. The Buckeyes avoided kicking to Barkley for the remainder of the game, giving the Nittany Lions favorable field position.
  • Barkley won his third offensive POTW nod after scoring three touchdowns (2 rush, 1 receiving) in a win over Michigan in Week 8. He also totaled 108 yards rushing on 15 carries and 53 yards receiving on three catches for 161 yards from scrimmage.
  • It was also the fifth offensive player of the week award for his career, tying him for ninth in Big Ten history.
  • LB Jason Cabinda was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week following the Michigan game in Week 8. He registered 12 tackles, assisted on a sack and forced a fumble in the win.
  • WR DaeSean Hamilton was named the Co-Offensive POTW and RB/KR Barkley was named the Special Teams POTW 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 won his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after a record-breaking performance at Iowa in Week 4. 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.
  • Barkley claimed co-Big Ten Offensive POTW 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

  • With a win over Nebraska, Penn State extended its home winning streak to 14 games, tied for eighth-longest in the school annals. It is the longest home winning streak since a 14-game streak from 1990-92.
  • The Nittany Lions have scored 20 or more points in 21 consecutive games, which is the longest streak in program history, breaking the record of 20-straight games from 1993-95.
  • QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 26 consecutive games, dating to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, extending his school record. It is the second-longest active streak in FBS behind Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield (34).
  • TE Mike Gesicki has recorded a reception in his last 25 games, dating back to the 2016 season opener.
  • K Tyler Davis has converted a Penn State-record 130 consecutive PAT kicks.

OUT FRONT

  • Of the 660 minutes played this season, Penn State has only trailed for 37 minutes, 42 seconds.
  • Penn State has played 87.0 percent of its plays (,1534 of 1,871) with the lead, which ranks third in FBS, behind UCF (83.9 percent) and Alabama (83.5 percent).
  • Penn State has also played 58.3 percent (1,090 of 1,871) of its plays with a 10 or more point lead, which is second in FBS only to Alabama (66.8 percent).

BARKLEY UP FOR MULTIPLE AWARDS

  • RB Saquon Barkley is among the three finalists for the Maxwell Award, the four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse and the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award. Additionally, he is among 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Award.
  • Penn State is tied for the national lead among all colleges and universities with seven Maxwell Award winners. The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
  • The Doak Walker Award honors the nation's top running back for accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. It's presented annually by the SMU Athletic Forum.
  • Barkley is the first Penn State player to be a finalist for the Maxwell and Walker Awards since Larry Johnson won both honors in 2002.
  • The winners of the Maxwell and Walker Awards will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Atlanta on Thursday, December 7.
  • Barkley is the first Penn State player to be named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, which was established in 2010.
  • The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. This year's winner of the award will be honored March 7, 2018 at a banquet at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.
  • Barkley has been named to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll four times (Sept. 11, Sept. 25, Oct. 1, Oct. 23) this season. The award is presented to the most versatile player in major college football.
  • The Walter Camp Award is given to the outstanding player of the year who has exemplified the qualities of self-discipline, unselfish team play, desire to excel, mature judgment and respect for leadership.
  • Penn State has two Walter Camp winners: RBs John Cappelletti (1973) and Larry Johnson (2002).

McSORLEY UP FOR QB HONORS

  • QB Trace McSorley is among the five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was among is among 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award.
  • 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.
  • Other award finalists include J.T. Barrett (Ohio State), Ryan Finley (NC State), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) and Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State).


GESICKI A MACKEY FINALIST

  • TE Mike Gesicki is a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which is awarded to the nation's most outstanding collegiate tight end.
  • The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position.
  • Gesicki is the first finalist for the award from Penn State.
  • The winner of the award will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Atlanta on Thursday, December 7.

MILESTONE WATCH

  • QB Trace McSorley is 9 yards shy of posting the fourth 3,000-yard passing season in Penn State history and becoming the first to do it twice.
  • McSorley is 210 passing yards shy of becoming the third Penn State quarterback at Penn State to total 7,000 career passing yards.
  • McSorley is 26 pass completions shy of becoming the fourth Penn State quarterback to complete 500 career passes.
  • McSorley is 5 rushing yards shy of becoming the second Penn State quarterback to total more than 400 rushing yards in a season (Michael Robinson, 806; 2003).
  • WRs Saeed Blacknall and DeAndre Thompkins are both closing in on 1,000 receiving yards for their careers. Blacknall (940) needs 60 more yards, while Thompkins (829) needs 171.

MILESTONES ACHIEVED

  • With the victory over Nebraska head coach James Franklin has now beaten every team in the Big Ten.
  • Against Nebraska, RB Saquon Barkley became the second Nittany Lion (Kevin Kelly) to have two or more 100-point seasons.
  • Barkley has posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season.
  • Barkley is the second player in Penn State history to reach the 3,500-rushing yard mark in his career (3,629 yards), joining Evan Royster (3,982 yards; 2007-10).
  • Barkley had 224 all-purpose yards (158 rushing, 66 receiving) against Nebraska to become just the second player in Nittany Lion history to have at least 2,000 all-purpose yards in a single season.
  • Barkley became the second Nittany Lion to surpass 5,000 career all-purpose yards, doing so against Rutgers and also becoming the Penn State record holder.
  • Barkley became the first Penn State running back to total 500 yards receiving in a season by adding 33 yards at Michigan State.
  • Barkley is the first Penn State player and fourth Big Ten player with 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in his career, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards against Michigan. Barkley is the 30th Nittany Lion with at least 1,000 receiving yards.
  • Penn State earned its 125th Big Ten win with a 35-6 defeat of Rutgers (Nov. 11).
  • During the win over Rutgers, QB Trace McSorley became the third Penn State player to surpass 7,000 career total offense yards.
  • McSorley became the first Penn State QB to throw 50 career touchdown passes, surpassing the record of 48 (Christian Hackenberg; 2013-15) at Michigan State.
  • McSorley became the fourth player in program history to surpass 6,000 career passing yards, joining Hackenberg, Zack Mills and Matt McGloin, with 381 yards passing at Michigan State.
  • McSorley surpassed the 2,000-yard season passing plateau against Ohio State, becoming the 20th player in program history to have a 2,000-yard passing season.
  • Also at Ohio State, McSorley became seventh Nittany Lion to reach 400 career completions.
  • McSorley became the fifth Nittany Lion with 6,000 career yards of total offense with 358 yards of total offense against Michigan.
  • WR DaeSean Hamilton reached 200 career receptions against Rutgers, extending his PSU record.
  • With 74 receiving yards against Akron, Hamilton surpassed 2,000 yards for his career.
  • S Marcus Allen reached 300 career tackles at Ohio State.
  • TE Mike Gesicki surpassed 100 career receptions at Ohio State, becoming the first tight end at Penn State to achieve the feat.
  • Gesicki surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards against Pitt, making him the 29th player to achieve the feat at Penn State.
  • K Tyler Davis converted his 100th career extra point at Northwestern.
  • LB Jason Cabinda surpassed 200 career tackles for his career with three against Akron.
  • winning the turnover battle
  • Penn State's plus-12 turnover margin is tied for fifth in FBS with SMU and Alabama.
  • Penn State's 22 takeaways rank tied for 15th with five other teams.
  • Penn State has forced 22 turnovers in the first 11 games, which is the most turnovers forced in a 11-game span since 1993 (32 TOs).
  • Penn State had forced at least one turnover in 11-straight games dating back to the 2017 Rose Bowl, its longest streak since forcing a turnover in 29-straight games from 2007 to 2009, but did not register a takeaway against Nebraska.

POPULAR NITTANY LIONS

  • Penn State ranks third in the nation with an average home attendance of 106,707. It is its highest average attendance in a season since 2009 (107,008).
  • PSU hosted 110,823 against Michigan this season for its largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history, surpassing the record of 110,753 (Nebraska; Sept. 14, 2002).
  • The crowd was also the sixth-largest to ever see a Penn State game (home, away, neutral).
  • The attendance of 109,898 for the Penn State-Pitt game was the eighth-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history and the largest since Penn State faced Ohio State in 2009 in front of 110,033 in 2009.
  • The Penn State Student Section sold out more than 21,000 tickets in just 89 minutes, highlighted by the sold-out allotments of the senior (20), junior (10) and freshmen (15) classes in less than 20 minutes each.
  • The Penn State Student Section has consistently sold out for four decades, showing the unwavering passion and dedication of Penn State students.
  • Penn State sold more than 9,000 new season tickets for the 2017 campaign. The season ticket renewal rate topped 95 percent to help the Lions exhaust their season ticket allotment for the first time since 2008.

SENIORS HONORED

HIGH SCORING

  • Penn State's scoring average of 39.4 points per game ranks 11th in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
  • The Nittany Lions have scored 20 or more points in 21 consecutive games, which breaks the school record of 20 games from 1993-95.
  • The streak is the third-longest active streak in FBS (USF, 27; Oklahoma, 22).
  • Penn State had never scored more than 40 points against Nebraska until scoring 56 in the home finale.
  • Penn State's 42 points in the first half against Nebraska were the most since scoring 56 in the first half against Illinois in 2005.
  • The 100 combined points in the 56-44 win over Nebraska are the second-most at Penn State in the modern era, behind the 101 points scored in the 2017 Rose Bowl against USC (49-52), and the most in Beaver Stadium history, topping the 94 combined points against Akron in 1999 (70-24).
  • The 56 points by Penn State against Nebraska are the most points in a Big Ten game since scoring 63 at Illinois in 2005.
  • Penn State has surpassed 50 points in a season three times this season (52 vs. Akron; 56 vs. Georgia State; 56 vs. Nebraska), which is the most since doing so five times in 1994.
  • The 38 points scored by Penn State at Ohio State were the most for the Nittany Lions in Columbus in program history. The previous high was 37 by the 1912 team. They were also the most by a Penn State team against Ohio State since the Nittany Lions scored 63 points in 1994, and the most given up by Ohio State since Michigan scored 41 points in 2013.
  • The 42 points scored by Penn State against Michigan marked the most points given up by Michigan since allowing 42 points to Ohio State in 2015.
  • 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 14 out of the last 16 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.

BALANCED ATTACK

  • Penn State is one of two FBS teams (Washington State) to have four players with 40 or more receptions (Saquon Barkley, 46; Mike Gesicki, 46; DaeSean Hamilton, 43; Juwan Johnson, 42). It is the first time Penn State has had four make 40 catches in a season.
  • Against Nebraska, TE Nick Bowers became the 12th Lion to score an offensive touchdown this season.
  • Eight different Lions have been credited with a rush, 14 have caught a pass and four have thrown a pass.
  • Against Georgia State, Penn State had eight different players score touchdowns for the first time since nine scored in a 70-24 win over Akron in 1999.

OFFENSE COVERING GROUND

  • Penn State is averaging 445.9 yards of total offense per game to rank second in the Big Ten and 31st in FBS, and wasting little time getting down the field.
  • According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks 37th in FBS in getting a first down on first down, doing so 82 times (33.74 percent).
  • Coaches by the Numbers also calculates that Penn State ranks fifth in FBS gaining 11.33 yards per point, and is tied for seventh in FBS needing just 1.71 plays per point.
  • Penn State finished the Nebraska game with 609 yards of total offense. It was just the third time Penn State had surpassed 600 total yards in a Big Ten game and the most in a Big Ten tilt since gaining 653 yards vs. Michigan State in 1994.
  • The 609 yards of offense was the most by the Nittany Lions since gaining 661 against Rutgers in 1995.
  • The 609 yards of offense also ranked tied for the eighth most given up by Nebraska in school history and the most since allowing 627 to Wisconsin in 2014.
  • Penn State had 32 first downs against Nebraska, the most since recording 35 against Minnesota in 2005, and tied for the fourth-most in the Penn State annals.
  • Penn State surpassed 500 yards of total offense three times in the first four games (569 vs. Akron; 526 yards vs. Georgia State; 579 at Iowa) and did so again against Michigan (506) and Nebraska (609).
  • The 506 yards of total offense were the most yards given up by Michigan since allowing 527 to Indiana in 2015.

FAST STARTS

  • According to Coaches by the Numbers, Penn State ranks tied for seventh in FBS in first-half scoring (22.36 avg) and tied for second in first-quarter scoring (12.0 avg).
  • Penn State has outscored opponents 132-23 in the first quarter this season and was the last FBS team to allow an opening-quarter score (at Ohio State, Wk 9).
  • Penn State scored in the first quarter in the first nine games this season and 10 of 11 total, and has scored 14 points or more in all but three games (at Iowa; at Northwestern; Rutgers).
  • A Rutgers field goal on its opening drive of the game marked the first points allowed by Penn State on an opponent's opening drive this season. PSU was also held scoreless in the opening quarter for the first time.
  • At Ohio State, Penn State scored two touchdowns in the first 3:24, Saquon Barkley returned the opening kickoff 97 yards, and then Manny Bowen forced a fumble on Ohio State's third play from scrimmage that was recovered by Koa Farmer, setting up a short touchdown drive.
  • Against Michigan, Penn State scored touchdowns 4:07 apart in the first quarter, which was the fastest back-to-back scores on offense since the third quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl (1:01).
  • 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).
  • In the first three games of 2017, 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 scored exactly 14 points in the opening stanza for another three-game stretch: vs. Michigan; at Ohio State; at Michigan State.
  • Barkley does it all
  • From running to pass catching to returning, Saquon Barkley is second in the nation with 188.2 all-purpose yards per game this season. San Diego State's Rashaad Penny leads averaging 223.8 yards per game.
  • Barkley becomes the 24th player in FBS since 2000 to accomplish the feat of having more than 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.
  • Barkley is also the career active FBS leader in all-purpose yards per game, averaging 146.6.
  • Barkley ranks fifth in FBS and second in the Big Ten averaging 149.7 yards from scrimmage per game.
  • Barkley currently leads Penn State in rushing yards per game (96.1), is tied for the lead with 46 receptions and is second in receiving yards per game (53.6). All three figures rank in the Top 10 of the Big Ten.
  • His 19 total touchdowns are tops in the Big Ten and rank fourth in FBS.
  • With 224 all-purpose yards against Nebraska, Barkley posted his ninth game with 200 all-purpose yards in a game and fifth of the season.
  • Against Michigan State, Barkley completed his second career pass, this one for a career-long 20 yards to Mike Gesicki. Barkley is the first Penn State running back to have two completed passes in a season since Nick Scott (2-2, 49 yards) in 2015.
  • Barkley's 20-yard completion was the longest by a Penn State running back since Eric McCoo threw a 63-yard touchdown pass against Illinois in 2001.
  • With a 97-yard kickoff return to open the Ohio State game. Barkley is one of nine FBS players with two or more kickoff returns for touchdowns.
  • Barkley accomplished multiple firsts against Indiana, completing a pass to DaeSean Hamilton that went for a touchdown and returning his first 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 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 IN THE RECORD BOOKS

  • Running back Saquon Barkley has placed his name all over the Penn State record books.
  • Barkley is Penn State's career all-purpose yards leader with 5,279 yards.
  • Barkley had 224 all-purpose yards (158 rushing, 66 receiving) against Nebraska to move into second place in the single-season all-purpose yards list with 2,070. He is just the second player in Nittany Lion history to have at least 2,000 all-purpose yards in a single season, trailing just Larry Johnson (2,655 yards; 2002) for the top spot.
  • Barkley is in second place on Penn State's career rushing list with 3,629 yards. He is only pursuing record holder Evan Royster (3,932; 2007-10).
  • His career rushing total is the most by a Penn State player in his first three seasons. The previous high was Curtis Enis with 3,256 yards.
  • Barkley's 1,057 rushing yards this season are the 18th-best single season mark in Penn State history. He trails his own mark of 1,076 yards from 2015 for 17th place.
  • Barkley posted his 14th career 100-yard rushing game against Nebraska, moving him into sole possession of eighth place in the Penn State annals.
  • With three rushing touchdowns against Nebraska, Barkley broke the Penn State career rushing touchdowns record of 38, set by Lydell Mitchell (1969-71). Barkley now has 39 career rushing scores.
  • Barkley's three rushing touchdowns against Nebraska give him 14 this season, moving him into a tie for eighth place at Penn State with Charlie Pittman (1968). Barkley trails John Cappelletti (1973; 17 TD) for seventh place.
  • The three TDs against Nebraska also give him 19 this year, which is tied with Richie Anderson for sixth place in a single season total touchdowns list. Barkley trails Curtis Enis for the fifth spot (1997; 20 TD).
  • Barkley's six receptions against Nebraska give him 94 for his career to tie Joe Jurevicius for 16th place. Up next in the charts is Tony Johnson (2000-03; 107 receptions). He is the running back record holder in the category.
  • With 1,153 career receiving yards, Barkley is in 23rd place on Penn State's all-time list and the running back record holder.
  • Barkley has 590 receiving yards this season, which betters his own single season receiving yardage record for a running back at Penn State. Last season, he had 402 receiving yards in 14 games.
  • Barkley upped his season receptions total to 46 and broke the Penn State season record for receptions by a running back, topping Larry Johnson's 41 catches in 2002.
  • Barkley's 66 receiving yards against Nebraska moves him into 23rd place for receiving yards with 1,153. Barkley trails Geno Lewis (2013-15; 1,181 yards) for the 22nd spot.
  • With 18 points scored against Nebraska, Barkley moved into second in program history in career scoring with 294 points (49 touchdowns). Kevin Kelly holds down the top spot with 425 points.
  • Barkley owns the most points by a Penn State player who was not a place kicker. The previous high was Lydell Mitchell, who had 246 points on 41 touchdowns (1969-71). That record stood for 46 years.
  • With 18 points against the Huskers, Barkley surpassed the 100-point mark for the season with 114 points, becoming the second player in Penn State history with multiple 100-point seasons (Kevin Kelly; 2005-08).
  • Barkley's 114 points this season (19 touchdowns) are good for 10th place at Penn State. Barkley trails Richie Anderson (116; 1992) for ninth place.
  • 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.

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 (22nd FBS) with 271.9 passing yards per game and 2,991 total passing yards (18th FBS).
  • McSorley's 65.2 completion percentage is second in the Big Ten (16th FBS).
  • McSorley is averaging 307.8 yards of total offense per game to lead the Big Ten (13th FBS).
  • McSorley's 24 passing touchdowns rank second in the Big Ten (15th FBS).
  • Responsible for 18.5 points per game, McSorley ranks second in the Big Ten (12th FBS).
  • McSorley's passing efficiency of 154.2 ranks second (14th FBS).
  • McSorley is among the most efficient active quarterbacks in FBS, as his career efficiency rating of 153.06 ranks 11th overall and second among Big Ten passers.
  • Averaging 7.14 yards of total offense per play for his career, McSorley leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th in FBS among active quarterbacks.
  • McSorley's 72 career touchdowns responsible for rank 16th in FBS and second in the Big Ten, and his 55 touchdown passes rank 22nd in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
  • McSorley is averaging 212.2 yards passing per game for his career to rank second in the Big Ten and 31st in FBS.
  • McSorley's career completion percentage of 60.8 ranks second in the Big Ten and 22nd in FBS.

ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SEASON FOR McSORLEY

  • McSorley's three touchdown passes against Nebraska give him 24 this year, tying him with Daryll Clark (2009) and Matt McGloin (2012) for second place at Penn State. He trails only his 29 touchdown passes last season for first place.
  • McSorley had four touchdowns responsible for against Nebraska (three passing, one rushing) giving him 34 this year, which is the second-best single-season mark at Penn State. He is only behind his own 36 last year for the school record.
  • McSorley's 325 yards passing give him 2,991 for the season, the fourth best in school history. He trails Daryll Clark (2006-09; 3,003 yards) for fourth place. McSorley passed Christian Hackenberg (2014; 2,977 yards), Hackenberg again (2013; 2,955 yards) and Kerry Collins (1994; 2,679 yards) against Nebraska.
  • McSorley's four 300-yard passing games this season rank tied for second in Penn State history with Matt McGloin (2012) and Christian Hackenberg (2013 & 2014).
  • McSorley's nine 200-yard passing games this season tie him with Christan Hackenberg (2013) for fourth place at Penn State.
  • McSorley's 36 passing attempts against Nebraska give him 353 for the season, which is the ninth-highest mark for the Nittany Lions in a single season. McSorley trails Christian Hackenberg (2015; 359 attempts) for eighth.
  • McSorley ranks in sixth place at Penn State for a single season with 230 completions. He trails Christian Hackenberg (2013; 231 completions) for fifth place.
  • McSorley's 46 rushing yards give him 395 for the season, which is the third-best mark by a quarterback at Penn State. He bettered his own mark of 365 yards last season to move into third and trails Michael Robinson (396 yards; 2005) for second place.
  • With one rushing touchdown, McSorley moved into a tie for second place on Penn State's rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season list with Daryll Clark (2008; 10). He trails Michael Robinson (2005; 11) for first place for Penn State.
  • McSorley's 125 rushing attempts this season are the third-highest mark for a quarterback at Penn State for a single season. He trails his own 146 attempts last year for second place.
  • McSorley had 371 yards of total offense (325 passing, 46 rushing) against Nebraska to move into second place on the single season total offense chart with 3,386 yards. He trails only his own mark of 3,979 yards from last season for first place.
  • The 371 yards of total offense by McSorley (325 passing, 46 rushing) against Nebraska are the eighth-best mark in school history. McSorley now has five of the 10 best total offense marks in the Nittany Lion annals.
  • 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 is eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in scoring defense, averaging 16.6 points allowed per game.
  • Penn State has allowed 8.8 points per game fewer in 2017 than it did in 2016 (25.4).
  • Penn State owns a pair of shutout victories and has allowed more than 20 points in a game just three times.
  • Penn State has shutout opponents in at least one half in six games this season (Akron, Georgia State, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, Rutgers).
  • Penn State has been strong at the start of games. It was the last team to give up a first-quarter point (Week 9; Ohio State) and did not allow a first-quarter touchdown until Week 10 (Michigan State). PSU allowed an opening drive score for the first time this season against Rutgers (Week 11).
  • Penn State ranks tied for eighth in FBS in first-half scoring defense, allowing just 7.64 points per game. Penn State is particularly strong in the first quarter, ranking second in FBS allowing just 2.09 points per game. The Lions are nearly as strong in the third quarter as they rank fifth (2.45 avg). (Coaches by the Numbers)
  • Penn State only allowed 43 yards passing against Rutgers, the fewest allowed in a conference game since joining the Big Ten. The previous low was 48 yards last year at Rutgers.
  • The 43 yards passing were the fewest allowed by the Nittany Lions since giving up 32 yards to Army, a triple-option team, in 2015.
  • Penn State also only yielded 10 first downs which are tied for its seventh-fewest in a Big Ten game.
  • The seven pass completions allowed to Rutgers are tied for the second-fewest allowed by the Nittany Lions in a Big Ten game with five other games.
  • The six points allowed to Rutgers are tied for the ninth-fewest points allowed by the Lions in a conference game since joining the Big Ten.
  • 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 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.
  • 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).
  • 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).

GETTING OFF THE FEILD

  • Penn State is averaging 5.36 three-and-outs per game to tie for fifth in FBS and third in the Big Ten.
  • Penn State has prevented a first down on 59-of-143 opposition drives (40.6 percent).

STOPS BEHIND THE LINE

  • Penn State ranks 25th in FBS and fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with an average of 7.1.
  • A total of 27 different Nittany Lions have at least assisted on a stop in the back field.
  • DEs Shareef Miller (9.0) and Shaka Toney (6.5) 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.

KNOCK IT DOWN

  • CB Amani Oruwariye leads the team with 1.3 passes defended per game, which also ranks third in the Big Ten and 17th in FBS.
  • CB Christian Campbell leads the team with 11 pass breakups on the season. He has recorded a pass breakup in all but two games this season (Ohio State and Rutgers).
  • Campbell ranks in a tie for 23rd all-time at Penn State with 21 career pass breakups.
  • CB Grant Haley follows Campbell with nine pass breakups this season, and both are tied on the career list with 22 to rank in a tie for 23rd at Penn State.
  • 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.
  • The Penn State defense had 11 pass breakups at Michigan State, marking the first time since at least 1999 that Penn State has posted double-digit pass breakups twice in the same season. The Nittany Lions previously made 10 pass breakups at Northwestern.
  • Penn State's 11 pass breakups at Michigan State were its most in a game since totaling 11 against Indiana in 2011.
  • The 11 pass breakups are tied for the third-most in a game for the Nittany Lions since 2000 (16, Purdue in 2000; 14, Michigan State in 2006; 11, Indiana in 2011).
  • In the Michigan State game, Oruwariye had a career-high five pass breakups to go along with an interception, while true freshman CB Tariq Castro-Fields made his first three career pass breakups and was named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week for his performance
  • Oruwariye's five PBUs against Michigan State were the most by a Nittany Lion since Justin King had five vs. Purdue in 2007.
  • Oruwariye's six passes defended at Michigan State is tied for the most in FBS with Denzel Ward from Ohio State against Indiana. Both had five pass breakups and an interception.

DAVIS KICKING IT

  • K Tyler Davis had eight PAT kicks against Nebraska, extending his Penn State record for consecutive point after attempts to 130.
  • Davis also ranks in fourth place in the Big Ten record book. He trails Jeff Budzein from Northwestern (136 consecutive PAT; 2010-13) for third place.
  • Davis has 244 career points to rank eighth at Penn State. He trails Lydell Mitchell (246) for seventh place.
  • Davis has converted all 57 of his PAT attempts this season to rank tied for fifth in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
  • Davis has made the most point after attempts without a career miss in Penn State history, successfully converting 130 straight. Only two others, Herb Menhardt (54-for-54; 1978-80) and Collin Wagner (83-for-83; 2007-10), have had perfect career percentages (minimum 50 attempts).
  • Davis is one of six active kickers in FBS with at least 100 extra points without a career miss.
  • Davis is Penn State's career record holder for field goal accuracy. Davis has converted 38-of-47 field goal attempts for an 80.9 percent success rate. Nick Gancitano (1981-83) was the previous record holder with a 77.6 percent success rate (38-of-49).
  • Davis moved into ninth place on the career field goals list at Michigan State, tying Nick Gancitano (38; 1981-84) for the position.
  • Davis booted a career-long 47-yard field goal in the third quarter against Akron. His previous best was a 42-yard kick against Illinois in 2015.

RETURN GAME SUCCESS

  • Saquon Barkley leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in FBS averaging 30.2 yards per kickoff return.
  • Barkley is one of 12 players in FBS to return two kickoffs for a touchdown this season and the only one in the Big Ten.
  • Barkley's kickoff return for a touchdown at Ohio State was Penn State's third return touchdown (2 kickoff, 1 punt) of the season, marking the first time since 2008 that the Nittany Lions have three return scores in a season (2 kickoff, 1 punt; all by Derrick Williams).
  • With the kickoff return for a TD, Barkley became the first Nittany Lion with multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns since Derrick Williams (2) in 2008. The two scores tie the school record with Chuck Peters (1940), Curt Warner (1980) and Derrick Williams (2008).
  • Former returner and now linebacker Koa Farmer returned a short kickoff at Ohio State a career-long 59 yards, besting his previous best of 57 yards versus Illinois in 2015.
  • The 98-yard opening kick return by 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.
  • Barkley's 98-yard return against Indiana ranks tied for sixth in Penn State history, while the 97-yard return at Ohio State ranks tied for ninth.