2018 Game Day - No. 10/11 Penn State Hosts Kent State2018 Game Day - No. 10/11 Penn State Hosts Kent State

2018 Game Day - No. 10/11 Penn State Hosts Kent State

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No. 11/10 Penn State welcomes Kent State for its non-conference finale Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon on FS1.
 
It's been two years since the Nittany Lions and Golden Flashes last tangled on the gridiron. The 2016 meeting was the season opener, marking quarterback Trace McSorley's first career start and the debut of a new offensive system. McSorley threw two touchdown passes in the game, marking his second-straight game with a touchdown pass after throwing his first in relief in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. He also threw for a then-career high 209 passing yards. McSorley now enters this season's contest with a 30-game streak for passing touchdowns and 23 200-yard passing games to his credit. Offensive lineman Ryan Bates, defensive tackle Kevin Givens and punter Blake Gillikin also made their first career starts against the Flashes in 2016.
 
The opening games of 2018 have proven no different in terms of young players stepping into bigger roles. Wide receiver KJ Hamler has three touchdowns in his first two career games, forcing overtime with a touchdown reception in the season opener against Appalachian State and scoring both of Penn State's touchdowns in a back-and-forth first half at Pittsburgh. First-year starting running back Miles Sanders posted his first career 100-yard rushing game at Pitt, while Penn State's top seven tacklers this season do not include any returning starters from last season.
 
Kent State is 1-1 to open 2018, only losing by a touchdown in its season opener at another Big Ten school, Illinois, and topping Howard in its home opener last week. The Golden Flashes are under the guidance of first-year head coach Sean Lewis.
 
This is the third and final non-conference game for Penn State this season. The Nittany Lions next face a short week in preparation for their Big Ten opener Friday night at Illinois.