Penn State-Maryland Game Preview

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 12 Penn State (8-3, 5-3) returns home following a victory over Rutgers to take on the Maryland Terrapins (5-6, 3-5). The game, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (ET) on ABC, will mark Senior Day as Penn State recognizes its winningest class since 2011. 
 
The Nittany Lions will honor 21 seniors Saturday, a group that has a 26-3 record while playing at home. Trace McSorley, Penn State's all-time winningest starting quarterback, will make his final home start inside Beaver Stadium. 

Despite dropping four of its last five, Maryland is fighting for bowl eligibility this weekend. Last week, Maryland suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 10 Ohio State after failing to connect on a two-point conversion in overtime. The Terrapins have lost their last two games by a combined three points.  

The last time these two teams met, Trace McSorley and Tommy Stevens were responsible for seven of Penn State's nine touchdowns. The Nittany Lions went on to win 66-3 in the 2017 regular season finale.




Penn State Spotlight
Penn State's defense, a group that leads the Big Ten with 3.45 team sacks per game, has continued to be a staple of the Nittany Lions success in 2018. Brent Pry's group has allowed just 17 points and 503 yards of total offense in their last two games. The defense leads the Big Ten in red zone defense, sacks per game and tackles for loss per game. Yetur Gross-Matos ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 1.5 per game. With Maryland's offense presenting a unique scheme, Penn State's defense will have to be locked in again on Saturday.

Quotes of the Week
Trace McSorley on his time at Penn State: "I'm proud of just how far this team has come in my time here from when we got here as freshmen, going through the first couple years, 7-6, 7-6, being bowl-eligible. To think that in my time here, to go from that where we were still on postseason bans and all that type of stuff to where we were able to win a Big Ten Championship, play in a Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, bowl games that people dream about going to their entire lives. When we got here, there wasn't even a thought that we would have a chance at any bowl game, at least in the next three years when I first got here."
 
Nick Scott on how he wants this senior class to be remembered: "I'd say one of the biggest things I'd like to the senior class to be remembered as is, a group of guys who are extremely hard-working, took care of their business on the field as well as off the field and also were a huge part of this growing process, this rebuilding process of putting Penn State back as a top contender or in the conversation each year."

Maryland Standouts
Anthony McFarland: Leads the team with 1,022 rushing yards and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week Monday. McFarland rushed for 298 yards and two touchdowns against No. 10 Ohio State last weekend. The Maryland native had two explosive runs against OSU, one for 81 yards and the other 75 yards, both resulting in touchdowns.
 
Tre Watson: Has a Big Ten-best 10.1 tackles per game, while also leading the Big Ten with five interceptions. The sophomore has 67 solo tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks on the season. 

Maryland Quick Facts
Interim Head Coach: Matt Canada
Record at Maryland (1st season): 5-6 (.455)
vs. Penn State: First meeting