TEAM
- Penn State dropped to 22-2 all-time against Indiana, including an 11-2 mark in Bloomington. The Nittany Lions snapped a six-game win streak against the Hoosiers.
- Penn State is now 8-6 overall in overtime games, including 1-2 on the road. The Nittany Lions ended a three-game win streak in overtime contests.
- The Nittany Lions are now 14-14 in Big Ten openers and 10-9 in Big Ten road openers.
- Penn State is now 110-22-2 in season openers in 134 years of football. The Nittany Lions snapped a four-game win streak in season openers.
- Penn State dropped to 2-2 when opening the season against a Big Ten opponent.
- The Nittany Lions are now 20-4-1 in October season openers.
- Six players made their Nittany Lion debut: S Ji'Ayir Brown, RB Caziah Holmes, LB Curtis Jacobs, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, RB Keyvone Lee, WR Parker Washington.
- Five true freshmen made their Penn State debut: RB Caziah Holmes, LB Curtis Jacobs, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, RB Keyvone Lee, WR Parker Washington.
- Six players made their first career start: S Jaquan Brisker, LB Ellis Brooks, CB Joey Porter Jr., LB Brandon Smith, OL Caedan Wallace, WR Parker Washington.
OFFENSE
Team
- Penn State converted 27 first downs, tying the ninth-most by the team in the James Franklin era.
- The Nittany Lions tallied 52 rushing attempts, equaling the fourth-most by the program under James Franklin. Penn State last had 52 rushing attempts against Iowa in 2016.
- The Nittany Lions scored on their opening drive, covering 7:01. It was Penn State's longest time-covering drive since a 9:01 drive against Indiana in 2019.
- WR Parker Washington became the first true freshman wide receiver to start a season opener since Brandon Polk against Temple in 2015.
- Washington caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in overtime, marking the second-straight season opener with a freshman catching a touchdown pass. Brenton Strange caught a 4-yard touchdown reception against Idaho in 2019.
Sean Clifford
- QB Sean Clifford completed 24 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
- Clifford ran for a career-best 119 yards on 17 carries. It was his first career 100-yard rushing game and Penn State's first 100-yard rushing game by a quarterback since Will Levis ran for 108 yards against Rutgers in 2019.
- It was Clifford's seventh career game with two or more touchdown passes and sixth career game with three or more touchdown passes.
- Earned fifth career game with both a passing and rushing touchdown.
- Clifford connected with Pat Freiermuth on a 2-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
- The junior completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson in the fourth quarter.
- In overtime, Clifford threw a 9-yard touchdown to Parker Washington.
- Clifford scored on a 35-yard run at the end of the third quarter. It was Clifford's second career rushing touchdown over 30 yards, joining his 38-yard run against Indiana in 2019.
- With his 28th career passing touchdown, Clifford moved into 11th all-time at Penn State, passing John Hufnagel (26; 1970-72) and Wally Richardson (27; 1992, 94-96).
- With 24 completions on the day, Clifford now has 218 for his career. He moved past Doug Strang (1981-84) into 17th all-time at Penn State.
- Clifford has now attempted 361 career passes, sitting 19th all-time at Penn State.
- With 357 total yards against Indiana, Clifford now has 3,605 for his career, moving into 17th all-time at Penn State.
- With 238 passing yards against Indiana, Clifford now has 3,087 for his career, moving into 16th all-time at Penn State. He is the 17th Penn State quarterback to surpass 3,000 career passing yards.
- With 119 rushing yards, Clifford now has 518 career rushing yards. He moved past Tommy Stevens (506; 2016-18) for eighth all-time in rushing yards by a quarterback.
Devyn Ford
- RB Devyn Ford scored on a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter, his fourth career rushing touchdown.
- Ford had a career-high 20 carries, bettering his previous high of eight against Indiana in 2019.
- Ford tied a career-best with three receptions.
Pat Freiermuth
- TE Pat Freiermuth hauled in a 2-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the first quarter.
- With his touchdown catch in the first quarter, Freiermuth owns the Penn State career record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with 16 career touchdown grabs. He broke a tie with Mike Gesicki (2014-17).
- Freiermuth's 16th career touchdown grab moved him into a tie for eighth all-time in receiving touchdowns at Penn State with O.J. McDuffie (1988-92). Freiermuth moved past Terry Smith (1988-91), Joe Jurevicius (1994-97) and Gesicki.
- Freiermuth has caught a pass in 26 straight games dating back to the Pitt game (9/8/18).
Jahan Dotson
- WR Jahan Dotson hauled in a 60-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. It was Dotson's fifth career touchdown catch and his fourth of 40 or more yards.
- Dotson tied a career-high with four catches. He also had four in two previous games with the last time coming against Buffalo in 2019.
- Dotson also had a 21-yard catch in the first quarter.
- He has caught at least one pass in 21 straight games, dating back to Indiana game (10/20/18).
Parker Washington
- WR Parker Washington caught a 9-yard touchdown pass in overtime. It was his first career touchdown reception.
DEFENSE
Team
- The Nittany Lions held Indiana to 211 total yards, the ninth-fewest allowed under James Franklin.
- Indiana attempted only 26 rushes, tied for the sixth-lowest by any opponent in the James Franklin era.
Shaka Toney
- DE Shaka Toney matched a career high with seven tackles, tying his performance against Michigan in 2019.
- Toney registered two sacks, both in the fourth quarter.
- Recorded two or more sacks in a quarter for the third time in his career (2018 at Indiana, 2019 vs. Purdue, 2020 at Indiana).
- Toney had recorded two or more tackles for loss in six career games.
- Toney has collected two or more sacks in four career games.
Lamont Wade
- S Lamont Wade intercepted a pass in the third quarter, his first career interception.
- Wade recovered a fumble near the end of the second quarter, his second career fumble recovery. His first came against Ohio State in 2019.
Joey Porter Jr.
- CB Joey Porter Jr. registered his first career sack in the first quarter.
- Porter collected a career-best five tackles, topping two tackles against Rutgers in 2019.
- Porter broke up a pass in the fourth quarter.
Ellis Brooks
- LB Ellis Brooks forced a fumble in the second quarter, his first career forced fumble.
Antonio Shelton
- DT Antonio Shelton recorded a full tackle for loss in the second quarter. It was Shelton's sixth career game with a full tackle for loss with his last coming against Memphis in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jake Pinegar
- K Jake Pinegar converted all five extra point attempts, giving him 114 career extra points, ranking seventh all-time at Penn State. His first extra point broke a tie for with Sam Ficken (109; 2011-14).
Jordan Stout
- K/P Jordan Stout hit a touchback on all five of his kickoffs.
- Stout landed two punts inside the 20.