By: Pasquale Tartaro
GoPSUSports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - An intriguing weekend of college football will be highlighted by a cross division matchup in the Big Ten, as the Penn State Nittany Lions make their first trip to Madison since 2013 to take on the Wisconsin Badgers.
Game Information
While No. 12 Wisconsin is aiming to win its 26th consecutive home opener, No. 19 Penn State is looking to extend its active winning streak against the Badgers to five games.
By the numbers, Penn State and Wisconsin have produced one of the more competitive series in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 10-9 and have won four consecutive meetings in the series, including the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game.
Head coach James Franklin is entering his eighth year at Penn State (60-28) with a 2-0 career record against Wisconsin.
This season will mark Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst's seventh year with the program. Chryst is looking for his first win against the Nittany Lions (0-2 career record).
Kickoff at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday is scheduled for noon on FOX.
Players to Watch: Penn State
A member of the Big Ten and Biletnikoff Award's preseason watch lists, wide receiver Jahan Dotson will capture the eyes of Wisconsin's defensive unit.
Dotson, who caught 52 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season, will likely open up opportunities for the talented tandem of wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange.
As Wisconsin has gradually earned its reputation as a team that prides itself on physicality in the trenches, the Badgers offensive line likely views Saturday's game as an opportunity to establish itself as one of the best in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions will also look to establish the run game of its own with junior running back Noah Cain, who suffered an injury on Penn State's opening drive last year and was unable to play the rest of the season.
En route to setting a Penn State first-year record with eight rushing touchdowns in 2019, the dynamic running back became the first Penn State freshman to run for 100 yards in back-to-back games (105 yards vs. Purdue; 102 yards at Iowa) since Saquon Barkley in 2015.
Players to Watch: Wisconsin
Returning at quarterback for the Badgers is sophomore Graham Mertz, who opened up his collegiate career by completing 20 of 21 passes and throwing five touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over Illinois.
Though replicating that kind of efficiency may be unlikely, Mertz displayed a combination of poise and talent throughout his freshman season that defensive coordinator Brent Pry's defense will hope to disrupt.
Mertz, who finished the 2020 season with nine touchdown passes and five interceptions, should benefit from the return of wide receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis, who played a combined five games last year due to injuries.
On the other side of the ball, Wisconsin's defense was one of the toughest in the nation in 2020, ranking fifth in yardage allowed per game and ninth in scoring defense.
Expect Wisconsin's experienced cornerback duo Caesar Williams (sixth-year senior) and Faion Hicks (fifth-year senior) to take on the challenge of neutralizing Dotson in the passing game.
