UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 19/20 Penn State welcomes Ball State to Beaver Stadium on Saturday for a non-conference matchup to open the home slate of the 2021 season, presented by PSECU. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
RETURN OF THE MAC: The Nittany Lions will open non-conference play with the Cardinals, the first matchup between the schools. However, Penn State is very familiar with Mid-American Conference teams. Prior to a Big Ten-only schedule in 2020, the Nittany Lions played against a MAC school in 18 straight seasons, dating back to 2002. Penn State is 27-3 all-time against current members of the MAC.
HOME SWEET HOME: Penn State begins its 62nd season in Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions are 119-13-1 all-time in home openers. The blue and white owns a 51-10 record in Beaver Stadium home openers. Penn State has won 17 of its last 19 home openers.
SERIES HISTORY: The Nittany Lions will take on Ball State for the first time in program history. Penn State's last game against a MAC opponent was a 45-13 win over Buffalo on September 7, 2019.
DOTSON DOES IT AGAIN: Jahan Dotson had five catches for 102 yards against Wisconsin, including a 49-yard touchdown grab early in the third quarter. It was Dotson's eighth career touchdown reception of 40 or more yards. Dotson recorded the seventh 100-yard receiving game of his career, which is tied for third-most among current FBS players, and his third-straight game with over 100 receiving yards.
TIGHT IN THE RED ZONE: Penn State held Wisconsin to one-of-four in the red zone last Saturday. Penn State tallied two takeaways, a fumble recovery by Nick Tarburton and an interception by Jaquan Brisker. A third trip into the red zone was thwarted as Arnold Ebiketie blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt.
THE OPPOSITION: Ball State earned a 31-21 win over Western Illinois in its season opener. The Cardinals gained 404 total yards, including 216 on the ground. Ball State went 7-1 in 2020, winning its final seven games on their way to a MAC Championship, the program's first since 1996. Ball State followed its MAC Championship Game win over Buffalo with a 34-13 victory over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
- Ball State earned a 31-21 victory over Western Illinois in its season opener.
- The Cardinals gained 404 total yards, including 216 on the ground.
- QB Drew Plitt threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns, while WR Justin Hall caught eight passes for 137 yards and two scores. RB Will Jones led the Cardinals with 93 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- Ball State allowed 437 total yards, including 367 passing yards.
- ILB Jaylin Thomas led the Cardinals' defense with nine tackles and a tackle for loss. DT Tavion Woodard tallied two sacks, while CB Nic Jones recorded an interception.
- Ball State returns 23 starters, including special teams, from their 2020 MAC Championship squad.
- One of the most experienced teams in the nation, Ball State has 16 "super seniors".
- The Cardinals returners have combined for 186 career starts on offense and 217 career starts on defense.
- Ball State brings back 10 All-MAC selections, including ILB Brandon Martin, the 2020 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, and four first-team All-MAC honorees.
- Hall, a first-team All-MAC selection, ranked fourth in the nation last season averaging 213 all-purpose yards per game. He caught 49 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 231 yards and a score.
- Yo'Heinz Tyler also returns at receiver after hauling in 42 receptions for 607 yards and eight touchdowns.
- Martin paced Ball State with 90 tackles in 2020. He added 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
- Thomas tallied 78 tackles, including five tackles for loss.
- OLB Anthony Ekpe led the squad with seven tackles for loss and five sacks while forcing two fumbles.
- S Bryce Cosby paced the secondary with 62 tackles and two interceptions.
WISCONSIN NOTES
- The Nittany Lions opened the 2021 season with a thrilling 16-10 win over Wisconsin.
- Penn State won its fifth straight contest against the Badgers.
- The Nittany Lions improved to 3-1 when opening the season against a Big Ten opponent and earned their first road win over a ranked Big Ten opponent since October 12, 2019 at Iowa (17-12).
- Penn State snapped Wisconsin's 25-game home opener win streak.
- Both teams were scoreless at halftime. It marked the first time a Penn State game was scoreless at the half since October 29, 2011 against Illinois.
- It was the first time a Big Ten conference game was scoreless at the half since Michigan-Northwestern in 2014.