By: Pasquale Tartaro, GoPSUSports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Having faced three Big Ten opponents and non-conference programs Ball State, Auburn and Villanova, No. 7 Penn State heads into its bye week sitting at 5-1.
The Nittany Lions opened this season with an early test against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison.
Despite earning just one first down before halftime and allowing Wisconsin to control possession for over 42 minutes, Penn State's defensive unit stood tall and propelled No. 19 Penn State to a 16-10 victory over No. 12 Wisconsin.
With under three minutes remaining, defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Ji'Ayir Brown intercepted Graham Mertz's passes deep in Penn State territory. Wisconsin had four scoreless trips inside Penn State's 25-yard line, including three inside the 10-yard line.
Head coach James Franklin's group kicked off its home opener against Ball State, who was crowned champions of the MAC in 2020.
Leading an offense that had 14 different players touch the ball, Sean Clifford completed 21 of 29 passes for 230 yards, and a touchdown en route to a 44-13 win versus the Cardinals. Beaver Stadium's first game with fans in over a year saw seven different Penn State players contribute scoring plays.
Next, the No. 10 Nittany Lions welcomed No. 22 Auburn for a rare Big Ten-SEC regular-season showdown. The white out matchup marked the first time the Tigers played a road Big Ten game in nine decades.
Clifford completed 28 of 32 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns as Penn State held on by a score of 28-20 to beat an SEC opponent at home for the first time since 1985 against Alabama.
Penn State's Jahan Dotson recorded 10 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown and tight end Brenton Strange caught a touchdown; tight end Tyler Warren and running back Noah Cain added scores on the ground.
In what was the meeting between the programs since 1951, Penn State wrapped up its non-conference play with a visit from undefeated FCS opponent Villanova.
Dotson (seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown) and Parker Washington (five receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns) became the first Penn State pass catchers to reach over 100 yards since KJ Hamler and Pat Freiermuth in 2018, as the Nittany Lions cruised past the Wildcats 38-17.
Moving onto week five, No. 4 Penn State (4-0) held Indiana (2-2) to 264 total yards and pitched a shutout to propel the Nittany Lions past the Hoosiers 24-0.
The Penn State defense produced its first shutout since 2019 (59-0 victory over Maryland). The defense held Indiana over 100 yards below its season average in total offense, and nearly 100 yards below its season average in rushing yards.
In a Big Ten showdown between two top-five teams, No. 4 Penn State (5 fell to No. 3 Iowa 23-20.
Though the clash in Iowa City saw the Nittany Lions jump out to a 17-3 lead in the first half, the Hawkeyes would hold Penn State to just three second half points.
With just one loss through six games, there is much for the Penn State program to be pleased with.
However, with six more Big Ten showdowns (including three against currently ranked top-10 teams) on the horizon, there is still an array of challenges that await the Nittany Lions in the second half of the season.
