UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State takes on Rutgers in its final home game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Big Ten Network. The 2021 season is presented by PSECU. The Nittany Lions will celebrate Senior Day, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association.
SERIES HISTORY: The Nittany Lions will meet Rutgers for the 32nd time in the series. Penn State has won each of the last 14 matchups and holds a 22-2 record at home. Last season, the Nittany Lions earned a 23-7 win in Piscataway. Keyvone Lee rushed for 95 yards and Devyn Ford scored on a 7-yard run, while Parker Washington caught a 29-yard touchdown. Penn State held the Scarlet Knights to 205 total yards.
DOTSON'S DOMINANT YEAR: Jahan Dotson continues to put up impressive numbers in 2021. Dotson is the only Big Ten receiver ever to have at least 80 receptions, 990 yards and nine touchdowns in the first 10 games of a season. The Biletnikoff Award semifinalist's 80 grabs are the third-most in a season at Penn State, while his 993 yards and nine touchdowns rank sixth. He paces the Big Ten in receptions, good for fourth nationally, while tying for second in receiving touchdowns and third in receiving yards.
STOUT'S STRONG DAY: Jordan Stout had another strong performance against Michigan. He averaged 51.0 yards on four punts, including 55- and 58-yard punts, and dropped all four inside the 20. Stout hit three field goals, tying a career high for makes, with kicks of 42, 52 and 31 yards. His 52-yard field goal is his fifth 50+ yard field goal of his career. On a fake punt, Stout completed an 18-yard pass to Curtis Jacobs.
TAKEAWAY STREAK: On a strip-sack by Arnold Ebiketie, recovered by Derrick Tangelo, against Michigan, Penn State extended its takeaway streak to 16-straight games, dating back to the Nebraska game in 2020. It is tied for the second-longest among FBS teams with Oklahoma and trails only Baylor (18). In those 16 games, Penn State has forced 24 total turnovers, including 15 interceptions and nine fumbles.
THE OPPOSITION: Rutgers is 5-5 this season and 2-5 in conference play after a 38-3 win at Indiana. Isaih Pacheco rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns as Rutgers scored five times on the ground. Rutgers held the Hoosiers to 262 total yards, including 85 rushing. The Scarlet Knights forced four turnovers, including picks by Tyreem Powell and Max Melton. Drew Singleton led the defense with 10 tackles.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
- Greg Schiano returned as head coach at Rutgers in December 2019 and holds an 8-11 mark over the last two seasons.
- Schiano was previously head coach at Rutgers from 2001 to 2011, leading the Scarlet Knights to six winning seasons and five bowl wins. Rutgers went 11-2 in 2006 with Schiano earning four national coach of the year honors.
- Rutgers is 5-5 overall and 2-5 in the Big Ten this season.
- The Scarlet Knights own wins over Temple (61-14), Syracuse (17-7), Delaware (45-13), Illinois (20-14) and Indiana (38-3).
- Rutgers sits 11th in the Big Ten in scoring offense (23.0), 11th in total offense (326.6), 11th in passing offense (180.8) and ninth in rushing offense (145.8).
- QB Noah Vedral has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,590 yards and seven touchdowns.
- RB Isaih Pacheco has rushed for 554 yards and five touchdowns, while WR Bo Melton has 48 catches for 523 yards and three touchdowns.
- The Scarlet Knights hold 11th in scoring defense (22.7), ninth in total defense (372.0), eighth in passing defense (218.0) and 11th in rushing defense (154.0).
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi ranks 13th in the country averaging 9.9 tackles per game and 17th averaging 5.3 solo tackles per contest. He has 89 total tackles with 11.0 for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
- Christian Izien has 58 tackles, including nine for loss, and four pass breakups. Max Melton leads RU with three interceptions.
- P Adam Korsak is averaging 46.3 yards per punt, good for 13th in the country.
- Aron Cruickshank has a punt return touchdown this season.
FINALISTS AND SEMIFINALISTS
- Multiple Nittany Lions have been recognized as finalists or semifinalists for national awards.
- WR Jahan Dotson is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
- Dotson is also a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award as the only receiver among the semifinalists.
- S Jaquan Brisker is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award.
- QB Sean Clifford is a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and Senior CLASS Award. He's also a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
- K/P Jordan Stout is a Ray Guy Award semifinalist.
- DT PJ Mustipher is a Lombardi Award Semifinalist.
- LB Brandon Smith is a Butkus Award Semifinalist.
- Head Coach James Franklin is a semifinalist for the Dodd Trophy.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Since the start of the 2016 season, Penn State's offense is second in the Big Ten in touchdown percentage (31.6; 18th nationally), scoring offense (34.0; 18th), points per possession (2.17; 19th), yards per pass attempt (7.93; 28th), yards per play (6.0; 32nd) and total offense (422.9; 39th) and is third in scoring percentage (40.63; 23rd).
- Penn State's offense has been explosive since the 2016 campaign, as it leads the Big Ten in 80-plus (0.22; 2nd nationally) and 70-plus yard play percentage (0.42; 7th), ranks second in 20-plus (7.89; 14th) and 40-plus (2.08; 16th), and holds third in 30-plus (3.62; 21st), 50-plus (1.01; 30th) and 60-plus (0.55; 28th).
- Additionally, the Nittany Lions are third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally in 15-plus yard passing play percentage since 2016 (19.57 percent).
- Sean Clifford has connected with Jahan Dotson for 21 passing touchdowns in their careers. Clifford and Dotson own the most passing touchdowns of any current FBS duo.
- In 2021, Dotson (80 rec, 993 yards, 9 TD) and Parker Washington (47, 590, 2) are one of five receiver duos with at least 45 receptions and 590 receiving yards among Power Five teams through their first 10 games of the season.
- Dotson is tied for third all-time at Penn State in career receiving touchdowns (22) and is fourth in receptions (172) and yardage (2,568).
- Dotson is the only Power Five receiver and one of two FBS receivers with at least 80 receptions, 990 yards and nine touchdowns in their first 10 games of the season, joining Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns (111, 1,368, 11).
- The senior is the only Big Ten receiver ever to have at least 80 receptions, 990 yards and nine touchdowns in the first 10 games of a season.
- Dotson leads the Big Ten in 2021 in receptions (80, 4th nationally), is tied for second in receiving scores (9, t-8th), and is third in receiving yards (993, 14th).
- The 80 grabs are currently the third-most in a season at Penn State, while his 993 yards and nine touchdown receptions rank sixth.
- A native of Nazareth, Pa., Dotson has five or more receptions in 12-straight games, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2020, the longest streak among current FBS players, and is the only Nittany Lion in program history to catch at least five passes in 12 consecutive games.
- The wideout has a reception in 39-straight games, dating back to October 20, 2018 against Indiana, which ranks fifth among current FBS players.
- Dotson has at least one 20-yard reception in 26 career games, including each of the first five games and eight of 10 games overall this year.
- According to PFF, since 2020, Dotson leads all FBS receivers in 20+ yard touchdowns with 12.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
- The Nittany Lions are allowing just 17.1 points per game in 2021, ranking ninth in the country and fourth in the Big Ten.
- Penn State is allowing opponents only a 63.9 conversion rate in the red zone this season, ranking fifth in the country and leading the Big Ten.
- In 36 opponent red zone trips, Penn State has held opposing teams without a score on 13 possessions.
- Penn State has held its opponents to a 30.56 touchdown conversion percentage in the red zone, marking the third-best in the country (36 attempts, 11 touchdowns).
- The Nittany Lions' 13 red zone stops are the most among Power Five teams and tied for second-most in the FBS with UTEP and trail only Florida Atlantic's 14.
- Penn State has allowed just nine passing touchdowns this season, ranking ninth in the country.
- Dating back to the Nebraska game in 2020, Penn State has forced a turnover in 16-straight games, tied for the second-longest streak among FBS teams (Baylor, 18; Oklahoma, 16).
- In those 16 games, Penn State has forced 24 total turnovers (15 interceptions, nine fumbles).
- Penn State has forced 17 takeaways this season, including 10 interceptions which are good for 31st in the country.
- Twelve of DE Arnold Ebiketie's Big Ten-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 of his 8.5 sacks have come against Big Ten opponents (seven games).
- The Silver Spring, Md. native ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game (1.4; 6th nationally) and third in sacks per game (0.85; 15th).
- He is second among Power Five defensive linemen in tackles for loss and third in total tackles.
- The defensive end was named a Midseason All-America First Team honoree by The Athletic and is currently on the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List.
- S Jaquan Brisker was tabbed a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bednarik Award.
- Brisker was named Midseason All-America by the Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic (first team).
- Brisker was also on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Reese's Senior Bowl. He additionally was named a second-team Preseason All-American by the Associated Press.
- Brisker has at least a half tackle for loss in eight of 10 games this season.
- Brisker's 5.5 tackles for loss this season are tied third among Big Ten defensive backs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Redshirt senior Jordan Stout has served as Penn State's kicker, for both field goals and extra points, punter and kickoff specialist in all 10 games this season.
- Stout was named Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week for the second time this season after his performance against Illinois, where he hit four punts of 50+ yards and dropped six inside the 20.
- Stout owns Penn State's best career punt average (44.88), leading by 1.75 yards per punt.
- Stout also holds Penn State's highest season punt average (47.04), ahead by 3.09 yards per punt.
- Led by Stout, Penn State ranks second in the country in net punting (45.53).
- Stout is ninth in the country, and second in the Big Ten, with a 47.0 punt average.
- Stout averaged at least 50.0 yards per punt in five games this season.
- Twenty-two of Stout's 51 punts this season have been 50 or more yards.
- Stout has landed 25 punts inside the 20, including a career-high six against Illinois, 10 inside the 10 and three inside the 5.
- Stout's 90.6 touchback percentage (48 of 53) is the highest in the FBS among kickers with 40 or more kickoffs.
- Stout landed all four punts against Michigan inside the 20 and hit two 50+ yard punts to earn Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this year.
- Stout converted three field goals against the Wolverines, including a 52-yard kick in the second quarter, to tie his career high for field goals made in a game.
- Stout also completed an 18-yard pass to Curtis Jacobs on a fake punt.
- Stout sits second all-time at Penn State in 50-yard field goals (5), behind only Chris Bahr (6; 1973-75).