UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 14/15 Penn State welcomes -/RV Maryland for a Big Ten matchup on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FOX. The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Maryland for the 46th time in program history. The Nittany Lions own a 41-3-1 advantage in the all-time series. Penn State earned a 31-14 win over the Terrapins last year in College Park. Sean Clifford threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns. Jahan Dotson hauled in 11 catches for 242 yards and three scores. Ji'Ayir Brown helped seal the game with an 87-yard pick-six.
STOPS BEHIND THE LINE: Penn State tied a program record with 16 tackles for loss against Indiana. The Nittany Lions matched the mark set in 2018 against Kent State. Penn State also recorded six sacks. The Nittany Lions recorded eight tackles for loss and three sacks in the first quarter and finished the first half with 13 tackles for loss. Eleven different Nittany Lions recorded a tackle for loss, the most in a game for Penn State since the tackle for loss became an official stat. On the season, 21 different Nittany Lions have at least a full tackle for loss and 12 have at least one sack.
FORCING TAKEAWAYS: The Nittany Lions forced three takeaways against the Hoosiers, all interceptions. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Daequan Hardy and Kalen King each had a pick. The three interceptions preceded three Penn State touchdown drives. Penn State has forced 17 takeaways this season, including 10 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.
FRESHMAN RBS FIND THE END ZONE: Kaytron Allen scored on runs of 11, 6 and 6 yards against Indiana, while Nicholas Singleton scored on a 1-yard run. Both freshmen raised their season total to eight rushing touchdowns, tying the Penn State freshman record, set by Noah Cain in 2019. Allen's three rushing scores against Indiana are the most by a PSU freshman since Austin Scott's three against Kent State in 2003.
THE OPPOSITION: Maryland is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten action. The Terrapins fell 23-10 at Wisconsin last Saturday. Maryland was held to 189 total yards. Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 77 yards and connected on a 5-yard touchdown with Tai Felton. Roman Hemby rushed for 66 yards. Beau Brade led Maryland with seven tackles, while Greg China-Rose had two sacks and Tommy Akingbesote added a sack.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 1,101: Sean Clifford has 1,101 career passing yards in three previous games against Maryland.
- 16: The Nittany Lions recorded a program-record-tying 16 tackles for loss at Indiana.
- 11: Penn State had 11 different players record at least one tackle for loss against the Hoosiers.
- 8 x 2: Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton each have eight rushing touchdowns this season, tied for the PSU freshman record.
- 500+/8+: With Allen and Singleton, Penn State is the only FBS school with two players owning 500+ rushing yards and 8+ rushing touchdowns this season.
SCOUTING REPORT
- Michael Locksley is in his fourth full season as Maryland's head coach.
- Maryland is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play this season. Maryland fell 23-10 at Wisconsin last Saturday.
- The Terrapins own conference wins over Michigan State (27-13), Indiana (38-33) and Northwestern (31-24).
- On offense, Maryland ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (31.4 ppg), fourth in total offense (425.4 ypg), fourth in passing offense (260.7) and seventh in rushing offense (164.8).
- Maryland is third in the conference in completion percentage (68.6) and red zone offense (93.8), ranking among the Top 10 in the nation in both categories.
- QB Taulia Tagovailoa sits fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (259.8) and fifth in passing touchdowns (14).
- RB Roman Hemby holds second in the league in yards per carry (6.17) and sixth in rushing yards per game (83.0).
- On defense, the Terrapins rank eighth in scoring defense (24.0), 10th in total defense (377.4), 11th in passing defense (239.7) and 10th in rushing defense (137.8).
- Beau Brade paces Maryland with 60 tackles, while Durell Nchami leads the Terrapins with six tackles for loss and Greg China-Rose leads the squad with four sacks.
- Tarheeb Still leads the Big Ten with an 8.7 punt return average.
INDIANA NOTES
- Penn State is now 24-2 all-time against Indiana, including 10-2 in Bloomington.
- With eight rushing touchdowns on the season, both RB Kaytron Allen and RB Nicholas Singleton are tied for the Penn State freshman record held by Noah Cain (8; 2019).
- Allen's three rushing touchdowns are the most by a Nittany Lion since Journey Brown's three scores against Rutgers in 2019.
- Allen is the first Penn State freshman with three rushing touchdowns in a game since Austin Scott against Kent State in 2003.
- Penn State finished the game with 16 tackles for loss and six sacks.
- The 16 tackles for loss are tied for the most in program history. Penn State had 16 tackles for loss against Kent State in 2018.
- The Nittany Lions had 11 players record at least one tackle for loss. The 11 players with a full tackle for loss are the most in a game for Penn State since the tackle for loss became an official stat.
- Penn State finished the first half with 13 tackles for loss and six sacks.
- With three pass breakups on the day, Penn State now has 63 for the season. The 63 pass breakups are Penn State's most since 74 in 1998.