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Nittany Lions Return Home for Top 5 Test Against Hoosiers (Game Preview)


No. 2 Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) at Penn State (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, November 8

Time (EST): 12:00 PM

Location: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)

  • Average Home Attendance (2025): 107,876.80

  • Highest Home Attendance (2025): 111,015 (September 27, vs. No. 6 Oregon)

  • Capacity: 106,572

Game Theme: Helmet Stripe and Military Appreciation

Coverage


Storylines

Tale of the Tape: It’s Different This TIme

Penn State and Indiana were familiar foes in the Big Ten East for the longest time until the division ended with the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington in 2024.

Ever since their last meeting in 2023, Curt Cignetti looks to have the Hoosiers in a spot they’ve never been before.


Keystone Homecoming for Landino

Defensive lineman Mario Landino is one of two Hoosiers from Pennsylvania – the other being safety Jah Jah Boyd – and the regular Indiana starter is coming home.

A product of Emmaus High School, 247Sports named him the No. 58 recruit in the state.


Allen on Pace to Break School Rushing Attempts Record

Kaytron Allen is looking to etch his name into the history books of Happy Valley one carry at a time.

This Saturday, he only needs nine rushing attempts to pass Evan Royster for the most career carries in Penn State history.


The Head-to-Head History of Indiana-Penn State (Source: Winsipedia)

Penn State is 25-2 against Indiana all-time. Their last meeting was on October 28, 2023, when Penn State beat Indiana 33-24 at home.

Penn State is 13-0 against Indiana at home all-time. Their last home meeting was on October 28, 2023 (see above). Indiana has never beaten Penn State at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State has won the last three head-to-head meetings dating back to 2021. Indiana last beat Penn State on October 24, 2020, when the Hoosiers won, 36-35 in overtime at home.


No. 2 Indiana at Penn State: By The Numbers

No. 2 Indiana

Offense

Penn State

46.4

Points Per Game

31.5

259.2

Pass Yards Per Game

180.4

245.7

Rush Yards Per Game

155.3

58.18%

3rd Down %

43.14%

6 (0.67)

Turnovers (per game)

8 (1.00)


No. 2 Indiana

Defense

Penn State

10.8

Points Allowed PG

21.8

168.3

Pass Yards Allowed PG

166.4

80.0

Rush Yards Allowed PG

159.4

23.68%

Opponent 3rd Down %

42.34%

18 (2.00)

Takeaways (per game)

10 (1.25)


Players To Watch on Offense

No. 2 Indiana (Spread Offense)

  • QB Fernando Mendoza, R-Jr.

    • Projected No. 3 overall pick in SBNation’s mock draft on Wednesday

    • Six weekly awards this season (five in Week 4 after beating Illinois, 63-10)

    • All-time leader in completion percentage at California (66.45%)

    • California: 2022-24 (redshirted in 2022)

    • Overall (9 games)

      • Passing: 162-for-224, 2,124 yds, 25 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 50 car, 220 yds, 4 TD

    • Conference (6 games)

      • Passing: 107-for-148, 1416 yds, 16 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 35 car, 148 yds, 2 TD

    • Away (3 games)

      • Passing: 47-for-75, 649 yds, 4 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 18 car, 81 yds, 1 TD

  • RB Roman Hemby, R-Sr.

    • William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist

    • One of two active FBS players with 2,500 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in their career (2,768 rushing, 1,065 receiving)

    • Maryland: 2021-24 (redshirted in 2021)

    • Overall (9 games): 125 car, 601 yds, 5 TD

    • Conference (6 games): 89 car, 401 yds, 5 TD

    • Away (3 games): 52 car, 344 yds, 3 TD

    • Career vs. Penn State (3 games): 31 car, 132 yds, 0 TD

  • WR Omar Cooper Jr, Jr.

    • Biletnikoff Award Watch List

    • Career Receiving Touchdowns: 17 (T-6th in Indiana history)

    • Touchdowns needed to pass certain players for all-time Indiana receiving TDs:

      • 1 to pass Cody Latimer (T-6th)

      • 2 to pass Thomas Lewis (5th)

    • Redshirted in 2022

    • Overall (9 games): 46 rec, 669 yds, 8 TD

    • Conference (6 games): 36 rec, 370 yds, 4 TD

    • Away (3 games): 17 rec, 175 yds, 2 TD

    • Career vs. Penn State (1 game): 3 rec, 52 yds, 1 TD

Penn State (Spread Offense)

  • QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, R-Fr.

    • First collegiate start at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium

    • Overall (6 games)

      • Passing: 42-for-67, 343 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 14 car, (-30) yds, 1 TD (sacked 5 times)

    • Conference (3 games)

      • Passing: 34-for-56, 238 yds, 0 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 11 car, (-38) yds, 0 TD (sacked 5 times)

    • Home (4 games)

      • Passing: 8-for-11, 105 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

      • Rushing: 4 car, 8 yds, 1 TD

  • RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.

    • Most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (8) in his collegiate career

      • Needs to score a rushing touchdown against Indiana to tie Saquon Barkley (9 in 2016-17)

    • Career Rushing Yards: 3,565

    • Yards needed to pass certain players for all-time Penn State rushing yards:

      • 279 to pass Saquon Barkley (2nd)

      • 368 to pass Evan Royster (1st)

    • Overall (8 games): 119 car, 688 yds, 10 TD

    • Conference (5 games): 85 car, 375 yds, 7 TD

    • Home (5 games): 62 car, 417 yds, 5 TD

    • Career vs. Indiana (2 games): 36 car, 167 yds, 3 TD

  • WR Devonte Ross, R-Sr.

    • Biletnikoff Award Watch List

    • Overall (8 games): 23 rec, 281 yds, 3 TD

    • Conference (5 games): 18 rec, 204 yds, 2 TD

    • Home (5 games): 16 rec, 240 yds, 3 TD


Players To Watch on Defense

No. 2 Indiana (Multiple 4-2-5 Defense)

  • NT Tyrique Tucker, R-Jr.

    • No. 14 graded defensive interior in Power 4 by Pro Football Focus

      • No. 2 in the Big Ten

    • 2022-23: James Madison (redshirted in 2022)

    • Overall (9 games): 25 tot, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks

    • Conference (6 games): 19 tot, 5 TFL, 3.5 sacks

    • Away (3 games): 9 tot, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks

  • LB Isaiah Jones, R-Fr.

    • Nickname: “Bones” (per 247Sports)

    • Blocked a punt in the 3rd quarter against Iowa (Sep 27)

    • Overall (9 games): 47 tot, 11.5 TFL, 5 sacks

    • Conference (6 games): 35 tot, 7 TFL, 3 sacks

    • Away (3 games): 18 tot, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks

  • S Louis Moore, R-Sr.+

    • 2020-21: Navarro CC (JUCO)

    • 2022-23: Indiana

    • 2024: Ole Miss

    • Overall (9 games): 56 tot, 5 INT, 1 PD

    • Conference (6 games): 39 tot, 3 INT, 1 PD

    • Away (3 games): 16 tot, 3 INT, 0 PD

    • Career vs. Penn State (2 games): 10 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD

Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

  • DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

    • Lombardi Award Watch List

    • Bednarik Award Watch List

    • Tied with Brandon Bell and Bruce Clark for fifth in forced fumbles (7) in Penn State history

      • 1 to tie Carl Nassib, Michael Haynes and Don Graham (T-2nd)

      • 2 to tie Shane Conlan (1st)

    • Overall (8 games): 25 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Conference (5 games): 16 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

    • Home (5 games): 20 tot, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Career vs. Indiana (1 game): 6 tot, 1 TFL, 1 sack

  • LB Amare Campbell, Jr.

    • Led Penn State in tackles in 4 games this season (most of any player)

    • Overall (8 games): 59 tot, 6 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Conference (5 games): 37 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

    • Home (5 games): 40 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

  • FS Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.

    • 205 career tackles

    • Ties team lead in rushing tackles (41)

    • Overall (8 games): 56 tot, 1 INT, 2 PD

    • Conference (5 games): 48 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD

    • Home (5 games): 27 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

    • Career vs. Indiana (2 games): 2 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD



Quick Picks: Expert Analysis

Bryan: It’s a brand new ballgame than what it was expected to be in the preseason. Now, expect the Hoosiers to roll. No. 2 Indiana 45, Penn State 16.

 
 
 

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