Penn State Knows What to Expect From Iowa

'They do what they do,' James Franklin said of the unbeaten Hawkeyes, who return for their second White Out.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. | Penn State coach James Franklin began White Out week by doing push-ups. The No. 7 Nittany Lions host No. 24 Iowa on Saturday for the 15th full-Beaver Stadium White Out, which really is the 19th including the student-section only White Outs that started the tradition. Franklin doesn't. Anyway, Franklin opened his weekly press conference Tuesday by mistakenly saying it was the 17th, which was corrected by a collective effort in the Beaver Stadium press room.

So he stopped the press conference and dropped behind the podium to do five push-ups for the error. "Because I gotta own it, because I should have fact checked it. Everybody's held accountable around here," Franklin said. Iowa week is off to a hot start.

"Everybody's held accountable around here."

James Franklin dropped and did 5️⃣ push-ups, for not fact-checking, during his weekly press conference. 🏋️‍♂️@coachjfranklin x @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/ay6f4YAYfI

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 19, 2023

Familiar Foes and Fresh Faces

The last Penn State-Iowa game, a fiery 2021 matchup between teams ranked No. 3 and No. 4, had a bit of everything: fake injury discourse from coaching staffs and fans who "smelled a rat," a Sean Clifford injury that derailed Penn State’s season and a rare long-passing touchdown that propelled Iowa to a win. The teams did not play in 2022, a rare break in their rivalry. Franklin likened the Penn State-Iowa series to the scheduling quirk that made Penn State open conference play on the road for the eighth straight year. He also mentioned that Iowa arguably has been the Big Ten West's best team in that span.

"We love that. We're appreciative of the Big Ten for that," Franklin said, oozing with sarcasm. “I know it's random. Random."

Franklin did rave over the Hawkeyes and their long-tenured coaching staff under Kirk Ferentz. Penn State’s coaching staff is a bit more green in the rivalry: Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich faces Iowa for the second time, while defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and special teams coordinator Stacy Collins are making their debuts. They get some help from Iowa traditionally playing a clear-cut brand of football.

“Manny and Mike and Stacy have had an opportunity to not only see them from playing them, but also we got a ton of film,” Franklin said. “With Iowa, they are who they are, and they take tremendous pride in their identity and doing it well. So you know what you're going to get from them.”

Regarding Iowa's defense, Franklin continued the theme. "They do what they do and they do it extremely well and have been doing it a long time," he said.

Franklin also referenced a player Penn State is “familiar with” in Iowa tight end Erick All. He came to Iowa this offseason from Michigan in tandem with quarterback Cade McNamara. The duo will return as Hawkeyes to Happy Valley, where they connected for the game-winning, 47-yard touchdown in Michigan's 21-17 victory over the Lions in 2021.

The Offensive Line's 'Litmus Test'

Penn State’s offensive line, thought to be one of the deepest and most talented units heading into the year, struggled at times against Illinois, especially in the first half. Quarterback Drew Allar was under pressure more often than he had been the first two weeks, while the long runs Nicholas Singleton made his signature last year have been completely nonexistent.

Part of that was Illinois' defensive front, which was stronger than those of West Virginia and Delaware. Soon-to-be-NFL-Draft-pick Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton had a huge impact on the game with a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick. The other part is a Penn State line playing a lot of guys, a good thing according to Franklin, and still taking some time to gel. He called Illinois a good “litmus test.”

"I would also say, going back to the film and really in the week leading up to the game, we had a ton of respect for Illinois and their front. I would say after the game we felt the same way,” Franklin said. “I think they've got a real front seven. I think they got some guys up there that can cause a lot of people challenges. So it was a really good opportunity for our O-line and tight ends to go against that. I think we're going to go against similar fronts throughout the year.”

It’s safe to expect another respectable defensive front from Iowa. That’s long been part of the Ferentz brand that Franklin noted Tuesday.

Saunders Going Underappreciated

As Franklin mentioned Tuesday, receiver/returner Kaden Saunders has been a bit of an unsung hero for Penn State. After one ill-advised fair catch deep in his own territory against West Virginia, Saunders has been sure-handed and has made good decisions at the spot. There haven’t been many explosive returns, but he’s creating positive yardage and helping Franklin’s all-important drive-start battle.

Saunders caught two passes against Illinois for 19 yards. With starter Tre Wallace sidelined, Saunders played 10 offensive snaps, his highest total this season. That’s another interesting development to watch as Penn State’s receiving corps continues to take shape through the year.

"I think the big thing for him as a true freshman is he was an under-sized guy, but he also needed the time in the weight room to develop and get stronger,” Franklin said. “Now he's an under-sized guy, which is fine, but he's got the strength and the confidence to go out and play the way we need him to play. I think that will just continue to grow throughout his career.”

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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network.