Meet the Opponent: 3 things to know about the Penn State Nittany Lions
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue faces its toughest test of the season on Saturday with a road matchup against No. 12 Penn State. It will be the first game against Penn State in Jeff Brohm’s tenure, and the first time Purdue has played the Nittany Lions since a 62-24 loss in 2016.
Here’s a quick primer for you on the game:
The Details:
- Who: Purdue (1-3) vs. No. 12 Penn State (4-0)
- When: Saturday, Noon ET
- Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
- TV: ESPN
Here are three things you need to know about the Nittany Lions:
Dominant run defense
Penn State has made it nearly impossible for opposing teams to run the ball on them so far this season. Entering Saturday's game, the Nittany Lions are third in the NCAA in yards per attempt at 1.9 and seventh in yards per game, allowing just 68. Last week they held Maryland to just 60 yards on 34 attempts, a 1.7-yard average.
Purdue has struggled all year running the ball, so this matchup doesn’t bode well for them. Freshman King Doerue had a breakout game last weekend against Minnesota, gaining 94 yards on 20 carries. Repeating that against a formidable Penn State defensive front will be difficult.
Running back by committee
Through four games, the Nittany Lions have taken a unique approach to getting productivity from their backfield, using four running backs a good bit. Journey Brown, Devyn Ford, Noah Cain and Ricky Slade all have had more than 20 carries this season, and all four have shown flashes to continue to demand playing time. According to Patrick Burns from SI.com Penn State, he sees Journey Brown as the No. 1, but there is a very close margin between all four. As a team, Penn state has rushed for 774 yards and 15 touchdowns already this season.
Purdue has struggled to stop the run for most of the season. They now have to face a team that will rotate running backs and always have fresh legs on the field. It’s another tough task for Brohm and the Purdue defense.
Efficient offense
Penn State has been an extremely efficient offense through the first four games, averaging 509 yards and 50 points per game. That efficiency was evident in last week's 59-0 beatdown on the road against Maryland. Not only do the Nittany Lions put up points, but they also rarely turn the ball over. Starting quarterback Sean Clifford has thrown just one interception and the team has lost just two fumbles.
Between Clifford, who has looked outstanding, and the four-headed rushing attack, Purdue’s defense will be faced with challenges all across the board.
