In our weekly column, we check in on Penn State's past opponents and what’s going on with the teams the Nittany Lions have already faced (and defeated).

Akron Zips (4-3)

Bucked the Broncos

It was another great week for the Akron Zips, who took down defending MAC champion Western Michigan Broncos 14-13 on Sunday. What? Yes, the game was postponed one day due to intense flooding at WMU’s Waldo Stadium:

Where's Waldo? Under water.

Cue Sunday - gameday. On the Broncos’ opening drive, Zips cornerback Kyron Brown intercepted the ball on the 24 and returned it 70 yards to the Broncos' 24, setting up the first score for Akron. The Zips missed a field goal in the second quarter but answered with a score for a 14-0 lead. All of Akron’s 14 points were scored in the first 20 minutes of the game. Western Michigan answered with a field goal before the half and 10 more points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.

Key playmakers for the Zips were running back Manny Morgan (12 carries for 53 yards), quarterback Thomas Woodson (13-of-24 for 127 yards and a touchdown) and cornerback Alvin Davis (12 tackles).

Up next for the Zips are the Toledo Rockets, who are 5-1.

Up Next: Toledo Rockets (5-1)

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Pitt Panthers (2-5)

Lost to North Carolina Wolfpack

In their homecoming game, the Pitt Panthers lost 35-17 to No. 16 North Carolina State Wolfpack.

In the first half, the Wolfpack were trailing after Pitt’s early lead on a touchdown, but by the half the game was tied 14-14. After the half, it was all NC State domination, with the Wolfpack scoring three touchdowns against Pitt’s one field goal and outgaining Pitt by nearly 100 yards and forcing a pair of turnovers.

Pitt is still searching for a starting quarterback after Max Browne went down with an injury last week. Ben DiNucci played the first half, then was removed in third quarter to give true freshman Kenny Pickett a shot. Pickett was 5 for 13 for 61 yards and ran for 18 yards. DiNucci returned in the fourth quarter, and by game end had thrown for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Pitt struggled to run. Leading rushers for Pitt were Kenny Pickett and safety Jordan Whitehead. Wide receiver Jester Weah had seven catches for 106 yards and one of Pitt’s two touchdowns.

This Saturday Pitt plays the Duke Blue Devils (4-3).

Up Next: Duke Blue Devils (4-3)

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Georgia State Panthers (3-2, Sun Belt)

Won against the Warwhawks

In their third straight win, the Georgia State Panthers defeated the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 47-37.

The Panthers scored on their first possession, but the Warhawks answered, bringing the score to 7-6. Georgia State scored again to lead 13-7 in less than six minutes into the game, and by the half was up 26-10. By the fourth quarter, Georgia State led 47-24. ULM managed to score two more times to bring the score to 47-37, but it wasn’t enough for a win.

Georgia State piled up a school record 670 yards of total offense with the school’s most points ever against an FBS team. Quarterback Conner Manning completed 26 of 35 passes for a career-high 446 yards. His key target was Penny Hart, who set the school record with 190 yards receiving on 11 catches.

The Panthers also rushed for a season-high 224 yards, despite losing their top two backs to injury.

Georgia State next plays the 4-2 Troy Trojans.

Up Next: Troy Trojans (4-2)

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Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2)

Bye Week

The Iowa Hawkeyes had a week to rest after beating the Illinois Fighting Illini 45-16 the week before. Next, Iowa faces the Northwestern Wildcats, who are 3-3.

Up Next: Northwestern Wildcats (3-3)

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Indiana Hoosiers (3-3)

Lost to Michigan

In an overtime heartbreaker, the Indiana Hoosiers lost to the No. 19 Michigan Wolverines 27-20.

Michigan took a 13-0 lead by the second quarter, but Indiana hit a field goal bringing the score to 13-3 before the half. Indiana scored in less than three minutes into the third quarter, 13-10, but Michigan responded with a touchdown, bringing the game to 20-10.

The Hoosiers came back to score 10 points in the game’s final minutes, including a 46-yard Griffin Oakes field goal that sent the game into overtime at 20-20.

In the first play of overtime, a Michigan touchdown run put them over the top at 27-20. Indiana had a first-and-goal from the 2 yard line, but Wolverine safety Tyree Kinnel picked off a Peyton Ramsey pass in the end zone to seal the deal.

Hoosier quarterback Ramsey finished 20-of-41 for 178 yards with two interceptions.

Other key Indiana players included safety Chase Dutra, who recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles and wide receiver Luke Timian, who set a career-high in receiving yards with 95 on seven receptions. Also impressive was Indiana’s defense, which held Michigan quarterback John O’Korn to just 58 passing yards.

This Saturday, Indiana plays the No. 18 Michigan State Spartans, who are 5-1.

Up Next: Michigan State (5-1)

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Northwestern Wildcats (3-3)

Trounced the Terrapins

The Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Maryland Terrapins 37-21, bouncing back after last week’s loss to Penn State.

Maryland took the first lead in the first quarter at 7-0 but Northwestern brought the score up to 7-3 with Maryland on top at the end of the first.

By the half, Northwestern was rolling, scoring 21 unanswered points, going into the break up 24-14 on top of the Terrapins. In the third quarter, Northwestern hit a field goal to extend the lead 27-14. Maryland responded with a touchdown in the fourth, but so did Northwestern to end the game 37-21.

The Wildcats racked up 531 yards and 30 first downs. Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson finished the day with 293 yards and a touchdown on 27 of 49 attempts through the air, and also rushed nine times for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Justin Jackson broke the Northwestern record for career rushing with a career-high 171 yards, making him the schools all -time leading rusher with 4,639 yards. Jackson had two touchdowns in the game.

This Saturday Northwestern plays Iowa, currently 4-2.

Up Next: Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2)