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Penn St. Nittany Lions (4-0; 1-0 Big Ten East) vs Indiana Hoosiers (2-2; 0-1 Big Ten East)
7:30 p.m. ET, October 2, 2021--ABC
Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,572 / University Park, PA)
| Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Indiana | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 113.5 (111) | 111.0 (T - 35) | Rushing Defense (ypg) |
|
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 307.8 (18) | 229.0 (73) | Passing Defense (ypg) |
|
| Pass Efficiency | 171.96 (19) | 123.64 (60) | Pass Efficiency Defense | |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 421.2 (T - 54) | 340.0 (57) | Total Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 31.5 (T - 56) | 29.25 (T - 93) | Scoring Defense (ppg) | |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 122.2 (49) | 135.5 (90) | Rushing Offense (ypg) |
|
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 204.5 (48) | 228.0 (T - 69) | Passing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 102.14 (12) | 109.66 (114) | Pass Efficiency |
|
| Total Defense (ypg) | 326.8 (T - 47) | 363.5 (92) | Total Offense (ypg) | |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 15.0 (T - 12) | 29.8 (T - 65) | Scoring Offense (ppg) |
|
| Punt Return Defense (ypr) | 5.99 (T - 51) | 14.88 (25) | Punt Return Yds |
|
| Punt Return Yds | 6.75 (T - 72) | 8.83 (87) | Punt Return Defense (ypr) | Push |
| Net Punting Yds | 44.72 (6) | 37.00 (T - 106) | Net Punting Yds |
|
| Kickoff Return Yds | 16.86 (102) | 31.89 (123) | Kickoff Return Defense | Push |
| Kickoff Return Defense | 0.00 (T - 1) | 24.88 (25) | Kickoff Return Yds | Push |
| Turnover Margin | +1.25 (T - 12) | -.50 (T - 96) | Turnover Margin |
|
| Passes Had Intercepted | 2 (T - 28) | 1 (T - 104) | Passes Intercepted |
|
| Passes Intercepted | 5 (T - 21) | 6 (T - 118) | Passes Had Intercepted |
|
| Penalty Yds/Game | 51.50 (T - 53) | 45.50 (T - 33) | Penalty Yds/Game | Push |
| Sacks | 1.50 (T - 98) | 1.75 (T - 47) | Sacks Allowed |
|
| Sacks Allowed | 2.00 (T - 63) | 1.75 (T - 87) | Sacks | Push |
| Tackles for Loss (tpg) | 5.80 (T - 75) | 5.75 (T - 68) | Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | Push |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | 8.00 (T - 114) | 4.80 (T - 102) | Tackles for Loss (tpg) | Push |
| Redzone Offense (%) | 92.3% (T - 31) | 100.0% (T - 116) | Redzone Defense (%) |
|
| Redzone Defense (%) | 61.5% (10) | 84.2% (T - 73) | Redzone Offense (%) |
|
| Redzone TD % | 61.54% | 71.43% | Redzone TD % Defense | |
| Redzone TD % Defense | 38.46% | 57.89% | Redzone TD % | |
| 3rd Down Conv. % | 42.4% (41) | 35.2% (34) | 3rd Down Defense % |
|
| 3rd Down Defense % | 36.2% (61) | 44.8% (T - 44) | 3rd Down Conv. % | Push |
| 4th Down Conv. % | 40.0% (T - 96) | 66.7% (T - 93) | 4th Down Defense % | Push |
| 4th Down Defense % | 62.5% (T - 89) | 75.0% (T - 20) | 4th Down Conv. % |
|
| 1st Downs | 85 (T - 64) | 75 (T - 61) | 1st Downs Allowed | Push |
| 1st Downs Allowed | 88 (T - 97) | 86 (T - 60) | 1st Downs | |
| Time of Possession | 27 (107) | 33 (13) | Time of Possession |
|
| Strength of Schedule | 18 | 17 | Strength of Schedule | Push |
Difference >25 in National Rank =
Difference >50 in National Rank =
Difference >75 in National Rank =
Difference >100 in National Rank =
Note:
All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is taken from Team Rankings.com.
The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.
Quick thoughts:
It’s about what you would expect having watched both teams so far this year. Indiana’s not had an easy path, with losses to two top ten teams in Iowa and Cincinnati; Penn State’s schedule’s been difficult as well, but their two top twenty five matchups have ended in wins, both home and away.
The Nittany Lions’ numbers may be a little deflated due to some garbage time scores in weeks two and four, but the defensive numbers (particularly the secondary) are better than we’ve seen in a few years out of the blue and white.
For special teams, the matchups seem more even than I would have expected, with both teams having punted 18 times on the season (and PSU returning 7 kickoffs to IU’s 8). It’s the redzone opportunities for the offenses that will tell the story - Penn State’s offense has only visited the red zone 13 times, with a lot of the scoring (particularly last week’s) coming from plays that started outside the redzone.
What say you all?