The Indiana Hoosiers play host to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon in a crucial Big Ten showdown from Memorial Stadium. The Nittany Lions are off to a quick 6-2 mark on the season, having made quick work of opponents not named Michigan or Ohio State this season. For Indiana, the wins have been far more difficult for them to find, though being at home could give them the help they're looking for in this one. Penn State dominated in last season's matchup while winning eight of the last ten overall as they look to keep the wins coming.
Penn State very well could be the third-best team in the Big Ten but considering they have already faced Ohio State and Michigan this season, it isn't a surprise to see them with two losses by their name. The schedule gets quite a bit easier for this group and with Maryland and Rutgers coming up next, grabbing the win against Indiana is crucial to get back on the winning path. Besides during the COVID season, Penn State has consistently dominated this series and even though they'll be on the road in this one, it shouldn't be daunting for this group. Last week's game saw them hang in with Ohio State for much of the game, which should continue to give them confidence going forward in this one.
Penn State continues to navigate a few injuries as they hit the road for this one, namely on the offensive side of things. Keyvone Lee (undisclosed) is day-to-day, though as the third-string running back, shouldn&# 39;t be an impactful absence. A wide receiver is also day-to-day, while Jerry Cross (undisclosed) remains out into November.
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Penn State's offense has been unremarkable this season but against an Indiana defense without much backbone, they should be able to move the ball with relative ease. Indiana's secondary is their biggest concern and Sean Clifford (16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions) has improved through the air of late. Parker Washington has been a mainstay deep threat, though depth at receiver certainly remains a concern. A heavy dose of Nicholas Singleton (6.3 yards per carry) is one to keep an eye on though, and if he can control the ground game, it could be the difference.
Defensively, Penn State's secondary will need to bounce back nicely after getting torched by the Buckeyes last week. Indiana has some talent on the outside and if the Nittany Lions don't take that seriously, it could haunt them. The difference is likely to be Penn State's ability to stop the run and given Indiana's issues moving the ball on the ground, the Nitta ny Lions will like their chances to win in the tenches.