Injuries/absences of note: For Penn State, TE Nick Bowers (undisclosed injury) and LB Nyeem Wartman-White (knee) are out for the season, DE Evan Schwan (lower leg), LBs Jason Cabinda (thumb, wrist), Brandon Bell (undisclosed) and CB Grant Haley (undisclosed) are uncertain. The No. 8 Spartans host the No. 11 Badgers on Saturday afternoon and this might end up being yet another close game. Iowa has a Big Ten-best eight-game regular season conference winning streak. The Nittany Lions routinely trot out a top 50 defense that holds opponents under 20 points per game.
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The Nittany Lion offense will have to find a way to execute against a MI defense that’s now leading the FBS in third down conversion and red zone defense, while also ranked second in tackles for loss.
Michigan State has issues of its own in the secondary after Notre Dame had success throwing deep in last weekend’s game. The Wolverines’ quarterback play is not the best, but with weapons like Jake Butt and Jehu Chesson they have the play makers to make things happen. Two plays later, Hornibrook found Wheelwright for a gain of nine to the MSU three-yard line before Ingold converted another fourth down, on a 1-yard run.
“This is what we have, it’s great, so find a way to make it work for your team”, he said.
On defense, Jabrill Peppers is the top playmaker for a team ranked first in tackles-for-loss and third down conversions. “So it’s a challenge, there’s no doubt about it”.
Penn State: McSorley, a first-year starter, is leading a newly installed spread offense after backing up Christian Hackenberg.
“We’re still learning how to play this style of defense”, Brown said. “I know there’s not another player I’ve coached like him”. “We’re going to look at all part of what we’ve been doing, whether it be changes in the lineup or some of the schemes”.
Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Banks stressed earlier this week that the Nittany Lions would have to trust their keys on defense to shut down down a dynamic MI offense that presents threats in both the pass and the run game.
While the Warming’s said trio of Dayonn Harris, Mason Klerks and Aymar Sigue all finished without a goal, they helped lead their team in other ways.
Led by second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan will square off against Penn State for the 20 time in program history. They’re expected to win by almost three touchdowns after taking the first three games easily against Colorado, Central Florida and Hawaii.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC with Dave Fleming (pxp) and Brian Griese (analyst) and Todd McShay (sideline) on the call.
“Once he gets going, he feeds off that”, Penn State linebacker Jake Cooper said. Trace McSorley made some costly errors but also some big plays that showed a lot of his potential. McSorley said that specifically from the quarterback position, the key this week would be making the correct reads and taking time to be accurate with each throw.
Lewis didn’t play a snap during the nonconference season, but Harbaugh told reporters that he was trending toward a return against Penn State.
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The Nittany Lions stumbled against Pittsburgh before squeezing past Temple last week 34-27. The sophomore has a Big Ten-best 828 yards passing and has thrown four two touchdowns and two interceptions. “What? How can Michigan’s running game be an advantage?” “He’s a great player, you obviously have awareness for where the great players are on the other team are and you want to know where they’re at on every play”.
