No. 10/8 Penn State vs. Kent State

UNIVERSITY PARK – No. 10/8 Penn State hosts Kent State for its final non-conference matchup of the season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network at Beaver Stadium.

RETURN OF THE MAC: The Nittany Lions will close its non-conference slate with Kent State. Penn State is very familiar with Mid-American Conference schools, having played a MAC team in 21 of the last 23 seasons with the only exceptions being a Big Ten-only schedule in 2020 and 2023’s non-conference schedule. Penn State is 31-3 all-time against current members of the MAC after a 34-27 win over Bowling Green on September 7.

SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Kent State for the seventh time in program history. In the last matchup in 2018, the Nittany Lions earned a 63-10 win. PSU gained 643 total yards, including 346 passing yards and 297 rushing yards. Trace McSorley threw for two touchdowns and scored on three rushing touchdowns. Sean Clifford threw his first career touchdown pass, a 95-yard completion to Daniel George.

TERRIFIC TIGHT END: Senior Tyler Warren had a record-setting day against Bowling Green, hauling in a career-high eight receptions for a Penn State-tight end record 146 yards. Warren topped Matt Kranchick’s 136 yards against Wisconsin in 2003 and earned his second career 100-yard receiving game. Warren ranks third among FBS tight ends in receiving yards per game (88.0) and sits second in yards per reception (16.0) among tight ends with 11+ receptions.

GENERATING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS: Penn State tallied nine plays of 20-plus yards against Bowling Green, giving PSU 14 plays of 20-plus yards this season. The Nittany Lions lead the country in percentage of 15-plus yard pass plays (34.21) and rank fifth in big play percentage (22.22), while sitting third in percentage of 40-plus yard plays (4.27), fifth in 10-plus yard plays (29.91) and sixth in 20-plus yard plays (11.97). PSU is fourth in yards per completion (17.56).

THE OPPOSITION: Kent State is 0-3 to begin the 2024 season after falling at No. 7/9 Tennessee last Saturday. The Golden Flashes tallied 112 total yards. JD Sherrod led the rushing attack with 56 yards on seven carries. Rocco Nicholl paced Kent State with 10 tackles.

BY THE NUMBERS

146 – Tyler Warren set a PSU tight end record with 146 receiving yards vs. Bowling Green.
40 x 3 – Nicholas Singleton scored on a 41-yard rush against Bowling Green, his third 40+ yard run of the season.
21 of 23 – Penn State has faced a MAC team in 21 of the last 23 seasons.
6 – The Nittany Lions limited Bowling Green to six yards in the third quarter.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES

Kenni Burns is in his second season as head coach at Kent State.
Burns came to Kent State from Minnesota where he served as assistant head coach since 2019.
He served as a running backs coach for six seasons under P.J. Fleck at Minnesota and Western Michigan.
Kent State is 0-3 this season.
The Golden Flashes fell 55-24 at Pitt, 23-17 against Saint Francis and 71-0 at No. 7/9 Tennessee.
Against Tennessee, QB JD Sherrod led Kent State with 58 rushing yards on seven carries.
LB Rocco Nicholl paced the defense with 10 tackles, while LB Matt Harmon notched 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
QB Devin Kargman has completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 432 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
RB Ky Thomas, a transfer from Minnesota, leads the team with 89 rushing yards.
WR Luke Floriea owns 15 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
He also has a 29-yard punt return and a 39-yard kickoff return, while averaging 21 yards per kick return.
WR Chrishon McCray has 12 catches for 121 yards and two scores.
Nicholl leads Kent State with 24 tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, and two pass breakups.
LB Khalib Johns has 20 tackles (7 solo).
DE Kameron Olds paces the Golden Flashes with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
DL Stephen Daley owns three tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery.
S Alex Branch had a 60-yard interception return against Pitt.
K Andrew Glass has hit two field goals, including a 44-yarder.
P Josh Smith is averaging 42.7 yards per punt with a long of 53.

NITTANY LIONS VS. THE MAC

Penn State has a long history of competing against Mid-American Conference teams.
The Nittany Lions hold a 31-3 all-time record against current members of the MAC and is 6-0 against former MAC teams (counting games as a member of the MAC).
Prior to a Big Ten-only schedule in 2020, Penn State had played a MAC opponent in 18 straight seasons.
The Nittany Lions earned a 34-27 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 7.
Penn State meets Kent State for the seventh time in program history.

BOWLING GREEN NOTES

Penn State snapped a streak of 28 games not allowing a first-drive touchdown, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2021. It was the nation’s longest active streak.
The Nittany Lions snapped a streak of 15-straight regular-season non-conference matchups without allowing more than 20 points in a game.
Penn State is 123-13-1 all-time in home openers and 55-10 in Beaver Stadium home openers, including wins in 21 of the last 23 home openers.
On Bowling Green’s opening drive, Penn State snapped a streak of 28-straight games not allowing a first-drive touchdown, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2021. It was the nation’s longest active streak.
The Nittany Lions snapped a streak of 15-straight regular season non-conference games not allowing more than 20 points.
Penn State had nine plays of 20+ yards on Saturday (five passes, four rushes)
RB Nicholas Singleton and RB Kaytron Allen each rushed for 100 yards in the same game for the second time in their careers.
TE Tyler Warren posted a career-high 146 yards on a career-best eight receptions.
Warren’s 146 receiving yards are a Penn State tight end record in a game, topping Matt Kranchick’s 136 yards against Wisconsin in 2003.
The senior earned his second-career 100-yard receiving game. He is tied-second among Penn State tight ends, trailing only Ted Kwalick (1966-68). He is tied with Mickey Shuler (2; 1975-77) and Pat Freiermuth (2; 2018-20).
Penn State held Bowling Green to six total yards in the third quarter (1 rushing, 5 passing).