Nittany Lions Have Major Hurdle at Northwestern
UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State enters the final quarter of its regular season, heading west to face Northwestern in another crucial Big Ten contest Saturday at noon on ESPNU. It will be Penn State’s first visit to Ryan Field since 2011.
The Nittany Lions’ final three games will pose the toughest tests for Penn State, as Northwestern spent five weeks ranked in the top-25 of both major polls, while undefeated and sixth-ranked Michigan State and Michigan are among the leaders in the Big Ten East Division. Penn State currently ranks third in the competitive division, trailing only undefeated Ohio State and Michigan State. A half-game behind Penn State is Michigan, which has one conference loss to Michigan State.
Both Penn State and Northwestern enter the game coming off wins, although the Wildcats enjoyed a bye week last weekend.
The Nittany Lions followed a back-and-forth contest against Maryland with an all-around strong effort, shutting out Illinois, 39-0. Penn State saw success in all phases with a balanced attack on offense and a suffocating performance on defense. The Illini were unable to reach the red zone and managed just 12 first downs.
Penn State will be looking avenge a 2014 loss at home to Northwestern, in which late turnovers dashed the hopes of a Nittany Lion comeback. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak over the Wildcats. The Lions will look to slow Northwestern’s rushing attack, which ranks third in the Big Ten with 186.1 yards per game.
Viewers may expect to see a disciplined game, as the Northwestern is the least penalized team in the Big Ten (4.50 pg), while Penn State is third in the category (4.78).
It will be two weeks before Penn State takes the field at Beaver Stadium, as the Lions will enjoy a bye week before hosting Michigan for the annual White Out game and Senior Day for the home finale.
HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD
• The second-longest tenured Big Ten head coach, Pat Fitzgerald is in his 10th season at the helm of Northwestern.
• He is the all-time winningest coach in Northwestern history and has led the program to five bowl game appearances as the sideline boss. Northwestern has appeared in the Alamo (2008), Outback (2009), Ticketcity (2010), Meineke Car Care (2011) and Gator Bowls (2012).
• Fitzgerald has spent 15 of his 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach with the Wildcats. He was the defensive backs coach in 2001, coached linebackers from 2002-05 and was hired as the head coach in 2006.
• As a player in 1995, Fitzgerald led the Wildcats to the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Northwestern made a splash to start the year, defeating No. 21 Stanford in the season opener and winning its next four games for a 5-0 start. The Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 13 by the AP before suffering back-to-back setbacks to nationally-ranked Big Ten opponents Michigan and Iowa.
• Northwestern defeated Nebraska, 30-28, in its last outing to improve to 6-2 overall (2-2 Big Ten) to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2012. The Wildcats enter the game after a bye week.
• Northwestern is averaging 186.1 rushing yards per game to rank third in the conference, while averaging a league-low 146.1 passing yards per game.
• Running back Justin Jackson ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 91.4 rushing yards per game, while quarterback Clayton Thorson is averaging 37.1 yards on the ground and has a team-best five rushing touchdowns.
• Kickoff returns are a strength with a team average of 25.1 yards per return, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 14th in the country. Returner Solomon Vault leads the Big Ten with 26.3 yards per return and has one return for a touchdown – a 98-yarder against Duke.
• The defense has a Big Ten-best three touchdowns.
• Northwestern leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally with just 4.5 penalties per game.
B1G START
The Nittany Lions are 4-1 in the Big Ten (7-2 overall) for the first time since 2012.
B1G WIN VS. ILLINOIS
• Penn State enters the Northwestern game following its first shutout win (Illinois, 39-0) since 2013 (Kent State, 34-0).
• It marked the first Big Ten shutout by Penn State since blanking Minnesota in 2009, 20-0, on Homecoming.
• The 39-point shutout victory marks the biggest margin in a Big Ten shutout since a 49-0 win vs. Northwestern in 2002.
• The margin of victory of 39 points in a Big Ten game was the largest by Penn State since a 41-point win at Wisconsin in 2008, 48-7. It is also the largest in a Big Ten home game since a 52-7 win over Indiana in 2003, and the biggest in a shutout by Penn State since a 59-0 shutout of FIU in 2007.
• The 39 points were also the most scored by Penn State in a Big Ten game since a 45-21 win vs. Purdue in 2013.
• Penn State has scored more than 30 points in consecutive Big Ten games (31 Maryland; 39 Illinois) for the first time since scoring 35 at Illinois, 39 vs. Northwestern and 38 at Iowa in consecutive games in 2012.
Penn State has also scored in every quarter in consecutive games (Maryland, Illinois)…
• For the first time since the season-ending game at Wisconsin in 2013 and the season opener in 2014 against UCF in Dublin.
• For the first time in consecutive games in the same season since UCF and Kent State in 2013.
• For the first time in consecutive Big Ten games since Northwestern and Iowa in 2012.
HACKENBERG HEATING UP
• In his last six games, QB Christian Hackenberg has 12 touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns, one touchdown reception, no interceptions and four games with at least 250 yards passing. He has passed for 1,415 yards in those six games.
• Hackenberg has not thrown an interception in his last 164 pass attempts, the longest streak of his career.
• Hackenberg has become the Nittany Lions career leader in passing yardage, touchdowns and completions. He needs just two more touchdown passes to become the Nittany Lions’ career leader.
PENN STATE VS. THE BIG TEN
• Penn State owns a 191-95-3 mark against Big Ten Conference teams since the Nittany Lions first opposed Ohio State in 1912.
• The Nittany Lions began play as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 1993 and have a 113-68 mark.
• Prior to joining the conference, Penn State played 107 games vs. the current Big Ten alignment and was 79-25-3 in those games.
• Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2014.
COACHING STAFF CONNECTION
Penn State head coach James Franklin worked with Northwestern’s superbacks coach Bob Heffner at Maryland in 2000. Franklin coached the wide receivers, while Heffner was the offensive coordinator.
NITTANY LIONS FROM ILLINOIS
Penn State has four players from Illinois on its roster. All joined the Nittany Lions during head coachJames Franklin’s tenure.
• S Joe Berg – Mundelein/Carmel Catholic
• T Brendan Brosnan – Park Ridge/Maine South
• DE Colin Castagna – Barrington/Barrington
• K/P Tyler Davis – St. Charles/St. Charles North
PENN STATE-NORTHWESTERN CONNECTIONS
• PSU redshirt freshman T Brendan Brosnan protected sophomore QB Matt Alviti while at Maine South (Ill.) High School.
• PSU redshirt freshman QB Billy Fessler and Northwestern freshman WR Charlie Fessler are brothers who played together at Cathedral Prep.
• PSU freshman DE Kam Carter and Northwestern RB Solomon Vault played together at Gaithersburg (Md.) High School.
• PSU freshman DE Colin Castagna and Northwestern redshirt freshman QB Daniel Kubiuk played together at Barrington (Ill.) High School.
• PSU senior DE Carl Nassib and Northwestern junior OL Connor Mahoney played together at Malvern Prep (Pa.).
• PSU junior KS Tyler Yazujian and Northwestern junior WR Andrew Scanlan both played at Spring-Ford (Pa.) High School.
FAMILIAR FOES FOR FRANKLIN
• Head coach James Franklin is 5-2 against opponents he has faced as a head coach at both Vanderbilt and Penn State – Army, UMass and Northwestern.
• Against Army, Franklin guided Vanderbilt to a 44-21 victory over the Black Knights in 2011 – his first season as head coach, and did the same with Penn State in 2015 (20-14).
• Franklin guided Vanderbilt to victories over UMass in 2012 and 2013, and led Penn State past UMass in 2014.
• Franklin’s Commodores lost to Northwestern in 2012 and the Nittany Lions were defeated by the Wildcats in 2014.
OFF-WEEK AHEAD
• After playing 10 consecutive games, Penn State will take its bye week following the Northwestern game.
• The Nov. 14 bye is the latest first-bye date for the Nittany Lions since 1958 when Penn State’s only bye came on Nov. 22.
• Penn State also had its first bye on Nov. 22 in 1923 and on Nov. 21 in 1922.
• In the Big Ten, Penn State and Wisconsin have their off date on Nov. 14, while Nebraska’s single bye comes on Nov. 21.
PLENTY OF CHUNK PLAYS
• The Nittany Lions are eighth in the country and first in the Big Ten in plays of 30 or more yards (29). The Penn State passing game had 10 plays of 30 or more yards in the win over Maryland.
• Junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg is tied for eighth in FBS with 19 pass plays of 30 or more yards, while sophomore wide receiver Chris Godwin is tied for sixth with 10 catches for 30 or more yards.
• Additionally, freshman running back Saquon Barkley is tied for ninth in FBS with seven rushes for 30 or more yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE SHUFFLE
• The starting offensive line combination against Illinois marked the sixth different combination in nine games this season.
• Guard Brian Gaia is the only player to start on the line in all nine of the games.
BARKLEY BREAKS OUT
• Despite missing 2.5 games to injury and only receiving one carry in the season opener, Saquon Barkley leads the Lions with 716 rushing yards in seven games played.
• Barkley moved into third place in Penn State true freshman season rushing yards with 716, passingCurtis Enis (683; 1995).
• Barkley’s five rushing TDs are tied for second place on the Penn State true freshman season list with Matt Suhey (1976) and Austin Scott (2003).
• Barkley had a career-high three receptions for a career-best 58 yards against Illinois.
• Barkley’s yards per game average of 102.3, which ranks 32nd nationally and third in the Big Ten, is skewed down since he only received one carry for one yard in the season opener against Temple and only played a little over a quarter against SDSU before leaving the game.
• Barkley’s yards per game average is 119.2 when not including the Temple game and 130.6 when not including the Temple and SDSU games. The latter figure would rank him 12th in FBS.
• Barkley is second in the Big Ten and 14th in FBS with 6.6 yards per carry.
• Barkley averaged a season-low 3.1 yards per carry against Maryland, but he was clearly the focus of the Terrapins’ game plan, as they dared the Lions to throw deep. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg threw for a season-high 315 yards on just 13 completions (24.3 ypc).
• A national primetime TV audience was introduced to Barkley at Ohio State, as the true freshman did not disappoint in his return from injury. Barkley posted his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with 194 yards on 26 carries at Ohio State. His 194 rushing yards were the fourth-most by a PSU true freshman. He also has the third-highest total with 195 vs. Rutgers.
• Barkley is only the second running back to rush for 175 yards or more at Ohio State since 2000, joining Indiana’s Tevin Coleman, who had 228 yards last season.
• His three 100-yard rushing games are tied with Eric McCoo (1998) and Curtis Enis (1995) for second on the all-time true freshman season list at Penn State. D.J. Dozier’s five 100-yard rushing games in 1983 top it.
• Barkley notched a career-long 56-yard rush in the fourth quarter against Ohio State. In the first quarter, he had a 44-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty.
• Twenty-one of Barkley’s 88 rushes have gone for double-digit gains.
• Barkley is ninth in the country in rushes of 30 or more yards (5). He is also tied for the Big Ten lead with Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliot fpr 20-plus yard rushing plays (8).
• Barkley caught his first career pass against SDSU and took it 22 yards for a touchdown.
• His 310 rushing yards in consecutive games against Buffalo and Rutgers were the highest two-game total by a Penn State back since Zach Zwinak had 314 in a two-game span vs. Indiana (135) and Wisconsin (179).
• It is also the highest total by a true freshman RB in a two-game span since D.J. Dozier had 359 in 1983 (vs. Rutgers and Alabama). Barkley, Enis and Dozier are the only the true freshman to have back-to-back 100-yard games (Dozier had four in a row in 1983).
• Additionally, Barkley’s 195 rushing yards against Rutgers were the most by a Penn State true freshman since Eric McCoo had 206 against Michigan State in 1998. Barkley is the fourth true freshman at Penn State to have two or more 100-yard rushing performances (5, D.J. Dozier — 1983; 3,Curtis Enis – 1995; 3, Eric McCoo — 1998).
• Against Buffalo, Barkley became just the eighth PSU true freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a game, joining, Matt Suhey (1976), Curt Warner (1979), D.J. Dozier (1983), Curtis Ennis (1995), Eric McCoo (1998), Austin Scott (2003) and Silas Redd (2010).
• He is also the first PSU player to rush for 100 yards in a quarter since Tony Hunt vs. Akron in 2004. Larry Johnson rushed for more than 100 in a quarter four times in 2002.
• Barkley is only the third player since 2000 to rush for 100 yards or more in a quarter, and it has now only happened seven times since 2000.
• Barkley (Buffalo and Rutgers) joined Johnson as the only PSU rushers to total 100-plus yard quarters in back-to-back games.
STINGY DEFENSE
• Penn State’s defense allowed just 167 yards to Illinois. Prior to playing No. 1 Ohio State (429 yards) and Maryland (363 yards) the two weeks before, Penn State had held regular season opponents below 325 yards in 13 consecutive games.
• The 167 yards (37 rushing, 130 passing) allowed to Illinois were the fewest allowed by the Nittany Lions since holding Minnesota to 138 yards (37 rushing, 101 passing) in 2009.
• The Nittany Lion defense held Illinois to 12 first downs, the fewest since giving up just eight to Temple last season, and the fewest in a Big Ten game since allowing 12 to Michigan last season.
• The Penn State defense has been particularly stingy at home, having held its last 10 opponents and 12 of its last 13 to less than 300 yards of total offense, dating back to last season. Northwestern is the lone team to gain more than 300 yards against the Lions at home.
• Ohio State snapped another streak as well this season, as the Penn State defense had not allowed more than seven points in the first half of 12 consecutive games, including eight consecutive against Big Ten opponents.
• In 2014, Penn State ranked in the Top 10 in the FBS in fewest first downs allowed (2nd, 190), pass efficiency (2nd, 101.14), total (2nd, 278.7 ypg), rushing (3rd, 100.5 ypg), third down (6th, 30.2) and scoring defense (7th, 18.6 ppg).
STOPS BEHIND THE LINE
• In addition to leading the nation in sacks with 36 (4.0 pg), Penn State also ranks fourth in the nation and tops in the Big Ten with 9.2 tackles for loss per game.
• Penn State has recorded at least five tackles for loss in 16 consecutive games.
• The 16th straight game with at least five TFLs is the longest streak for Penn State since a 38-game streak from 1997 to 2000.
• The Nittany Lions recorded 9.0 tackles for loss against Illinois to mark the sixth game this season with at least 9.0 TFLs in a game.
• The Penn State defense accumulated 10.0 tackles for loss against Ohio State, the most the Buckeyes had surrendered all season.
• Penn State leads the nation in both tackle for loss yardage (409) and sack yardage (284).
• Penn State’s 15 tackles for loss against Temple were the second-most in the country during the opening week, trailing only Colorado State, which racked up 16 against FCS-level Savannah State. Eleven different Nittany Lions were credited with at least an assist, led by Carl Nassib, Brandon Bell and Anthony Zettel with 2.5 TFL each, while Trevor Williams had 2.0.
• Nassib leads the country with 2.1 TFL per game.
QUARTERBACKS BEWARE
• With 4.0 sacks per game and 36 total the Nittany Lions lead the FBS.
• Penn State’s defense has had at least one sack in 31 consecutive games. That is the most consecutive games with a recorded sack since sacks became an official NCAA statistic in 2000.
• Senior defensive end Carl Nassib has recorded a sack in each game this season. He leads the nation with 14.5 sacks for an FBS-leading average of 1.61per game.
• Illinois led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed with an average of 1.14 before playing Penn State, but yielded a season-high four sacks to the Nittany Lions.
• The PSU defense had four sacks against Indiana, which had only allowed three sacks total in the previous five games.
• The Nittany Lions made the most of their few chances for sacks against Army’s run-heavy triple-option offense, totaling more sacks (3) than passing attempts (1) and completions (1).
• Sophomore linebacker Jason Cabinda registered two sacks in the Army win, including on fourth down to end the Black Knights’ comeback hopes.
FUMBLE!
• Penn State is in a six-way tie for the lead nationally in fumble recoveries with 10.
• Nine different Lions have recovered fumbles, as Garrett Sickels is the only one with two recoveries. He picked up his second vs. Maryland.
• Penn State’s six fumble recoveries in consecutive games (3 vs. San Diego State and 3 vs. Army) are its most in a two-game span since having six at Virginia (3) and vs. Navy (3) in 2012.
• Sickels and linebackers Von Walker and Manny Bowen made their first career fumble recoveries against the Black Knights.
NASSIB BREAKING THROUGH
• Senior defensive end Carl Nassib has rewarded the Nittany Lions for putting him in the starting lineup, as the former walk-on is enjoying a breakout season by breaking through opposing offensive lines.
• The nation’s sack leader with 14.5 (1.61 pg), Nassib has had at least one sack in nine consecutive games, which is the longest streak by a Penn State player since sacks became an official NCAA statistic in 2000.
• Nassib’s 14.5 sacks for the season stands alone in third place at Penn State for a single season. He trails both Larry Kubin (1979) and Michael Haynes (2002), who are tied for the single season sack record with 15.0.
• Nassib has 18.5 tackles for loss this season, the most by a Nittany Lion since Aaron Maybin had 20 in 2008. Nassib’s 18.5 TFL are the fourth-most by a Penn State player since 2000.
• Nassib leads the nation with 18.5 tackles for loss (2.1 pg) and ranks third with five forced fumbles.
• He has recorded a sack in each game this season, and five multi-sack games.
• Nassib is the first Penn State player to force two fumbles in two games in a season since Maurice Evans did it in 2007. Evans had two forced fumbles against Indiana and two forced fumbles against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
• Nassib’s five forced fumbles this season are the most by a PSU player since Evans had five in 2007.
• While making his first career start (high school or college), Nassib made a career-high 10 tackles in the season opener at Temple. His previous high was four stops on October 5, 2013 at Indiana. Nassib also recorded what was then his second career solo sack, good for a 12-yard loss in the second quarter, and his 2.5 tackles for loss were a career-best.
• Nassib made even bigger plays the following week against Buffalo, recording three sacks, including back-to-back sack-fumbles to stifle a UB comeback. He also hauled in an interception deep in UB territory after senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel tipped a pass from the quarterback.
• His fifth sack of the season was against Rutgers.
• Nassib tallied two sacks against San Diego State, forcing a fumble on one that led to defensive tackle Austin Johnson’s 71-yard touchdown run after scooping up the ball.
• He continued his sack streak with one against Army.
• Nassib had a triple-double of sorts against Indiana with 2.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL and two forced fumbles.
• At No. 1 Ohio State, he led the Penn State defense with 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, also tying for second on the team with eight tackles. The Lions totaled 10.0 tackles for loss in the game to mark its fourth game with at least 9.0 TFLs. It was also the most surrendered by Ohio State this season.
• Nassib was credited with two sacks against Maryland and one against Illinois.
NASSIB GARNERS MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
• Penn State defensive lineman Carl Nassib garnered multiple midseason All-America honors, including ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today and SI.com.
• CBS Sports Eye on College Football writers Jon Soloman, Tom Fornelli and Robby Kalland named Nassib the National Defensive Player of the Year.
• Nassib leads the FBS in sacks (13.5; 1.69 pg) and tackles for loss (18.5; 2.3 pg).
BEDNARIK WATCH LIST
• Defensive lineman Carl Nassib was named a Bednarik Award semifinalist.
• Nassib and Austin Johnson were added to the Bednarik Award watch list midway through the season, joining fellow lineman Anthony Zettel.
• Nassib and Johnson were also named ESPN.com Midseason All-Big Ten.
• The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.
• The Nittany Lions’ four Bednarik Award recipients are the most of any school in the nation — LaVar Arrington (`99), Paul Posluszny (`05 & 06) and Dan Connor (`07).
• Nassib currently leads the FBS in sacks (14.5; 1.6 pg), tackles for loss (18.5; 2.1 pg) and is third in forced fumbles (5).
• Johnson has been a force up front for the Nittany Lions 54 tackles, which is tied for second on the team. He also has 4.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss this season. Additionally, Johnson registered his first career touchdown with a 71-yard fumble return. Most recently against Maryland, he tied his career high with nine tackles, marking the third time this season he has recoded nine stops.
• Zettel has 37 stops on the season, including 18.5 solo tackles. He also has 10.0 tackles for loss, including 3.0 sacks. Zettel has also influenced the passing game with four pass breakups. He also has a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the season.
GREEN LIGHT IN THE RED ZONE
• Penn State was 7-7 in the red zone against Illinois (5 TD, 2 FG), improving to 31-34 for the season (19 TD, 12 FG), a success rate of 91 percent.
• The Lions’ 91 percent success rate is tied for 14th in the country.
• The Illinois game was just the second this season (Ohio State) in which all of Penn State’s scoring took place in the red zone.
BOWLING AGAIN
• Penn State’s victory over Maryland gave the Nittany Lions their sixth victory of the season, making them eligible to play in their 46th bowl game in program history.
• The Lions’ 45 bowl appearances ranked ninth-highest among FBS schools at the start of the season.
• Head coach James Franklin is now 5-for-5 in leading teams to bowl eligibility as a head coach.
TRIPLE THREAT QB
• QB Christian Hackenberg’s 14-yard touchdown reception against Illinois was the first reception by a PSU quarterback since Matt McGloin had a 16-yard catch from Curtis Drake against Nebraska in 2011.
• It was the first touchdown reception by a Penn State quarterback since Zack Mills had an 18-yard touchdown reception from Michael Robinson in the 2004 season opener vs. Akron.
• Hackenberg is the first Big Ten player with multiple touchdown passes and a touchdown reception in the same game since Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State in 2010.
• Hackenberg is one of nine FBS players to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown this season and one of 19 active players to have accomplished the feat in their careers.
GODWIN LEADS RECEIVING CORPS
• Sophomore wide receiver Chris Godwin has caught at least four passes in eight of nine games this season and nine of his last 20.
• Godwin tied a career-best with seven receptions against Illinois. He previously had seven in last year’s Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College.
• Godwin but totaled 103 yards on three catches at Ohio State, and then made four catches for a season-high 135 yards and a touchdown the following week against Maryland.
• Godwin is the first Nittany Lion to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Allen Robinsonin 2013 (106 vs. Nebraska, 122 at Wisconsin).
• It was his third career 100-yard receiving game (141 vs. Boston College, 2014 Pinstripe Bowl).
• He has at least one catch in 20 of 21 career games and four career games with five or more grabs, joining his seven-catch night vs. Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
• He has a team-best total of 34 receptions for 628 yards and is averaging 4.3 catches and 78.5 yards per game, to rank in the Top 10 in both in the Big Ten.
• Godwin was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the nation’s top receiver.
