Penn State @ Indiana preview
FedEx Field
Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Indiana 20, Penn State 31
He may have thrown two costly interceptions in last week’s loss to Ohio State, but Matt McGloin will remain as starting quarterback for Penn State in this week’s game against Indiana. He was defended by Nitany Lions coach Joe Paterno, who said the redshirt sophomore was a little careless with the football, but otherwise did well enough to deserve more opportunities.
McGloin may find the going a bit easier this week when Penn State (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) plays Indiana (4-6, 0-6) on Saturday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Indiana is still reeling from an 83-20 whipping it took from Wisconsin and is allowing an average of 411.6 yards and 33.6 points per game.
McGloin became the starter when Rob Bolden was injured against Minnesota. He’s completed 56 of 100 passes for 710 yards with two interceptions and nine touchdowns. His inexperience showed last week, when he was 13 of 18 for 141 yards in the first half against Ohio State, but completed only 2 of 12 for 18 yards in the second half.
While McGloin is still an unknown, there’s no guessing about Penn State tailback Evan Royster, the school’s career rushing leader. He’s rushed for 3,701 yards (eclipsing the mark held by Curt Warner) and has 27 touchdowns. This season Royster has rushed for 783 yards, leaving him only 217 yards shy of become the first back in school history to run for 1,000 yards in three seasons.
Indiana’s drubbing was somewhat surprising, since the Hoosiers had played well in the two previous games, losing by three to Northwestern and by five to Iowa. Despite getting clobbered by Wisconsin, Indiana could still become bowl eligible by winning its final two games — Penn State and at Purdue.
The Hoosiers, who have had trouble running the ball this season, may have found an answer with redshirt freshman Nick Turner. He carried 11 times for 103 yards, including a 67-yard run that was the team’s longest this season.
A question for Indiana may be quarterback Ben Chappell, who left the game with a hip injury and didn’t return. Chappell is the school record-holder for career completion percentage (61.3 percent) and this year has thrown for 2,730 yards and 19 touchdowns. Tandon Doss continues to impress at receiver, where he’s caught 48 passes for 552 yard and three touchdowns. Doss also averages 25.3 yards on kick returns and 8.0 yards on punt returns.
Penn State has never lost to Indiana and leads the series 13-0. Paterno, who has won 400 games, will be competing in his 66th different stadium as head coach.