Penn State @ Iowa preview
Kinnick Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) Iowa 21, Penn State 10
Just how good Penn State and Iowa will end up being this season will start to get some clarity Saturday when the 20th-ranked Nittany Lions visit the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes in a Big Ten opener in Iowa City.
Both teams are 3-1 and are looking to begin conference play with a win over a quality opponent. Saturday night’s game is one of the better matchups in the conference this week. It also is Iowa's homecoming game.
Iowa, which beat Ball State 45-0 last week, has been the more impressive of the two teams, with its lone loss a seven-point heartbreaker at Arizona. Penn State, which lost 24-3 at top-ranked Alabama in the second week, has been unimpressive in its three non-conference wins, including last week’s 22-13 escape over Temple.
This game will match Iowa’s experience against a young but talented Penn State squad.
Iowa’s offense begins with senior Ricky Stanzi, who has completed 67 percent of his passes for 999 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception.
Sophomore Adam Robinson (385 yards, 6 TDs) leads the rushing attack, but it’s one that has been devastated by injuries. Change-of-pace back Jewel Hampton (knee) is lost for the season, and backup Paki O’Meara (concussion) is still out. Freshmen Marcus Coker and Brad Rogers had their first collegiate carries last week.
The Iowa defense, which may have the best front line in the conference, leads the nation in total defense (228 yards per game) behind the play of end Adrian Clayborn, tackle Mike Daniels and linebacker Jeff Tarpinian. Iowa held Ball State to only 112 total yards.
Penn State has a player in true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden, but he’s still a work in progress. Bolden has passed for 823 yards, and has played reasonably well in the Lions’ three wins. However, the Nittany Lions have struggled inside the 20, scoring only one touchdown in five red-zone chances against Temple.
The key in this game may be running back Evan Royster (57 carries, 297 yards), who broke out of a slump with 187 yards against Temple. Penn State is 13-0 when Royster runs for more than 100 yards.
The Nittany Lions are eighth nationally in points allowed, and the defense is young but improving, especially in tackling, which was a problem against Alabama. Penn State gave up 202 yards to Temple and shut down the Owls in the second half.
Outside of Hampton and O’Meara, Iowa is pretty healthy entering this game. Significant injuries for Penn State are right tackle Lou Eliades (knee), tight end Andrew Szczerba (back) and linebacker Gerald Hodges (broken leg).
The series is tied 11-11. The visiting team has won 14 times, including Iowa’s 21-10 win at Penn State last season.