Kent State @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Kent State 0, Penn State 24

Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg has found immediate success at Penn State, though it certainly helps to have a target like Allen Robinson on his side. Hackenberg and Robinson hope to continue their chemistry Saturday against visiting Kent State in the Nittany Lions’ final game before Big Ten play begins. The game also serves as an opportunity for Penn State to bounce back following a home loss to Central Florida last weekend.

Hackenberg, who was one of the highest regarded incoming freshmen in the nation, was 21-of-28 for 262 yards and a touchdown last week against Central Florida. Nine of those passes went to Robinson, who totaled 143 yards and a touchdown and has gone over 100 yards in three straight games. For the season, Hackenberg has completed nearly 72 percent of his passes and thrown for at least 250 yards in every game while his junior wide receiver leads the Big Ten in receptions (23) and yards (405).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, BTN. LINE: Penn State -21.

ABOUT KENT STATE (1-2): Kent State also starts a freshman quarterback and, after redshirting last season, Colin Reardon has thrown for 182 yards per game while also ranking second on the team with 106 rushing yards on the year. The Golden Flashes have several key decisions to make, as running back Dri Archer (ankle), offensive lineman Pat McShane (knee) and safety Luke Wollet (shoulder) are among those whose status against the Nittany Lions is up in the air. Wollet leads the team with 24 tackles, including 10 in last week’s defeat against LSU.

ABOUT PENN STATE (2-1): Zach Zwinak (128 yards, three rushing TDs last week) has been overshadowed a bit by Hackenberg and Robinson, but the junior running back is nearly on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season. While Zwinak is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, the Lions’ backup running backs, Bill Belton and Akeel Lynch, are averaging 8.1 and 7.8 yards per attempt, respectively. If their running backs can help them march down the field, the Lions can depend on kicker Sam Ficken, who had made 15 straight field goals, including a career-long 47-yarder against Central Florida, before missing a 57-yard attempt against the Knights.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Referencing his team’s road loss to LSU and Penn State’s home defeat versus Central Florida, Kent State coach Paul Haynes said, “We go from Death Valley into Happy Valley – and they are not very happy right now.”

2. The last time the Golden Flashes played the Nittany Lions was in 2010, when Penn State emerged with a 24-0 victory behind Austin Scott’s three TDs.

3. With five catches on Saturday, Robinson will crack the top 10 receiving leaders in Penn State history.

PREDICTION: Penn State 37, Kent State 13