No. 12 Penn State Tries To Stay In Big Ten Hunt At Indiana
The Associated Press
No. 12 Penn State (7-2, 5-1 Big 12, No. 10 CFP) at Indiana (5-4, 3-3), Noon (ABC/ESPN2)
Line: Penn State by 7.
Series Record: Penn State leads 18-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Penn State needs to close with a flurry to have any chance of catching No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten East and a loss at Indiana would likely end any hope of catching up. Indiana is trying to become bowl eligible for the second straight season, a feat they last achieved in 1990-91.
KEY MATCHUP
Indiana rushing game vs. Penn State defense. Indiana coach Kevin Wilson has tried just about everything to get the Hoosiers running game off the ground, even using 270-pound freshman Tyler Natee as a quarterback in the "Wildcat." But aside from one big week against Maryland, the Hoosiers have continued to struggle.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Penn State: RB Saquon Barkley. The Big Ten's leading rusher is the only one, so far, to top the 1,000-yard mark this season. His 13 scores are No. 2 in the conference and he's even better when QB Trace McSorley forces defenses to be honest.
Indiana: LB Tegray Scales. The junior has been making plays all over the field this season and is a major reason for the Hoosiers' defensive turnaround. He's had double-digit tackles in seven of nine games this season, is tied for second in the conference in tackles (85) and will need another big game to help the Hoosiers stay competitive Saturday.
FACTS & FIGURES
Penn State has won five straight since losing to Michigan in the conference opener. ... Indiana is 3-3 in conference play for the first time since 2006. The Hoosiers haven't won four league games since 2001. ... The Nittany Lions have outscored their last two opponents by a combined 103-38. ... The Hoosiers have 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in their last three games. .... Penn State's only loss in this series was a 44-24 defeat in 2013. ... Hoosiers QB Richard Lagow is second in the conference in yards passing per game (286.0) but is tied with Purdue's David Blough for most interceptions (13).
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