No. 15 Penn State tries to regroup against Indiana – National Football Post

When final season’s Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings rolled out for the primary time, Penn State was nowhere to be discovered.

However that’s not the case this yr.

Penn State was ranked fifteenth by the CFP choice committee, and it’ll look to point out that it’s worthy of that rating when it meets Indiana on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.

With a purpose to do this, PSU goes to should get again to its successful methods.

After successful 5 straight video games to open the season, the Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2 Huge Ten) have misplaced two of their final three following a 44-31 setback in opposition to Ohio State final Saturday.

Penn State trailed simply 16-14 after three quarters, however the Buckeyes broke out for 28 factors within the fourth. Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford accomplished 32 of 47 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns, however was intercepted thrice. Receiver Parker Washington was additionally spectacular, hauling in 11 receptions for 179 yards and a rating.

Clifford has thrown for 1,816 yards and 16 TDs this season. Nonetheless, the latest losses to convention opponents have made Penn State coach James Franklin think about mixing issues up beneath heart, and he might decide to start out true freshman Drew Allar at quarterback in opposition to Indiana (3-5, 1-4).

“For us, we’re gonna take a look at who offers us one of the best probability to be 1-0 this week and go from there. And whoever that’s primarily based on this week’s follow and preparation, we’ll go along with,” Franklin mentioned. “That’s actually sort of the way it’s been all yr lengthy.”

Allar has solely appeared in six video games, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 18-for-31 passing.

The Hoosiers actually wouldn’t be against going through a quarterback with much less expertise, although, as they’re in severe want of a spark after falling 24-17 at Rutgers on Oct. 22 to drop their fifth consecutive sport.

Indiana captured an early 14-0 lead, however gave up 24 unanswered factors earlier than Charles Campbell kicked a 39-yard area purpose with 1:18 left within the fourth to drag inside seven. Connor Bazelak accomplished 24 of 42 passes for 210 yards and an interception whereas including a speeding landing.

Main receiver Cam Camper (46 receptions, 569 yards, two TDs) tore his ACL within the first half of the assembly with the Scarlet Knights and can miss the remainder of the season, making issues worse for the Hoosiers.

If there’s any constructive heading into Saturday, it’s that Indiana ought to be effectively rested after regrouping throughout its bye week.

“The factor I targeted on was rehab, reps and relaxation. You had guys in several classes,” Hoosiers coach Tom Allen mentioned. “Some guys wanted to rehab accidents. Some guys wanted to only flat-out relaxation, didn’t follow them in any respect, a few of our older guys that acquired a number of snaps.

“Quite a lot of guys acquired a number of good reps. Did a youthful guys scrimmage on Wednesday. Some dwell reps, had some enjoyable with that. … An opportunity to have the ability to do some constructive issues.”

Penn State has dominated the all-time sequence, successful 23 of the 25 conferences between the groups. Indiana final gained on Oct. 24, 2020, upsetting the then-No. 8 Nittany Lions in Bloomington.

–Area Stage Media