Penn State vs. Indiana – Game Preview – November 5, 2022 – ESPN

Indiana Hoosiers coach Tom Allen intends to maintain No. 16 Penn State guessing.

He may follow Connor Bazelak because the beginning quarterback. Allen might go together with skilled backup Jack Tuttle, who plans to switch on the finish of the season. Or, with Indiana’s postseason hopes fading, maybe he’ll get a glimpse of the longer term with somebody reminiscent of freshman Brendon Sorsby.

Allen may even use some form of mixture. However he is holding the choice hush-hush.

“We’re undoubtedly going to have the ability to try this, have already got performed that,” Allen mentioned when requested whether or not the teaching workers thought of a quarterback change this week. “We’ll transfer ahead with that place. I suppose we’ll need to see how that performs itself out on sport day.”

Indiana (3-5, 1-4 Massive Ten) has misplaced 5 straight, largely due to an offense vulnerable to gradual begins and that, at occasions, struggled to remain on the sphere. The Hoosiers are coming off a bye week, permitting them extra preparation time for the Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2) with a potential new starter.

And Bazelak hasn’t exactly provided the spark Allen anticipated.

In 5 convention video games, he is accomplished 55.9% of his throws for 251.6 yards with six touchdowns and 6 interceptions. His final win got here Sept. 17, and towards Rutgers, Bazelak produced solely two scoring drives — Indiana’s first and final possessions of the sport.

That will not be anyplace close to ok towards Penn State, which has received six video games by double digits and misplaced twice to top-five groups.

“We’ve got to discover a solution to do our very, best to return out with the win,” Allen mentioned. “It is a very proficient soccer group, excited to see what they will draw out of us in a constructive method.”

Penn State already made one journey to the Hoosier State this season — rallying to beat Purdue within the season opener.

However this group has modified. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have energized what had been an anemic floor sport whereas longtime quarterback Sean Clifford and sophomore receiver Parker Washington appear to have developed some actual chemistry.

Now with 4 video games left, just one towards a group with a successful report, the protection has an opportunity to indicate how effectively it might play — no matter who takes Indiana’s snaps Saturday.

CLIFFORD CONTROVERSY?

Allen may not be the one one considering a quarterback change.

With the Massive Ten East championship now seemingly out of attain, Penn State coach James Franklin was peppered with questions this week about shifting on from Clifford, the four-year starter in his sixth faculty season, and going with extremely touted freshman Drew Allar?

“I suppose that’s the place I wrestle a bit of bit with there may be nonetheless a ton of soccer left to be performed,” Franklin mentioned. “Whoever provides us an opportunity to be 1-0 this week and an opportunity to win a bunch of video games this 12 months, for all the blokes within the locker room, that’s who we’re going to go together with.”

That appears to be Clifford, who was nonetheless taking snaps with the starters through the open portion of Wednesday’s observe.

CAM-CAM INJURIES

Indiana’s main receiver Cam Camper will miss the remainder of this season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament. Who can substitute Camper’s productiveness? Maybe some mixture of Emery Simmons, Andison Coby and D.J. Matthews Jr.

“He (Coby) has made performs for certain, is a really explosive participant, simply must be constant in his efficiency,” Allen mentioned.

WELL-OILED LUCAS

Indiana has been in search of methods to get speedy working again Jaylin Lucs extra concerned Lucas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers and now leads the FBS with a median of 30.9 yards per return.

Allen believes that explosiveness might give the offense a much-needed jolt, too.

“His quickness, burst, pace is elite,” he mentioned. “A tough-nosed, powerful competitor. He must be an enormous a part of our offense shifting ahead.”

LINE DANCE

Penn State offensive linemen have been inspired by final week’s efficiency, 111 yards speeding on 33 carries — essentially the most towards No. 2 Ohio State since Week 4.

This week, although, they could be with out left sort out Olu Fashanu, who was injured late within the sport. Penn State has used three completely different beginning mixtures however the 6-foot-6, 308-pounder Fashanu has been one fixed. It might be a giant loss if he cannot play.

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Related Press freelance author Travis Johnson contributed.

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