Penn State-Iowa Game Preview

Penn State vs. Iowa Game Preview
The wait is over, who's ready for primetime football? No. 10/9 Penn State hits the road to face its first nationally-ranked opponent of the season. Saturday's top-25 matchup marks the 29thall-time meeting between the two programs, a series that dates back to 1930. Under head coach James Franklin, Penn State is 3-0 against Iowa and has won the last two meeting by a combined eight points. 
 
Iowa holds a 4-1 record (1-1 Big Ten) and is coming off a 10-3 loss at Michigan. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is in his 21stseason at Iowa and owns a 156-102 record during his time in Iowa City, Iowa. The game will be televised on ABC and broadcasted on the Penn State Sports Network.
 
Penn State Spotlight
In a room full of talent, running back Noah Cain has continued to execute when his number is called. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana product is the first Penn State freshman since Austin Scott in 2003 to rush for at least five touchdowns in the first five games of the season. Penn State's co-offensive player of the week against Purdue has found the endzone every time he has stepped inside Beaver Stadium this season and currently ranks fourth in FBS in rushing touchdowns by a freshman. 
 
"He's having a lot of early success. He's a very mature guy. You guys will get to know that as you get to know him more. He's a very mature guy. He's very well-liked and respected within our program. I don't think anybody is surprised by the success he's having," head coach James Franklin stated earlier this week. "Sometimes I think based on when a guy goes in a game or how the game is called at the time that the person is in there impacts it, as well, but we've got four guys that we feel really good about, and he's brought a lot of value to the room."
 
One pivotal category this Saturday will be the rushing attack between these two storied programs. Penn State is averaging 194.0 yards per game on the ground while Iowa is averaging 174.2 rushing yards per game."Coach [Ja'Juan] Seider has done a really good job of the culture of that position and how much they care about each other and how much they support each other," Franklin said. "It's really good. It's really healthy. It's really positive."
 
While there's plenty of talent in Ja'Juan Seider's position room, Cain has continued to prove his ability to score when presented the opportunity. Ultimately, it'll be a collective effort and the toughest test to date for Penn State's running backs and offensive line. 
 
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa comes into Saturday's game with a 4-1 record following a 10-3 loss at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines. The Hawkeyes are led by senior quarterback Nate Stanley who has thrown eight passing touchdowns while averaging 245.0 yards through the air. A staple within Iowa's offense is this season is dominating the time of possession battle, an identity that the Hawkeyes have created since day one. Iowa currently ranks second in FBS in time of possession at more than thirty-five minutes per game. 
 
Defensively, linebacker Kristian Welch leads the Hawkeyes with 39 total tackles, while also having collected 2.0 tackles for loss and a solo sack. Iowa ranks fifth in the country in total defense, allowing just 254.2 yards per game. The Hawkeyes also rank third in scoring defense at an 8.8 per game clip. 
 
Iowa quick facts
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Record at Iowa (21stseason): 156-102 (.605)
vs. Penn State: 8-7
 
Game Information
No. 10/9 Penn State takes flight for its second Big Ten matchup of the season while holding a 5-0 overall record (2-0 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions will face their first ranked opponent this season in-front of more than 65,000 fans inside Kinnick Stadium. The game can be found on ABC or on the Penn State Sports Network. Check out GoPSUsports.com following the game for exclusive interviews and more.