UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The stage is set as Penn State hosts Michigan in a signature Big Ten battle at Beaver Stadium on Saturday in the eighth all-time Penn State Stripe Out.
The Nittany Lions now rank first in the country in rushing defense following a 51-15 win on the road at Maryland where Penn State's swarming defense generated -49 rushing yards. The Nittany Lions have held its last eight opponents to under 100 rushing yards which will prove pivotal against a strong Michigan run game on Saturday.
Penn State and Michigan will meet for the 27th time in the two programs' illustrious histories. Head coach James Franklin recognized "we're going to have two of the best, if not the best, defenses in college football in that stadium" during his weekly press conference on Monday.
Wide Receivers Taking a Step Forward
Kent State transfer and redshirt senior wide receiver Dante Cephas had his breakout performance against Maryland with six catches for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The scores marked his first two touchdowns as a Nittany Lion with both coming on over the shoulder plays by the back pylon.
Cephas' two-touchdown day was further built upon by junior wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who continued his career year. The Norfolk, Virginia, product posted eight catches for 95 yards to extend his season total to 645 receiving yards. Lambert-Smith now ranks top-20 in program history in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns.
The passing game has a strong foundation with these wideouts as weapons. Franklin alluded that the next steps in their development will play a crucial role in the ability to "stay on schedule" against a strong Michigan defense that ranks first in the country in passing defense.
"We need some other guys to step up as well," Franklin said. "We need KeAndre [Lambert-Smith] to take the next step, Dante [Cephas], the tight ends to take the next step, because we're going to have to make some plays in the passing game. I don't think there is any doubt about it. We're going to have to be as balanced as we possibly can with the run and pass, stay on schedule, but there will be times and opportunities where we will have to take our shots."
Youthful Energy and Depth on the Offensive Line
Penn State's offensive line depth and experience shined bright against Maryland as the Nittany Lions allowed just one sack. Protecting sophomore quarterback Drew Allar has created situations for him to use his eyes and find open targets anywhere on the field.
The offense line corps has also been the catalyst for a dominant run game with sophomore running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The latter displayed his tenacious running style with a 10-yard touchdown where the entire offensive line pushed him beyond the goal line.
"I think that's really important to finish blocks with a physical, nasty demeanor, to finish runs with a physical, nasty demeanor and finish plays with a physical, nasty demeanor," Franklin said. The 10-year head coach also said how sophomore Drew Shelton and redshirt freshman Vega Ioane have provided versatility and flexibility by interchanging which side they play.
"The easy thing would've been to say we're just going to leave Olu [Fashanu] on the field, but getting Shelton over to left tackle, which is where he's most comfortable, has also helped Olu," Franklin said. "Same thing with Vega [Ioane]. Vega being able to get reps at both sides of the ball, which isn't always easy for guys to do, to be able to go to both sides and get in different stances and have different opposite footwork. I think that's been valuable.
Maintaining Patience in a Pivotal Game
Penn State carried a 10-0 lead to the locker room in the White Out against Iowa back on Sept. 23. It was during this break where Franklin and his offensive staff learned that sticking to the plan to not "lose your patience" would become a foundational part of the offensive identity.
Being patient through play calling on both sides of the ball in a big game has allowed Penn State to extend its record to 8-1. Franklin shared how "there will be times where punting may be the best option" and the importance of just managing each situation as they arise.
Franklin expressed the mantra of taking plays one-by-one and seizing opportunities in key moments. Franklin also shared how Penn State's clash with Michigan could feature a game separated by one or two scores which will further test the "patience" of his team.
"Is it more likely to come down to a low-scoring game and a battle and a one-possession game and four-minute, two-minute type situations at the end? Probably most likely," Franklin said. "We got to make sure that we don't lose patience. There will be times where punting may be the best option. We just got to manage this game, and when the opportunities present themselves, we got to take advantage of it. I think patience is going to be critical."