Penn State (5-3 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) at Minnesota (7-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten)
Minneapolis, Minnesota – TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
Saturday 11:00 a.m. CT – ESPN2
Spread: Minnesota -2.5
PREGAME NOTES
Series History
Penn State and Minnesota have met 12 times, with the Nittany Lions holding an 8-4 advantage in the series. Penn State has won four straight games against the Gophers. Minnesota’s last win in the series came during the 2004 season when they topped PSU, 16-7. The winner on Saturday will claim the Governors’ Victory Bell, which has been awarded since the first meeting in 1993.
Last Meeting
The two teams last met in 2010, when Penn State visited Minneapolis and left with a 33-21 victory. PSU took a 21-7 lead into halftime and Minnesota never recovered. Adam Weber threw for 299 and three touchdowns—to Da’Jon McKnight—who finished with 103 yards on eight receptions. The game marked the first contest for the Golden Gophers following the firing of head coach Tim Brewster.
Season to Date
Coming off an impressive 8-4 season last year, expectations were high for this group of Nittany Lions in 2013. Penn State has certainly shown flashes this year on their way to a 5-3 record overall, but haven’t won back-to-back games since beating Syracuse and Eastern Michigan to begin the season. The Nittany Lions’ most impressive victory of the year came at Beaver Stadium where Penn State outlasted Michigan, winning 43-40 in the fourth overtime period. Gopher fans may be optimistic heading into the matchup as the Nittany Lions got crushed 44-24 against Indiana in Bloomington just one month ago.
Last Time Out
The Nittany Lions barely pulled out a victory against Illinois last week; winning 24-17 in overtime. Penn State was led by running back Bill Belton who ran for 201 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Although the Nittany Lions posted almost 500 yards of total offense, they struggled to pull away from an Illinois team that put up 411 yards of their own. Penn State had to battle back in the fourth quarter; hitting a field goal with 41 seconds remaining to force overtime. In the extra session, Christian Hackenberg found Kyle Carter for a 15-yard touchdown to take the ever-important 7-point lead. On the first offensive play for the Illini, Nathan Scheelhaase tossed an inception, sealing the game for the Nittany Lions.
Coaching Preview
Bill O’Brien is in his second year as the head coach at Penn State. In his first season at the helm, O’Brien led PSU to an 8-4 (6-2 Big Ten) record. He was named the 2012 Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year. He was also honored with the 2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year awards. Prior to his stop at Penn State, O’Brien spent 14 years coaching college football at Brown, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke before spending five years in the NFL with the New England Patriots.
“Coach O’Brien is a tremendous coach,” said Kill. “I mean, you think of everybody in the Big Ten; we’ve got a lot of great coaches but what that guy did last year is incredible. He’s been in the NFL, worked under [Bill] Belichick and he’s got a great offensive mind…He’s a good football coach.”
Offensive Balance
The Nittany Lions boast a balanced attack behind the strong play of true freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg. On the year, Penn State is putting up 164 rushing yards per game and 15 scores overall while their passing attack accounts for 272 yards per game and has totaled 14 touchdowns this season.
“They’re going to run the ball and throw it,” said Kill. “They’re going to keep you off-balance. They’ve got great talent at the skill positions; a great young quarterback so we’ll have our work cut out for us.
The Gophers defense will have to adjust from the extremely quick pace of the Hoosiers to the more balanced attack of the Nittany Lions.
“It’s hard to be a defensive coordinator in college football right now because you go from one week with no-huddle, snapping the ball every 17 seconds in a spread offense and now you go to a different style of offenses,” said Kill. “Defensive coordinators, they earn their living in college football.”
Matchup to Watch
Although the Gophers are last in the Big Ten with fewer than 150 passing yards per game, the Maroon and Gold have recently looked better through the air. Against Indiana, Philip Nelson lit up the Hoosiers, throwing for 298 yards and four scores on 16/23 passing. One impressive stat is that the Gophers haven’t thrown an interception in three straight conference games.
With the Gophers passing attack gaining confidence, the Nittany Lions will have their hands full stopping Nelson and the Minnesota aerial assault. Penn State ranks seventh in the conference, allowing 238 passing yards per game. If Minnesota can make the Nittany Lions respect the pass early on, the Gophers could be able to execute another impressive display of offensive balance.
“Philip Nelson is a much-improved thrower of the football,” said Penn State coach Bill O’Brien. “They run the football; they run the ball quite a bit and they do it well.”
Although the Gophers may have surprised the Hoosiers with an explosive passing attack, Penn State is aware of what Minnesota can do when they decide to throw the ball.
“They scored a bunch of points against Indiana and had their best passing game against them,” said O’Brien. “We’ve got to be ready for everything that they’re going to throw at us. I think our guys are up for it…Saturday will be the trust test, that’s for sure.”
Players to Watch
#1 Bill Belton – Belton has been on a tear recently. The talented back has run for 384 yards (128.0 ypg) over the last three games. A hefty portion of those yards came last week against Illinois, when Belton rattled off 201 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. For his effort, the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
“He’s healthy this year,” said Bill O’Brien. “He’s had a year in the system. He’s doing better off the field which I think helps his mindset on the field. He just more patient; a better running back, than he was at any point last year.”
#8 Allen Robinson – The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has been the go-to playmaker for Penn State this season. Robinson has posted double-digit catch efforts in three of four Big Ten games. Last game, he hauled in 11 receptions for 165 yards. The junior receiver leads the Big Ten in receptions (8.2 rpg) and receiving yards per game (130.4).
“I think Allen is a self-made guy,” said Bill O’Brien. “He came into the offseason after last season, and he worked extremely hard to improve his own skillset. He’s a faster player. He’s a stronger player and he really works hard on his own in the film room to learn our offense better so we’re able to move him around.”
Background
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Enrollment: 44,679
Conference: Big Ten
Mascot: Nittany Lions
Colors: Blue and White
Coach: Bill O’Brien (2nd Season)