When Penn State got flattened by Michigan 49-10 earlier this year, it left the Nittany Lions at 2-2 and with real doubts about James Franklin's long-term future with the program. It was impossible to envision then, but they're now 7-2 and ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings. They travel to Indiana on Saturday with a chance to lock up their sixth straight win.
Penn State vs. Indiana 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The Nittany Lions take their high-flying offense on the road to take on Indiana.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The Nittany Lions are getting it done on both sides of the ball. The defense is stingy as ever, and the offense is one of the most explosive in the country. There are still problems, of course — they’re one of the worst teams in the country on third downs, and they are not as efficient as you’d want them to be offensively. But the sheer level of explosiveness helps make up for those shortcomings.
Indiana is once again one of the more difficult teams to predict. The Hoosiers won two games in a row now following a three-game losing streak, but they were able to keep it close in losses to teams like Nebraska and Northwestern. They need only one win in their final three games to become bowl eligible for the second straight year. It probably won’t come this week, but this is significant progress for a program with Indiana’s history.
How to watch, stream, and listen
TV: Noon ET, ABC/ESPN2
Radio: Penn State | Indiana
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Penn State is a 7-point favorite.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Black Shoe Diaries for Penn State fans and Crimson Quarry for Indiana fans.
Three big things to know
1. Indiana’s traditional formula of explosive offense and subpar defense went out the window this year, and it has replaced it with a capable defense but a middling offense. Considering Penn State’s ability to score points, this would seem like a bad matchup for the Indiana offense.
2. Saquon Barkley has rushed for at least 167 yards in three of the past four games for Penn State, and has gone over 1,000 yards for the season already. Barkley is the focal point of the Penn State offense, but it can also go deep if the defense overcommits to stopping the run.
3. Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow has been prone to turnovers, which is bad news when you're facing a Penn State defense ranked 15th in Defensive S&P+. Indiana can't afford to give Penn State extra possessions.
See More:
