Penn State Football enters the second half of the season with a perfect 6-0 record. With a road trip to Camp Randall in the way of the Nittany Lions facing the top five Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State must avoid a letdown off the bye week to stay undefeated.
Here are three key matchups Penn State must win in order to get to 7-0 and leave Camp Randall with a win.
Penn State Football vs. Wisconsin Key Matchups
1. Penn State Defensive Line vs. Wisconsin Offensive Line
Behind a veteran offensive line, Wisconsin ranks fifth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (194.0).
Wisconsin’s offensive line has also protected the quarterback well, allowing only seven total sacks on the season. On the other side, Penn State’s defense ranks tenth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (95.0). Penn State also ranks fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for a loss (41) this season but ranks only eleventh in sacks (14).
In order for Penn State to slow down Wisconsin’s offense, Penn State needs the Nittany Lions defensive line to hold up against a good Wisconsin offensive line and not allow the Badgers to take advantage of their ground game.
Wisconsin’s Tawee Walker ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns this season and could be a handful for Penn State’s linebackers if the defensive line is not able to hold up against Wisconsin’s offensive line and allows him to break into the second level.
2. Penn State Secondary vs. Braedyn Locke
Although Wisconsin’s offensive line does not give up many sacks, Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke has not had a sensational season throwing the ball.
Locke is completing only 59.3 percent of his passes this season and has five interceptions (all coming in the last four games) to only seven touchdowns. In Wisconsin’s two losses on the season, Locke is completing an average of 50 percent of his passes and under seven yards per completion.
Penn State’s secondary ranks fifteenth in the nation in passing yards per game allowed, allowing only 167.5 yards per game and just 5.88 yards per attempt. If Penn State can force Wisconsin into passing situations, the secondary could thrive at shutting down the Badgers offense and Locke.
3. Penn State Running Backs vs. Wisconsin Front 7
Wisconsin ranks 61 in the nation in run defense, allowing 139.9 yards per game and 4.37 yards per rush. Wisconsin’s secondary ranks 7th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game, so the Nittany Lions may need to rely on the ground game to open up the passing game for quarterback Drew Allar.
While the Nittany Lions struggled running the ball against USC and UCLA after Nick Singleton’s injury, Penn State still ranks 25 in the nation, rushing for 201.2 yards per game. Coming off of the bye week, it would be a great time for Penn State to re-find its running game against the Badgers.
Singleton (6.9) and Kaytron Allen (4.7) are both averaging over 4.5 yards per carry this season.
If Penn State can use the ground game to stay on schedule, it will help Allar and the offense move the ball down field and put up points against a good Badgers’ defense.
Penn State Football has a massive opportunity to once again prove they are worthy of their top three rank on the road against a Wisconsin team that has been playing well on a four-game win streak. If the Nittany Lions win these key matchups, the Nittany Lions should return home with an unblemished record to a top-five matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
All eyes will be on the Nittany Lions Saturday night to see whether they can escape Camp Randall with another huge win and move to 7-0.
MORE: Penn State’s Reasons for Optimism, and Reasons to Worry vs. Wisconsin
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