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Week 13 @ Penn State: Game Notes, Depth Chart, etc
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Week 13 @ Penn State: Game Notes, Depth Chart, etc
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Offensive lineman Rocco Spindler
***Rocco Spindler played against Penn State last year while at Notre Dame. He remembered PSU’s defense attacking the quarterback and being loaded with talented athletes.***Spindler said his broken finger “feels good and ready to go.” He took some time off over the bye to help with his recovery.
***Spindler said the offensive line takes a lot of pride in Johnson’s success, especially because of how humble Johnson is.
***On Lateef’s first start at UCLA, Spindler said he was “calm, cool, and collected… I’m proud of him. He did a hell of a job, and I expect great things from him the rest of the way.”
***Spindler said Nebraska’s receivers were “blocking their asses off… That’s something special. You can’t really coach that.”
***Spindler said Teddy Prochazka “just loves Nebraska football. That’s just who he is.” Prochazka staying involved with the program despite yet another season-ending injury spoke to his character and what he’s all about. Spindler said Prochazka had helped him significantly in settling into Nebraska’s culture.
Running back Emmett Johnson
***Johnson said Nebraska’s promotion of him was “amazing,” but his success “is not just me.” He gave all the credit to his coaches and teammates for putting him in this position.“It’s amazing, but it’s not just me that plays a part in that. It’s my teammates as well.”
***Johnson said he wasn’t worried about his workload and would do whatever was necessary to help Nebraska win. He continues to focus on his recovery and ensuring he’s in the best condition possible going into every game.
***Johnson said Lateef’s willingness to learn stood out as much as anything. “He comes in every day and wants to get better. That’s what makes him great.”
***Johnson admitted that staying humble and blocking out all of his recent attention was difficult. However, he knows what it means to the program and selling Nebraska as a place where players could succeed at the highest level.
“I remember when I wasn’t in the spotlight and being loved. It helps keep me motivated and hungry.”
Defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy
***Elijah Jeudy said Penn State’s running game was unique in that it had two great backs in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. They’ve been Nebraska’s focus on defense.***A native of Pennsylvania, Jeudy said returning to his home state would be special. He’ll have around 15 family and friends at the game. He said PSU recruited him out of high school and out of the portal, but he knows he’s in the right spot at Nebraska.
***Jeudy said he was proud of Davis and the work he’d put in to make the jump he has this season. He talked with Davis about his goals for this season, and it’s been fun to watch Davis achieve them.
Linebacker Dylan Rogers
***Rogers said he prepared all offseason for his opportunity, and that came against UCLA. When his time came, “I was ready for it.”***Rogers said Dasan McCullough helped him quite a bit to prepare for his first start. He said McCullough was “like my big bro.”
***Rogers said special teams provided him in-game experience early in the season, so when he got a chance on defense, “I already had that confidence.” He credited Ekeler for bringing “a lot of energy” that all of his players want to match.
----RW
Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Saturday, November 22 | 6:00 PM (CT)
WHERE: Beaver Stadium | State College, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC (Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Kathryn Tappen)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 7-3 (4-3 Big Ten)
Last Game: at UCLA (W 28-21)
Streak: Won 1
Rank: AP (NR) | Coaches (RV)
Coach: Matt Rhule (19-16, 3rd year NU | 66-59, 10th year overall | 1-2 vs. Penn State)
PENN STATE
Record: 4-6 (1-6 Big Ten)
Last Game: Michigan State (W 28-10)
Streak: Won 1
Rank: AP (NR) | Coaches (NR)
Coach: Terry Smith (interim) (1-3 | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
1 - Running back Emmett Johnson recorded 129 rushing yards and 103 receiving yards at UCLA two weeks ago. He is the first Husker to have 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards in the same game.
10 - Nebraska has held all 10 of its opponents this season to fewer than 400 yards of total offense. The Huskers are one of only seven schools in the country in that category. This is the longest streak to open a season for Nebraska since holding the first 11 opponents of the 2009 season under 400 yards.
14 - Johnson has 14 total touchdowns this season to rank sixth nationally. His 14 touchdowns are the most by a Husker since Ameer Abdullah in 2014, and he is three TDs from the top 10 on the NU single-season chart.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes its road schedule on Saturday, traveling to State College, Pa., for a matchup with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Game time at PSU's Beaver Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. local) with the game televised by NBC. The game can also be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska stands at 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten Conference play and comes into the game after a bye week. In their last game, the Huskers defeated UCLA, 28-21, at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 8. Nebraska used an efficient offensive performance, scoring on its first four drives to take control of the game, and win a seventh regular-season game for the first time since 2016.
The UCLA game was a showcase for a pair of Husker offensive players. Running back Emmett Johnson punctuated his All-America season by accounting for 232 yards from scrimmage, including more than 100 yards rushing and receiving. True freshman quarterback TJ Lateef shined in his first start, completing 13-of-15 passes, including three touchdowns.
Saturday's game at Penn State marks the first matchup between the schools since a 2020 Nebraska victory in Lincoln in a game played without fans during the COVID-shortened season. The Huskers' last visit to Happy Valley came in 2017, when the Nittany Lions posted a 12-point victory.
Penn State is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten play following a 28-10 victory at Michigan State last Saturday. That win came on the heels of extending second-ranked Indiana to the closing seconds before the Hoosiers prevailed by three points. The Nittany Lions are guided by interim coach Terry Smith who took charge of the program in mid-October. Penn State features a balanced offensive attack, and defensively PSU allows less than 320 yards of total offense, and ranks in the top 15 nationally in pass defense.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be the 19th all-time matchup between the Huskers and Nittany Lions. Nebraska holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series between the schools, including a 4-1 edge since joining the Big Ten Conference.
- This is the first meeting in five seasons, with the Huskers winning the last matchup 30-23 in Lincoln in 2020. Saturday's game will be the first meeting in State College since a 56-44 Penn State win in 2017.
- Penn State holds a 6-3 edge in the series in games played in Happy Valley. The Huskers won the first two meetings at Beaver Stadium after joining the Big Ten, picking up three-point wins in 2011 and 2013.
- Both teams were nationally ranked in five straight meetings between 1979 and 1983, with Penn State ranked in the top eight in all five games. Nebraska posted a 3-2 record in those games.
- Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule was a member of the Nittany Lion football team from 1994 to 1997. He was a linebacker who was a part of 41 victories in his four seasons, including a Big Ten title, three bowl victories and a top-20 final ranking all four seasons.
Nebraska vs. Penn State History
1920 - Penn State 20, Nebraska 0 (State College)
1949 - Penn State 22, Nebraska 7 (State College)
1950 - Nebraska 19, Penn State 0 (Lincoln)
1951 - Penn State 15, Nebraska 7 (Lincoln)
1952 - Penn State 10, Nebraska 0 (State College)
1958 - Nebraska 14, Penn State 7 (Lincoln)
1979 - Nebraska 42, Penn State 17 (Lincoln)
1980 - Nebraska 21, Penn State 7 (State College)
1981 - Penn State 30, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
1982 - Penn State 27, Nebraska 24 (State College)
1983 - Nebraska 44, Penn State 6 (East Rutherford, NJ)
2002 - Penn State 40, Nebraska 7 (State College)
2003 - Nebraska 18, Penn State 10 (Lincoln)
-------Big Ten-----------
2011 - Nebraska 17, Penn State 14 (State College)
2012 - Nebraska 32, Penn State 23 (Lincoln)
2013 - Nebraska 23, Penn State 20 (State College)
2017 - Penn State 56, Nebraska 44 (State College)
2020 - Nebraska 30, Penn State 23 (Lincoln)
Husker Program Filled With Pennsylvania Ties
Nebraska's football program is filled with Pennsylvania ties, including Head Coach Matt Rhule who played for the Nittany Lions.
• Five Nebraska players called the Keystone State home, including nose tackle Elijah Jeudy (Philadelphia), running back Mekhi Nelson (Wilkes-Barre), defensive back Kahmir Prescott (Philadelphia), linebacker Rahmir Stewart (Philadelphia) and linebacker Marques Watson-Trent (Pittsburgh).
• The Husker staff is also filled with a number of coaches who have played and coached in Pennsylvania, with several working with Rhule during his time as Temple's head coach from 2013 to 2016.
• Four members of Nebraska's full-time on-field coaching staff played in Pennsylvania including Rhule (Penn State) and linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek, outside linebackers coach Phil Simpson and assistant secondary coach Adam DiMichele (Temple). Eight members of the on-field coaching staff have worked in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Several other members of the Husker football support staff have played or worked at Pennsylvania schools, including Director of Football Player Development Gus Felder, who was a two-time All-Big Ten offensive lineman for the Nittany Lions in 2001 and 2002
ABOUT PENN STATE
Penn State has fielded a football team since 1887, and the Nittany Lions have totaled nearly 950 wins as a program. Penn State has claimed two national championships and four Big Ten titles.
The Nittany Lions have made 56 bowl game and college football playoff appearances, claiming 33 wins. Penn State's last appearance came last season when the Nittany Lions fell 27-24 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl after defeating Boise State 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl and Southern Methodist 38-10 in the opening round.
First Year: 1887
All-Time Record: 947-418-42
Bowl Record: 33-21-2
Big Ten Titles: 4
National Titles: 2 (1982, 1986)
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Capacity: 106,572
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Enrollment: 48,535
Colors: Blue and White
ABOUT 2025 PENN STATE FOOTBALL
Schedule/Results
Nevada (W 46-11)
Florida International (W 34-0)
Villanova (W 52-6)
Oregon (L 24-30) (2OT)
at UCLA (L 37-42)
Northwestern (L 21-22)
at Cockeye (L 24-25)
at Ohio State (L 14-38)
Indiana (L 24-27)
at Michigan State (W 28-10)
Nebraska
at Rutgers
Penn State is 4-6 on the season, picking up victories against Nevada, Florida International, Villanova and Michigan State.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 338.8 yards per game, with 178.9 yards per game through the air and 159.9 yards per game on the ground. Kaytron Allen leads the Penn State rushing attack with 163 carries for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by Nicholas Singleton with 419 yards and nine scores on 107 rushes.
In the passing game, Ethan Grunkemeyer has completed 72-of-111 passes for 689 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions after becoming the starter following Drew Allar's season-ending injury. Trebor Pena has a team-high 36 receptions for 369 yards and a score, followed by Devonte Ross with 360 yards and five touchdowns on 25 grabs.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions are allowing 21.1 points per game and 316.1 yards per game this season. Amare Campbell leads the PSU defense with 76 tackles and has posted eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the year. Dani Dennis-Sutton has totaled a team-high 8.5 sacks for loss and five sacks in 10 games.
ABOUT INTERIM HEAD COACH TERRY SMITH
Terry M. Smith is 1-3 at the helm of Penn State after being named interim head coach earlier this season.
Prior to being named interim head coach, he was the associate head coach and defensive recruiting coordinator working with the cornerbacks since 2021 after working in the same role as an assistant head coach from 2016-2020.
Smith joined the Penn State coaching staff in 2014, spending thre seasons as the Nittany Lions' defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2014-2016.
Smith began his collegiate coaching career as the receivers coach at Temple in 2013 after coaching in the high school ranks at a variety of stops since 1996.
Smith was a three-year starter at wide receiver at Penn State from 1987 to 1991, helping the Nittany Lions to three consecutive bowl games, including wins over BYU in the 1989 Holiday Bowl and Tennessee in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl.
This will be Smith's first all-time meeting against Nebraska on Saturday.
LAST MEETING: NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Nebraska 30, Penn State 23
Lincoln - In a tale of two very different halves, Nebraska's defense held on fourth down on back-to-back drives inside the Husker 11-yard line to secure a 30-23 win over Penn State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Nebraska's impressive defensive stands in the final four minutes came after Penn State threatened to erase a 27-6 halftime advantage for the Big Red, which won its 2020 home opener to improve to 1-2 on the year. The Huskers sent the Nittany Lions back to State College with an 0-4 record.
The Husker defense put up heroic efforts from start to finish, but none were bigger than a Luke Reimers sack of Penn State's Will Levis on 3rd-and-Goal at the NU 9 with 48 seconds left, as Nebraska held a tenuous 30-23 lead. The Reimers sack set up 4th-and-13, and senior defensive lineman Ben Stille put the exclamation point on the win with his hit on Levis to force a flailing, desperation toss that fell incomplete in the middle of the field.
The first back-to-the-wall stand by the defense came on Penn State's previous drive, which was set up by the biggest play from the Nittany Lion defense when Jaysen Owen hit Luke McCaffrey as he threw and the pass floated to the flat, where it was picked off by Brandon Smith at the Nebraska 48 with 7:39 left. Levis led the Lions to 1st-and-10 at the NU 11, but the Huskers forced four consecutive incompletions, culminating with a Marquel Dismuke breakup.
Dismuke was a dominant force, recording a career-high 15 tackles from his safety spot, including a tackle for loss to go along with his breakup. Will Honas added a big game of his own, notching 13 tackles and a hurry, while fellow linebacker JoJo Domann contributed 12 tackles including two for loss. Collin Miller gave the Huskers four players with double-figure tackles with 10 and a breakup.
Offensively, redshirt freshman McCaffrey picked up a victory in his first career start, completing 13-of-21 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 13 times for 67 yards and another score. Sophomore Wan'Dale Robinson added a season-high 16 carries out of the backfield for 60 yards, while adding five receptions for 11 yards. As a team, the Huskers managed 298 yards of total offense, including 146 rushing yards.
Nebraska's defense bent but didn't break for most of the game and added two big plays that turned into points as well. The Husker defense spent 91 plays on the field as the Nittany Lions racked up a 36:24-23:36 edge in time of possession, but surrendered just two touchdowns and three field goals.
Not only did the defense hold down the stretch, it contributed in a major way to Nebraska's 27-6 halftime lead.
Nebraska dominated the scoreboard from start to finish in the first half, despite Penn State holding a commanding 18:48-11:12 edge in time of possession. In his first career start, McCaffrey engineered a crisp, up-tempo 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with his one-yard touchdown plunge to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead just 3:35 into the game. On the drive, McCaffrey completed 4-of-5 passes for 45 yards and ran three times for 24 yards, including a nifty 12-yard run to convert on 3rd-and-11 as Nebraska approached the red zone.
On Penn State's ensuing drive, Husker defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt picked off an errant Clifford pass and sprinted 55 yards down the East sideline before being tackled. Taylor-Britt's fourth career interception and first this season set McCaffrey and the Nebraska offense up at the PSU 15. The Huskers gained 10 yards but were unable to punch the drive into the end zone, settling for Connor Culp's 22-yard field goal to put Nebraska up 10-0 with 6:14 left in the opening quarter.
Taylor-Britt finished the game with four tackles and a breakup, while also providing blanket coverage on Penn State star receiver Jahan Dotson, who had just two catches for 27 yards. Taylor-Britt added a key 25-yard punt return that set up Nebraska's final score of the first half. He also returning a missed Penn State 57-yard field goal 34 yards early in the second half.
Penn State starting quarterback Sean Clifford consumed a ton of clock on a 14-play, 66-yard drive to close the first quarter and trickle into the second period, but the Husker defense held on third down to force a 33-yard field goal by Jake Pinegar to put Penn State on the board with 14:50 left in the half.
The Husker offense then took over and wasted little time in extending the lead on a three-play, 65-yard drive that took just 49 seconds, capped by Zavier Betts' 45-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The play was actually a one-yard forward pitch by McCaffrey that Betts took untouched into the end zone for his first career score to put the Big Red up 17-3.
The Nebraska defense took matters into its own hands on the next drive, as Deontai Williams sacked Clifford and forced a fumble, which he scooped up and raced 26 yards untouched into the end zone to give the Huskers a 24-3 edge with 11:29 left in the half.
Clifford gave way to Levis on the next drive, and the Nittany Lions clawed and pounded their way 52 yards in 13 plays. Penn State actually marched inside the Husker 10, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a PSU offensive lineman after a failed third-down conversion pushed the Nittany Lions back. Pinegar was still able to connect on a 40-yard field goal to trim Nebraska's margin to 24-6.
The Huskers were forced to punt for the first time on the ensuing drive after crossing midfield, but the defense quickly forced Penn State's first punt as well. McCaffrey and the Huskers then converted the two-minute drill into points with an 11-play, 35-yard drive that consumed the final 1:39 of the half and resulted in Culp's 25-yard field goal to send Nebraska to halftime with a 27-6 lead.
The two teams exchanged unsuccessful second-half opening drives before Penn State cut the Husker lead to 27-13 on Keyvone Lee's 31-yard touchdown run with 7:51 left. Pinegar's 27-yard field goal 6:50 later sent the game to the fourth quarter with Nebraska leading 27-16.
The Huskers put together their only successful drive of the second half to open the fourth quarter, as McCaffrey led a 10-play, 63-yard march that used up 5:27 of the clock and resulted in Culp's third field goal of the game, a 30-yarder, to put Nebraska back in front by two touchdowns, 30-16 with 10:34 left.
But Penn State connected on its biggest play of the game just two plays later, as Levis hit tight end Pat Freiermuth on a 74-yard pass. The play by Freiermuth, who finished with game highs of seven receptions and 113 yards, set up Devyn Ford's five-yard touchdown run to cut the Big Red lead to 30-23 with 9:20 left.
Penn State finished with 501 total yards, including 310 yards on 50 plays in the second half alone. Nebraska managed just 95 yards on 24 plays after halftime, as Penn State outscored the Huskers 17-3 in the final 30 minutes.
Levis finished the game with 219 passing yards while going just 14-of-31 through the air. Clifford completed 5-of-8 passes for 37 yards before being relieved by Levis. Ford led the PSU ground game with 66 yards on 16 carries, including a score, while Levis added 61 yards on 18 carries. Caziah Holmes added 50 yards on four carries, while Lee contributed 49 yards and a touchdown on eight touches.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (7-3, 4-3) | at | PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (4-6, 1-6) |
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WHEN: Saturday, November 22 | 6:00 PM (CT)
WHERE: Beaver Stadium | State College, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC (Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Kathryn Tappen)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Kyle Crooks, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 7-3 (4-3 Big Ten)
Last Game: at UCLA (W 28-21)
Streak: Won 1
Rank: AP (NR) | Coaches (RV)
Coach: Matt Rhule (19-16, 3rd year NU | 66-59, 10th year overall | 1-2 vs. Penn State)
PENN STATE
Record: 4-6 (1-6 Big Ten)
Last Game: Michigan State (W 28-10)
Streak: Won 1
Rank: AP (NR) | Coaches (NR)
Coach: Terry Smith (interim) (1-3 | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
1 - Running back Emmett Johnson recorded 129 rushing yards and 103 receiving yards at UCLA two weeks ago. He is the first Husker to have 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards in the same game.
10 - Nebraska has held all 10 of its opponents this season to fewer than 400 yards of total offense. The Huskers are one of only seven schools in the country in that category. This is the longest streak to open a season for Nebraska since holding the first 11 opponents of the 2009 season under 400 yards.
14 - Johnson has 14 total touchdowns this season to rank sixth nationally. His 14 touchdowns are the most by a Husker since Ameer Abdullah in 2014, and he is three TDs from the top 10 on the NU single-season chart.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes its road schedule on Saturday, traveling to State College, Pa., for a matchup with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Game time at PSU's Beaver Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. local) with the game televised by NBC. The game can also be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska stands at 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten Conference play and comes into the game after a bye week. In their last game, the Huskers defeated UCLA, 28-21, at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 8. Nebraska used an efficient offensive performance, scoring on its first four drives to take control of the game, and win a seventh regular-season game for the first time since 2016.
The UCLA game was a showcase for a pair of Husker offensive players. Running back Emmett Johnson punctuated his All-America season by accounting for 232 yards from scrimmage, including more than 100 yards rushing and receiving. True freshman quarterback TJ Lateef shined in his first start, completing 13-of-15 passes, including three touchdowns.
Saturday's game at Penn State marks the first matchup between the schools since a 2020 Nebraska victory in Lincoln in a game played without fans during the COVID-shortened season. The Huskers' last visit to Happy Valley came in 2017, when the Nittany Lions posted a 12-point victory.
Penn State is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten play following a 28-10 victory at Michigan State last Saturday. That win came on the heels of extending second-ranked Indiana to the closing seconds before the Hoosiers prevailed by three points. The Nittany Lions are guided by interim coach Terry Smith who took charge of the program in mid-October. Penn State features a balanced offensive attack, and defensively PSU allows less than 320 yards of total offense, and ranks in the top 15 nationally in pass defense.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting will be the 19th all-time matchup between the Huskers and Nittany Lions. Nebraska holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series between the schools, including a 4-1 edge since joining the Big Ten Conference.
- This is the first meeting in five seasons, with the Huskers winning the last matchup 30-23 in Lincoln in 2020. Saturday's game will be the first meeting in State College since a 56-44 Penn State win in 2017.
- Penn State holds a 6-3 edge in the series in games played in Happy Valley. The Huskers won the first two meetings at Beaver Stadium after joining the Big Ten, picking up three-point wins in 2011 and 2013.
- Both teams were nationally ranked in five straight meetings between 1979 and 1983, with Penn State ranked in the top eight in all five games. Nebraska posted a 3-2 record in those games.
- Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule was a member of the Nittany Lion football team from 1994 to 1997. He was a linebacker who was a part of 41 victories in his four seasons, including a Big Ten title, three bowl victories and a top-20 final ranking all four seasons.
Nebraska vs. Penn State History
1920 - Penn State 20, Nebraska 0 (State College)
1949 - Penn State 22, Nebraska 7 (State College)
1950 - Nebraska 19, Penn State 0 (Lincoln)
1951 - Penn State 15, Nebraska 7 (Lincoln)
1952 - Penn State 10, Nebraska 0 (State College)
1958 - Nebraska 14, Penn State 7 (Lincoln)
1979 - Nebraska 42, Penn State 17 (Lincoln)
1980 - Nebraska 21, Penn State 7 (State College)
1981 - Penn State 30, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
1982 - Penn State 27, Nebraska 24 (State College)
1983 - Nebraska 44, Penn State 6 (East Rutherford, NJ)
2002 - Penn State 40, Nebraska 7 (State College)
2003 - Nebraska 18, Penn State 10 (Lincoln)
-------Big Ten-----------
2011 - Nebraska 17, Penn State 14 (State College)
2012 - Nebraska 32, Penn State 23 (Lincoln)
2013 - Nebraska 23, Penn State 20 (State College)
2017 - Penn State 56, Nebraska 44 (State College)
2020 - Nebraska 30, Penn State 23 (Lincoln)
Husker Program Filled With Pennsylvania Ties
Nebraska's football program is filled with Pennsylvania ties, including Head Coach Matt Rhule who played for the Nittany Lions.
• Five Nebraska players called the Keystone State home, including nose tackle Elijah Jeudy (Philadelphia), running back Mekhi Nelson (Wilkes-Barre), defensive back Kahmir Prescott (Philadelphia), linebacker Rahmir Stewart (Philadelphia) and linebacker Marques Watson-Trent (Pittsburgh).
• The Husker staff is also filled with a number of coaches who have played and coached in Pennsylvania, with several working with Rhule during his time as Temple's head coach from 2013 to 2016.
• Four members of Nebraska's full-time on-field coaching staff played in Pennsylvania including Rhule (Penn State) and linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek, outside linebackers coach Phil Simpson and assistant secondary coach Adam DiMichele (Temple). Eight members of the on-field coaching staff have worked in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Several other members of the Husker football support staff have played or worked at Pennsylvania schools, including Director of Football Player Development Gus Felder, who was a two-time All-Big Ten offensive lineman for the Nittany Lions in 2001 and 2002
ABOUT PENN STATE
Penn State has fielded a football team since 1887, and the Nittany Lions have totaled nearly 950 wins as a program. Penn State has claimed two national championships and four Big Ten titles.
The Nittany Lions have made 56 bowl game and college football playoff appearances, claiming 33 wins. Penn State's last appearance came last season when the Nittany Lions fell 27-24 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl after defeating Boise State 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl and Southern Methodist 38-10 in the opening round.
First Year: 1887
All-Time Record: 947-418-42
Bowl Record: 33-21-2
Big Ten Titles: 4
National Titles: 2 (1982, 1986)
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Capacity: 106,572
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Enrollment: 48,535
Colors: Blue and White
ABOUT 2025 PENN STATE FOOTBALL
Schedule/Results
Nevada (W 46-11)
Florida International (W 34-0)
Villanova (W 52-6)
Oregon (L 24-30) (2OT)
at UCLA (L 37-42)
Northwestern (L 21-22)
at Cockeye (L 24-25)
at Ohio State (L 14-38)
Indiana (L 24-27)
at Michigan State (W 28-10)
Nebraska
at Rutgers
Penn State is 4-6 on the season, picking up victories against Nevada, Florida International, Villanova and Michigan State.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 338.8 yards per game, with 178.9 yards per game through the air and 159.9 yards per game on the ground. Kaytron Allen leads the Penn State rushing attack with 163 carries for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by Nicholas Singleton with 419 yards and nine scores on 107 rushes.
In the passing game, Ethan Grunkemeyer has completed 72-of-111 passes for 689 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions after becoming the starter following Drew Allar's season-ending injury. Trebor Pena has a team-high 36 receptions for 369 yards and a score, followed by Devonte Ross with 360 yards and five touchdowns on 25 grabs.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions are allowing 21.1 points per game and 316.1 yards per game this season. Amare Campbell leads the PSU defense with 76 tackles and has posted eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the year. Dani Dennis-Sutton has totaled a team-high 8.5 sacks for loss and five sacks in 10 games.
ABOUT INTERIM HEAD COACH TERRY SMITH
Terry M. Smith is 1-3 at the helm of Penn State after being named interim head coach earlier this season.
Prior to being named interim head coach, he was the associate head coach and defensive recruiting coordinator working with the cornerbacks since 2021 after working in the same role as an assistant head coach from 2016-2020.
Smith joined the Penn State coaching staff in 2014, spending thre seasons as the Nittany Lions' defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2014-2016.
Smith began his collegiate coaching career as the receivers coach at Temple in 2013 after coaching in the high school ranks at a variety of stops since 1996.
Smith was a three-year starter at wide receiver at Penn State from 1987 to 1991, helping the Nittany Lions to three consecutive bowl games, including wins over BYU in the 1989 Holiday Bowl and Tennessee in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl.
This will be Smith's first all-time meeting against Nebraska on Saturday.
LAST MEETING: NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Nebraska 30, Penn State 23
Lincoln - In a tale of two very different halves, Nebraska's defense held on fourth down on back-to-back drives inside the Husker 11-yard line to secure a 30-23 win over Penn State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Nebraska's impressive defensive stands in the final four minutes came after Penn State threatened to erase a 27-6 halftime advantage for the Big Red, which won its 2020 home opener to improve to 1-2 on the year. The Huskers sent the Nittany Lions back to State College with an 0-4 record.
The Husker defense put up heroic efforts from start to finish, but none were bigger than a Luke Reimers sack of Penn State's Will Levis on 3rd-and-Goal at the NU 9 with 48 seconds left, as Nebraska held a tenuous 30-23 lead. The Reimers sack set up 4th-and-13, and senior defensive lineman Ben Stille put the exclamation point on the win with his hit on Levis to force a flailing, desperation toss that fell incomplete in the middle of the field.
The first back-to-the-wall stand by the defense came on Penn State's previous drive, which was set up by the biggest play from the Nittany Lion defense when Jaysen Owen hit Luke McCaffrey as he threw and the pass floated to the flat, where it was picked off by Brandon Smith at the Nebraska 48 with 7:39 left. Levis led the Lions to 1st-and-10 at the NU 11, but the Huskers forced four consecutive incompletions, culminating with a Marquel Dismuke breakup.
Dismuke was a dominant force, recording a career-high 15 tackles from his safety spot, including a tackle for loss to go along with his breakup. Will Honas added a big game of his own, notching 13 tackles and a hurry, while fellow linebacker JoJo Domann contributed 12 tackles including two for loss. Collin Miller gave the Huskers four players with double-figure tackles with 10 and a breakup.
Offensively, redshirt freshman McCaffrey picked up a victory in his first career start, completing 13-of-21 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 13 times for 67 yards and another score. Sophomore Wan'Dale Robinson added a season-high 16 carries out of the backfield for 60 yards, while adding five receptions for 11 yards. As a team, the Huskers managed 298 yards of total offense, including 146 rushing yards.
Nebraska's defense bent but didn't break for most of the game and added two big plays that turned into points as well. The Husker defense spent 91 plays on the field as the Nittany Lions racked up a 36:24-23:36 edge in time of possession, but surrendered just two touchdowns and three field goals.
Not only did the defense hold down the stretch, it contributed in a major way to Nebraska's 27-6 halftime lead.
Nebraska dominated the scoreboard from start to finish in the first half, despite Penn State holding a commanding 18:48-11:12 edge in time of possession. In his first career start, McCaffrey engineered a crisp, up-tempo 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with his one-yard touchdown plunge to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead just 3:35 into the game. On the drive, McCaffrey completed 4-of-5 passes for 45 yards and ran three times for 24 yards, including a nifty 12-yard run to convert on 3rd-and-11 as Nebraska approached the red zone.
On Penn State's ensuing drive, Husker defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt picked off an errant Clifford pass and sprinted 55 yards down the East sideline before being tackled. Taylor-Britt's fourth career interception and first this season set McCaffrey and the Nebraska offense up at the PSU 15. The Huskers gained 10 yards but were unable to punch the drive into the end zone, settling for Connor Culp's 22-yard field goal to put Nebraska up 10-0 with 6:14 left in the opening quarter.
Taylor-Britt finished the game with four tackles and a breakup, while also providing blanket coverage on Penn State star receiver Jahan Dotson, who had just two catches for 27 yards. Taylor-Britt added a key 25-yard punt return that set up Nebraska's final score of the first half. He also returning a missed Penn State 57-yard field goal 34 yards early in the second half.
Penn State starting quarterback Sean Clifford consumed a ton of clock on a 14-play, 66-yard drive to close the first quarter and trickle into the second period, but the Husker defense held on third down to force a 33-yard field goal by Jake Pinegar to put Penn State on the board with 14:50 left in the half.
The Husker offense then took over and wasted little time in extending the lead on a three-play, 65-yard drive that took just 49 seconds, capped by Zavier Betts' 45-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The play was actually a one-yard forward pitch by McCaffrey that Betts took untouched into the end zone for his first career score to put the Big Red up 17-3.
The Nebraska defense took matters into its own hands on the next drive, as Deontai Williams sacked Clifford and forced a fumble, which he scooped up and raced 26 yards untouched into the end zone to give the Huskers a 24-3 edge with 11:29 left in the half.
Clifford gave way to Levis on the next drive, and the Nittany Lions clawed and pounded their way 52 yards in 13 plays. Penn State actually marched inside the Husker 10, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a PSU offensive lineman after a failed third-down conversion pushed the Nittany Lions back. Pinegar was still able to connect on a 40-yard field goal to trim Nebraska's margin to 24-6.
The Huskers were forced to punt for the first time on the ensuing drive after crossing midfield, but the defense quickly forced Penn State's first punt as well. McCaffrey and the Huskers then converted the two-minute drill into points with an 11-play, 35-yard drive that consumed the final 1:39 of the half and resulted in Culp's 25-yard field goal to send Nebraska to halftime with a 27-6 lead.
The two teams exchanged unsuccessful second-half opening drives before Penn State cut the Husker lead to 27-13 on Keyvone Lee's 31-yard touchdown run with 7:51 left. Pinegar's 27-yard field goal 6:50 later sent the game to the fourth quarter with Nebraska leading 27-16.
The Huskers put together their only successful drive of the second half to open the fourth quarter, as McCaffrey led a 10-play, 63-yard march that used up 5:27 of the clock and resulted in Culp's third field goal of the game, a 30-yarder, to put Nebraska back in front by two touchdowns, 30-16 with 10:34 left.
But Penn State connected on its biggest play of the game just two plays later, as Levis hit tight end Pat Freiermuth on a 74-yard pass. The play by Freiermuth, who finished with game highs of seven receptions and 113 yards, set up Devyn Ford's five-yard touchdown run to cut the Big Red lead to 30-23 with 9:20 left.
Penn State finished with 501 total yards, including 310 yards on 50 plays in the second half alone. Nebraska managed just 95 yards on 24 plays after halftime, as Penn State outscored the Huskers 17-3 in the final 30 minutes.
Levis finished the game with 219 passing yards while going just 14-of-31 through the air. Clifford completed 5-of-8 passes for 37 yards before being relieved by Levis. Ford led the PSU ground game with 66 yards on 16 carries, including a score, while Levis added 61 yards on 18 carries. Caziah Holmes added 50 yards on four carries, while Lee contributed 49 yards and a touchdown on eight touches.
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Todd Blackledge on the call for a Penn State TV broadcast. Might be time to listen to our new radio PBP announcer. I was saving that for another Brando game, but here we are.
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Who is starting the Go Fund Me to get Queen Beth on the call?
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Beth’s voice makes you hard don’t lie
