Five things to know as Penn State preps for Senior Day
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When Penn State’s seniors play at Beaver Stadium for the final time to close out a disappointing season that started with huge expectations, a lot will still be on the line.
Penn State hosts Nebraska on primetime Saturday night, still needing two wins to reach bowl eligibility. As remarkable as that would have sounded two months ago, that would be an accomplishment following a six-game slide.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.; the game will be broadcast on NBC. Penn State is a 91/2 point favorite.
1. Senior Day
Penn State will recognize more than 30 players for a Senior Day celebration at Beaver Stadium, a class that did not reached expected heights this year, but led the program to a Big Ten title game and its first College Football Playoff appearance.
Among the seniors to be honored are part of one of the nation’s top classes in 2022 include: Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, offensive lineman Drew Shelton, along with redshirt seniors Dom DeLuca, Liam Clifford, Zakee Wheatley, Khalil Dinkins, Tyler Duzansky, Nick Dawkins and Nolan Rucci.
2. Chasing history
In what will be his final game at Beaver Stadium, Allen could become the program’s all-time leading rusher.
After plowing through Michigan state for a career-high 181 yards a week ago, Allen now has 3,794 career rushing yards. He trails only Saquon Barkley (3,843) and Evan Royster (3,932) for the Penn State career rushing record.
Allen, the Big Ten’s co-offensive player of the week last week, has 917 yards rushing this season and is on pace for his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.
3. Rounding into form
While Penn State’s defense struggled to get key stops at key moments during a six-game skid, the Nittany Lions seem to be finding their way under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
In last week’s win, Penn State allowed just 229 total yards and 57 of those came on the first play.
The Nittany Lions rank 22nd in the nation in total defense, allowing 316.1 yards a game.
4. Backup quarterbacks
Both Penn State and Nebraska will have reserve quarterbacks under center.
Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will make his fifth start in place of Drew Allar. Grunkemeyer earned his first win at Michigan State last week following losses to top defenses Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana in his first three starts.
Grunkemeyer has thrown for 689 yards and four scores, hitting 65% of his passes.
Nebraska will counter with true freshman TJ Lateef, who was terrific in his first career start at UCLA two weeks ago. He hit 13-of-15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns.
Lateef will be making his first career road start.
5. Homecoming
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule returns home for the second time as a visiting head coach.
Ruhle, who was rumored to be a potential candidate to replace James Franklin before signing a contract extension last month, was a member of the Nittany Lions football team from 1994 to 1997.
A linebacker who was a part of 41 victories in his four seasons, including a Big Ten title, Ruhle is also a State College High graduate.
He coached at Beaver Stadium as both an assistant and head coach at Temple, last as head coach in 2016.
The game features two head coaches who are Penn State grads. Penn State interim coach Terry Smith graduated from Penn State in 1991.
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