Tale of the Tape: Penn State offense vs. Nebraska defense

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Penn State will play its final game at Beaver Stadium during the 2025 season. It'll take on Nebraska, who's defense has flown under the radar, being overshadowed by the offense behind Dylan Raiola. Penn State's offense has taken significant jumps over the past couple of weeks.

Are the numbers still as different as it seems or does Penn State's offense match up well with the Cornhuskers defense?

All rankings and stats are from CFBStats.com.

Passing yards per game

Penn State offense: 178.9 ypg (114th in nation)
Nebraska defense: 134.6 ypg (3rd)

Nebraska's pass defense is one of the best in the nation. With a still-growing passing game under Ethan Grunkemeyer, the Nittany Lions could be in for a long day. DeShon Singleton leads the way with passes defended and interception, with four and two, respectively.

If Grunkemeyer wants success he'll likely have to avoid Singleton, who's proven himself as a top defensive back for the Cornhuskers. The quarterback's connection to Trebor Peña and Devonte Ross has grown, pushing the passing yards up, but still not to where the Nittany Lions were expecting.

Passing yards per attempt

Penn State offense: 6.6 ypa (96th)
Nebraska defense: 5.3 ypa (3rd)

Just like its yards per game allowed, Nebraska's yards per attempt are also the third best in the entire country. It'll face a team that has pushed the ball down the field in recent weeks, including a 75-yard touchdown to Ross.

If Grunkemeyer gets time in the pocket, he can show off his poise to find the right receiver who is open. The big plays are what'll continue the rise of the yards per attempt number, which is now up to 6.6 on the season. Grunkemeyer has proved that he can throw the ball deep, something that could be the difference maker in the game on Saturday.

Rushing yards per game

Penn State offense: 159.9 ypg (65th)
Nebraska defense: 161.1 ypg (91st)

Kaytron Allen continues to run wild, while Nick Singleton has found his stride. Against a rush defense that has struggled, the duo could be in for another big day. Despite being strong in the passing game, Nebraska's running defense falls off.

Grunkemeyer has also proven that he can utilize his legs, which could be a key factor with the running duo who could be a key beneficiary of the offensive gameplan.

Rushing yards per attempt

Penn State offense: 4.42 ypa (59th)
Nebraska defense: 4.7 ypa (110th)

Nebraska's defense struggles even more in the country with rushing yards per attempt. Against a running back who's found his game again on big runs, the Cornhuskers' unit could be in for a long night themselves.

Singleton has broken multiple big runs, but he's not the only one. Allen's 5.6 yards per attempt is the best on the team and has taken a rise, after taking a dip, in the last two games. The Nittany Lions' key to success is in the run game, something they've been strong in the past two games.

Points per game

Penn State offense: 30.4 ppg (52nd)
Nebraska defense: 19.9 ppg (25th)

Penn State's offensive numbers continue to go down in the scoring category. The offense has taken a jump the past two weeks, but against Big Ten defenses, the numbers aren't where they were in the non-conference slate.

Based on the two stats, Penn State will likely score around 24 points, setting up for an intriguing game. The number is around where the Nittany Lions have been over the past two games, something the rejuvenated unit has capitalized on.

Overall, the numbers set up well for Penn State in the running game, while Nebraska has the edge on the passing defense side of things. Will those numbers match what happens in the game? Only time will tell.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Tale of the Tape: Penn State offense vs. Nebraska defense

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos