Saturday, October 10
University Park, Pa.
Noon
Indiana University
at
Penn State
IU Heads East Refocused On Winning Fifth Game
10/6/2015 3:38:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana and Penn State collide as two teams hard to predict.
The Hoosiers (4-1, 0-1) five games have been decided by an average of 6.4 points.
After a 27-10 loss to Temple to start the season, the Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-0) have rattled off four consecutive wins at home for the first time since 2008. Penn State's defense, comparable to Ohio State's in track record, is allowing just 284 yards per game. But offensively, head coach James Franklin said last week his team hasn't discovered an offensive identity yet.
By Saturday's end, one of the two programs will have earned a fifth win.
"Penn State will be a challenge, and we've played those guys tough," senior defensive end Nick Mangieri said. "We're treating this week the same as last week (against No. 1 Ohio State). We've just got to regroup this week and focus on getting the result."
A refocused effort will be necessary this week, head coach Kevin Wilson said. He's repeatedly told his players to treat each game the same, regardless of the competition. For Wilson, the fact Penn State doesn't have a ranking in front of its name doesn't make the Nittany Lions any less important than Ohio State.
Wilson's Hoosiers will be tested to handle failure for the first time this season. He'll expect them to do so the same way they did the success of a 4-0 start.
"Next one, next day, and we've got to move on," Wilson said. "We've shown as a program we can be good. We've shown we don't consistently move on."
Moving on means competing with a Penn State team at Beaver Stadium that's split its last two games against Indiana.
The Nittany Lions' defense is among the best Indiana will play, Wilson said. But its offense—potentially due to some foul weather in games this season—has been up and down while dealing with injuries.
In nine Big Ten games under Franklin, Penn State has scored more than two offensive touchdowns in a single game just once. That occurred Sept. 19 when the Nittany Lions defeated Rutgers, 28-3. Currently, Penn State ranks No. 116 in total offense.
"It's not about statistics, it's about long-term development," Franklin said when asked why he's optimistic about his offense. "The work that we're doing every single day with our guys and our approach and finding ways to get wins, which ultimately is what it's all about."
Penn State's strength lies in its defensive line, which has helped the Nittany Lions to 21 sacks already this season, ranking No. 2 in the country. Senior defensive end Carl Nassib has been at the forefront of the pass rush, accumulating eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Meanwhile, Indiana has allowed only three sacks all season.
"They've got a good front, a good core," redshirt junior right guard Dan Feeney said. "I think it's going to be a real fun game because we haven't given up a lot of sacks, and they've gotten a lot of sacks. It's going to be a nice street fight."
Nearing the midway mark in the season, Indiana has hit a critical stage in its schedule, Wilson said. The Hoosiers have laid a foundation for success, but they can't complete a winning season without finishing out Big Ten games like this weekend's.
On Monday, Wilson shared a text from a former player who said, "All that stuff you said is coming true." Indiana is controlling turnover ratio, focusing on the play ahead and winning because of it, the player said.
The Hoosiers' challenge is keeping it up through the conference season.
"Right now is when you start accomplishing and showing, have you grown? Right now is when you can separate," Wilson said. "These guys are confident enough, go play hard and flush it. Whether it's good or bad, flush it down the drain and play the next one. Keep going and add up and see if you can have enough good ones to get the result you want."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana and Penn State collide as two teams hard to predict.
The Hoosiers (4-1, 0-1) five games have been decided by an average of 6.4 points.
After a 27-10 loss to Temple to start the season, the Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-0) have rattled off four consecutive wins at home for the first time since 2008. Penn State's defense, comparable to Ohio State's in track record, is allowing just 284 yards per game. But offensively, head coach James Franklin said last week his team hasn't discovered an offensive identity yet.
By Saturday's end, one of the two programs will have earned a fifth win.
"Penn State will be a challenge, and we've played those guys tough," senior defensive end Nick Mangieri said. "We're treating this week the same as last week (against No. 1 Ohio State). We've just got to regroup this week and focus on getting the result."
A refocused effort will be necessary this week, head coach Kevin Wilson said. He's repeatedly told his players to treat each game the same, regardless of the competition. For Wilson, the fact Penn State doesn't have a ranking in front of its name doesn't make the Nittany Lions any less important than Ohio State.
Wilson's Hoosiers will be tested to handle failure for the first time this season. He'll expect them to do so the same way they did the success of a 4-0 start.
"Next one, next day, and we've got to move on," Wilson said. "We've shown as a program we can be good. We've shown we don't consistently move on."
Moving on means competing with a Penn State team at Beaver Stadium that's split its last two games against Indiana.
The Nittany Lions' defense is among the best Indiana will play, Wilson said. But its offense—potentially due to some foul weather in games this season—has been up and down while dealing with injuries.
In nine Big Ten games under Franklin, Penn State has scored more than two offensive touchdowns in a single game just once. That occurred Sept. 19 when the Nittany Lions defeated Rutgers, 28-3. Currently, Penn State ranks No. 116 in total offense.
"It's not about statistics, it's about long-term development," Franklin said when asked why he's optimistic about his offense. "The work that we're doing every single day with our guys and our approach and finding ways to get wins, which ultimately is what it's all about."
Penn State's strength lies in its defensive line, which has helped the Nittany Lions to 21 sacks already this season, ranking No. 2 in the country. Senior defensive end Carl Nassib has been at the forefront of the pass rush, accumulating eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Meanwhile, Indiana has allowed only three sacks all season.
"They've got a good front, a good core," redshirt junior right guard Dan Feeney said. "I think it's going to be a real fun game because we haven't given up a lot of sacks, and they've gotten a lot of sacks. It's going to be a nice street fight."
Nearing the midway mark in the season, Indiana has hit a critical stage in its schedule, Wilson said. The Hoosiers have laid a foundation for success, but they can't complete a winning season without finishing out Big Ten games like this weekend's.
On Monday, Wilson shared a text from a former player who said, "All that stuff you said is coming true." Indiana is controlling turnover ratio, focusing on the play ahead and winning because of it, the player said.
The Hoosiers' challenge is keeping it up through the conference season.
"Right now is when you start accomplishing and showing, have you grown? Right now is when you can separate," Wilson said. "These guys are confident enough, go play hard and flush it. Whether it's good or bad, flush it down the drain and play the next one. Keep going and add up and see if you can have enough good ones to get the result you want."
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DE
/ FootballFB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 4 (Illinois)
Thursday, September 18
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Mikail Kamara Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Kellan Wyatt Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16