Auburn Live Game Day: The basics ahead of No. 22 Penn State at Auburn
AUBURN – It’s game day.
No. 22 Penn State comes to town on September 17 for game No. 3 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers are looking to move to 3-0 on the season, but will have to notch arguably the biggest win in the Bryan Harsin era to make it happen.
It’s the first time a Big Ten opponent has played a game inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Fans are asked to wear orange. The 2022 SEC champion men’s basketball team will be recognized during the game also.
What to watch for
What will Robby Ashford’s game action look like? Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau hinted during Tiger Talk on Thursday that they needed to start “expanding the horizons” of Ashford. Could play-action be in the cards for Saturday? Maybe a short-passing game playing off Ashford’s ability to run?
Will Zach Calzada play? Sources told Auburn Live earlier this week that Calzada did take some first-team repetitions this week. There is a plan to play Calzada against Penn State, but will it happen? It may depend on T.J. Finley’s performance. If the Tigers’ starting quarterback plays well, there may not be room to bring Calzada into the game. If Finley struggles, especially early, Calzada could absolutely see playing time on Saturday.
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford completed 28 passes last season at home against Auburn in a 28-20 win. Will defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding dial up the pressure and attack Clifford unlike what the Tigers’ defense did last season in this game? And if they do, can Auburn force any turnovers? Schmedding’s group has forced zero turnovers through two games.
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Who wins the rushing battle? Penn State five-star freshman Noah Singleton went for 170-plus yards last weekend against Ohio, and sits at 210 rushing yards through two games. We know Auburn’s offense will run on the success of Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter. Bigsby brings 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns into the game, while Hunter brings 75 yards and four touchdowns into the game. The better rushing attack in this matchup could very well determine the winner.
Important links
NIL collective ‘On To Victory’ surpasses Year One goal in one-plus month
Three Big Storylines as Auburn welcomes Penn State
Pate’s Perspective: Maintaining unity, continuity and momentum Auburn’s chief aim
The 3-2-1: Three things learned, two questions, one prediction ahead of Penn State
Five Tigers who boosted their stock against San Jose State
The War Room: Iron Bowl-esque recruiting weekend on tap at Auburn
How Auburn’s defense should attack Penn State
How Auburn’s offense should attack Penn State
The line
Penn State is favored by 2.5 points.
How to watch
The game will be televised on CBS at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Play-by-play: Brad Nessler
Analyst: Gary Danielson
Sideline Reporter: Jenny Dell
Online: Paramount Plus
How to listen
Auburn Sports Network, AuburnTigers.com, SiriusXM 81
Live stats
AuburnTigers.com
Series Record
Penn State leads 2-1
The Nittany Lions were 28-20 winners at Beaver Stadium last season; both teams previous meetings came in bowl games. Penn State won the first matchup, a 43-14 victory in Tampa’s Outback Bowl after the 1995 season. Auburn was a 13-9 winner in Orlando’s Capital One Bowl following the 2002 season.
This will be Auburn’s fourth all-time regular season game against a Big Ten opponent. Auburn tied at Wisconsin, 7-7, in 1931. The Tigers also tied Ohio State, 0-0, in 1917, in a game played in Montgomery. Auburn played a home-and-home with Nebraska in 1981 and 1992, and faced Maryland in 1952, 1958, and 1983.
The Tigers are 12-11-2 all-time against current members of the Big Ten, including games against Indiana, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
