Penn State-Kent State Matchups: How big an edge will the Lions have?

By Greg Pickel

One of the most lopsided games in recent Penn State football history is expected to take place Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kent State comes to town as nearly a 50-point underdog for the 3:30 p.m. ET matchup in State College. It may end up being the largest point spread in the 100-plus-year history of the Nittany Lions program. And, while some will point to the close Bowling Green win two weeks ago and say that anything is possible, that simply isn’t the case here. Will the Golden Flashes lose 71-0 at Penn State as they did a week ago at Tennessee? Maybe not. But, something similar will likely happen in this non-conference clash.

“When you schedule these opponents, typically five and seven years out, you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Lions coach James Franklin said Monday. “You schedule a MAC team, and some of the teams that you just mentioned have caused people fits, and then you can get to a year where someone is struggling. So that’s unpredictable and challenging.

“I think for us it’s ultimately about — and this is the challenge I think in college football. You hear people talk about it all the time, but the challenge is really it’s ultimately about us and our focus on Penn State and us getting better and developing and playing up to our standard week in and week out, which is easier said than done.”

Here’s how things will break down on each side of the ball Saturday.

When Penn State is on offense

Kent State has the worst total defense in the country. It’s early in the season, of course, and last Saturday’s blowout loss to the Volunteers is a big reason why it ranks last nationally in yards per game allowed (570.7) while its 7.48 yards per play allowed ranks 130th out of 134 FBS teams. Penn State will need to be mindful of pass rusher Kameron Olds, who has three sacks already this year, but otherwise, there is little to worry about when it comes to the Golden Flashes’ defense. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s attack should be able to do just about anything they want to both when the starters are in and also once they give way to the backups.

Franklin made clear to anyone listening what he wants to see Saturday from his offense. The first is fewer presnap penalties, which applies to the defense, too. The second is more plays. Penn State does not want to trade in its quick, explosive drives for less points, of course. But, it also wants to be on the field more, and to do so, it must fix its third down conversion percentage. The Lions are 7 for 20 in that department so far, which ranks 95th nationally. Kent State is allowing a 50 percent conversion rate so far, which ranks 125th out of 134 FBS teams. If the Lions have trouble moving the chains in this game, it will be a very poor indicator of what lies ahead the rest of the year.

EDGE: Penn State

When the Nittany Lions are on defense

Kent State also has the worst statistical offense in the country. The Golden Flashes are averaging just 201.3 yards per game, and their 3.37 yards per play figures is the third worst in the country. And, only six teams are scoring less than their 13.7 points per game. There is a slight positive in that the team has only surrendered six sacks to date. That puts the Penn State pass rush in focus. It has not been as good to start the season as it has been in past years. Will that change Saturday, or will Kent State be the latest team to game plan in a way that neutralizes the Lions’ defensive line? We will see, but there’s a good chance of it. So, if Penn State cannot control that, we’ll put what it can control in the spotlight.

After the Bowling Green game, communication and tackling issues have been talked about a lot. Both are things Tom Allen’s unit can correct no matter who it is playing. So, we’ll be looking for better execution in both areas on Saturday against the non-imposing Kent State attack. Much like with the offense on third downs, if the defense struggles with those things in this game, it is not a good indicator for future games.

EDGE: Penn State

Odds and ends

–Franklin said this week that punt returner Kaden Saunders is dealing with a lingering injury that does is not allowing him to be 100 percent. Could it lead to a change? We’d guess probably not, but Kent State has given up multiple long punt returns this season. If there was ever a game to give someone else a shot, it’s this one, even if the plan is to have Saunders handle the duty long term.

–This is a big chance for Penn State’s younger players to get a lot of work. Sunday’s Pro Football Focus snap count sheet might be the most anticipated thing to come out of this contest. Who sees time, and how much, will tell us a lot about the Lions’ plans moving forward.

–Who could be the star of the game? Let’s go with third string running back Cam Wallace. He should get plenty of work on Saturday and will likely do a lot with it.