First Look: Penn State
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s 10th opponent of the 2024 season, the Penn State Nittany Lions:
Date/Time: Saturday, November 16, 3:30 p.m. E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441 (tickets)
Weather: Very early forecast shows a high of 62 with partly cloudy skies
2024 schedules/records: Purdue 1-8 (0-6 Big Ten), Penn State 8-1 (5-1 Big Ten)
Series notes: The recent history between these two programs favors the Nittany Lions. Penn State holds a 16-3-1 all-time edge in this series, entering Saturday on a 10-game winning streak against Purdue. The Boilermakers last took this matchup in 2004, a critical early-season win to improve to 5-0 the week before College GameDay came to West Lafayette. Most recently, Penn State scored in the final minute to squeak out a 35-31 win in the 2022 season opener on a Thursday night in Ross-Ade Stadium. Since joining the Big Ten, Penn State is 16-2 against Purdue.
TV: CBS
Early line: Penn State -28
STORYLINES TO WATCH
When it rains, it pours
Purdue enters Saturday on an eight-game drought, losing by nearly 30 points per game in that stretch. A daunting schedule hasn’t helped matters, and that continues on Saturday when another top-10 opponent marches into West Lafayette. Purdue is staring down the chamber of its first one-win season since 2013, something that nobody envisioned entering the fall.
Special teams woes
Against elite competition, Purdue cannot afford to stack mistakes in the game’s third phase. In the loss to Ohio State, the Boilermakers missed two field goals and had a punt blocked. Following the lack of confidence expressed in the kicking game against Northwestern and last week’s miscues, one can only wonder if Purdue has a kicker competition. Veteran Ben Freehill and UCLA transfer RJ Lopez are on the roster along with Spencer Porath.
Senior Day
The final home game of the season, Saturday, will serve as Senior Day for Purdue to bid farewell to the seniors on this year’s squad. Among the key players suiting up in Ross-Ade for the final time: Hudson Card, Gus Hartwig and Kydran Jenkins.
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Ryan Walters on the Nittany Lions
“They are an elite defense and an all-around elite team going for a playoff spot. Offensive they get creative under Coach (James) Franklin. They are good at getting the ball to who they want. Their TE (Tyler Warren) is the elite of the elite.
“Defensively, they have one of the better defensive lines but they are a solid defense in every position.”
