Penn State will host the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday at noon, looking to break a five-game losing streak. The Nittany Lions, currently struggling, are facing the challenge of reversing their fortunes against the second-ranked team in the nation.
Interim head coach Terry Smith has frequently used a weather analogy to depict the team”s current struggles. “Yes, we”re in a storm,” said safety King Mack. “It”s hard, but we”re going to get ourselves out of it. You can either view this as an opportunity for growth or let the storm overwhelm you.”
The Hoosiers, boasting a perfect 9-0 record and a dominant 6-0 in the Big Ten, have been nothing short of a whirlwind this season, outscoring their opponents by a staggering margin of 418-97. The only team to come close to defeating them was Iowa, which fell 20-15 during a tightly contested game.
As they prepare for this critical matchup, the Lions are 14.5-point underdogs, marking Smith”s first home game since taking over after the dismissal of former coach James Franklin, following a narrow 22-21 loss to Northwestern. During that game, fans expressed their frustration with both Franklin and quarterback Drew Allar, who suffered a season-ending leg injury late in the contest.
“We need our crowd to cheer us,” Smith emphasized. “Support is crucial for encouraging our guys to keep pushing forward in tough times. It”s homefield advantage. It”s Beaver Stadium. It”s where we should feel the support.”
Penn State has not triumphed over a top-five team since their 24-21 upset of No. 2 Ohio State in 2016. They have since lost 15 consecutive games to top-five opponents, including a double-overtime defeat to No. 5 Oregon earlier this season and a recent 38-14 setback against No. 1 Ohio State.
Alongside Indiana, the Lions have also faced losses against teams like UCLA, Northwestern, and Iowa. “It has been a challenging few weeks,” linebacker Dominic DeLuca acknowledged. “Nothing has gone our way, and we need to execute better. We have to uplift each other”s spirits and play our game on Saturday—hard, fast, and physical.”
Indiana presents a significant hurdle, leading the nation in scoring at 46.4 points per game, while also ranking highly in total offense and defense. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a transfer from California, stands second in the country in pass efficiency, completing 72.3% of his attempts for 2,124 yards alongside 25 touchdowns and four interceptions. His wide receivers, Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, have combined for impressive numbers, surpassing those of Ohio State”s star duo.
On the defensive side, the Hoosiers rank second nationally with a plus-12 turnover margin, which includes 13 interceptions. “They are fast and physical,” noted quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who will make his first home start. “Their defensive line is aggressive, which aids the secondary in making big plays.”
Penn State is eager to avoid its first six-game losing streak since 2004, which would mark only the fourth instance in the school”s history. “The energy in the locker room is great,” Mack said. “Everyone is excited to play the game we love. We know we have to find our way out of this storm.”
In a prediction, Rich Scarcella forecasts a 31-17 win for Indiana, citing their current momentum and large average margin of victory. Protecting the football will be crucial for the Nittany Lions if they hope to remain competitive.
