BIG 10 CLASH- #4 PENN STATE VS #3 IOWA

By PSUGreg On October 7, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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PENN STATE HOSTS IOWA FOR B1G MATCHUPBY THE NUMBERS
1999

Penn State will play in its first Top 5 matchup since 1999 vs. Arizona

18

Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson have connected for 18 career touchdowns, the most of any QB-WR duo at Penn State

7

Penn State has held opponents without a score in the red zone seven times this season

6th

The Nittany Lions earned its sixth shutout in the James Franklin era against Indiana and its fourth against a Big Ten opponent

•OPENING KICK: No. 4/4 Penn State goes on the road to take on No. 3/3 Iowa on Saturday in Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. The 2021 season is presented by PSECU.
•SERIES HISTORY: The Nittany Lions will meet Iowa for the 31st matchup. Penn State holds a 17-13 advantage in the series. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by one-score. Penn State had a six-game win streak in the series from 2011-19, but fell 41-21 in last year’s matchup at Beaver Stadium. • TOP FIVE MATCHUP: Saturday’s game will be the 11th game in program history with both teams ranked among the Top Five of the AP Poll and the Nittany Lions’ first since 1999, when No. 3 Penn State earned a 41-7 win over No. 4 Arizona. It’s also Penn State’s first Top Five matchup against a Big Ten opponent since 1997 vs. Michigan (No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 4 Michigan).
• NATION’S BEST SCORING DEFENSES MEET: The Penn State-Iowa matchup will feature two of the top three scoring defenses in the nation. The Nittany Lions rank third in the country, allowing 12.0 points per game. Iowa sits second in the country, giving up 11.6 points per game.
• PITCHING A SHUTOUT: The Nittany Lions held Indiana scoreless last Saturday. It marked Penn State’s sixth shutout since 2014 and its fourth against a Big Ten opponent. Penn State handed Indiana its first shutout loss in 246 games (2000 vs. Michigan). The blue and white earned its first shutout against a Big Ten opponent since 2019 at Maryland and its first home Big Ten shutout since 2015 vs. Illinois.
• STRONG IN THE RED ZONE: Penn State ranks second in the nation and leads the Big Ten allowing a 53.3 conversion rate in the red zone. Penn State held Indiana without a score in both of the Hoosiers’ trips into the red zone. In the first quarter, the Nittany Lions stopped Indiana on fourth-and-one from the Penn State 4 yard-line. In the third quarter, Penn State blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt. Opponents have been held without a score in 7-of-15 trips into the red zone this season.
• THE OPPOSITION: Iowa is 5-0 this season and coming off a 51-14 win over Maryland last Friday. Spencer Petras threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns. The Hawkeyes held the Terrapins to 271 yards and forced seven takeaways, including six interceptions

HEAD COACH KIRK FERENTZ

• Kirk Ferentz is in his 23rd season as head football coach and 32nd season overall at Iowa.
• Ferentz is the longest-tenured head football coach in the nation and the winningest coach in Iowa history.
• Ferentz holds a 173-106 record at Iowa and has led Iowa to a winning record in each of the last eight seasons.
• In 2020, Ferentz led Iowa to a 6-2 mark as the Hawkeyes won six-straight games to close the season. Iowa accepted an invitation to the Music City Bowl.
• In 2015, Ferentz was recognized with both the Hayes-Schembecher and Dave McClain Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year awards. He was named Eddie Robinson and Woody Hayes national Coach of the Year and received the Dodd Trophy.
• Ferentz attended Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh and graduated from Connecticut in 1978. He was a football captain and an Academic All-Yankee Conference linebacker at UConn.

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES

• Iowa has a 5-0 record to start the 2021 season.
• The Hawkeyes earned a 51-14 win at Maryland last Friday.
• QB Spencer Petras threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns.
• The Iowa defense forced seven takeaways, including six interceptions. The Hawkeyes scored 17 points off of turnovers.
• Petras has completed 62 percent of his passes for 943 yards and seven touchdowns.
• RB Tyler Goodson has rushed for 430 yards, averaging 86.0 yards per game, and five touchdowns.
• TE Sam LaPorta leads Iowa receivers with 22 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
• The Iowa defense is allowing 271.4 total yards per game, including just 87.0 on the ground.
• The Hawkeyes have forced 16 turnovers, including 12 interceptions.
• LB Jack Campbell leads Iowa with 46 tackles.
• DL Jack VanValkenburg paces the Hawkeyes with five tackles for loss, while DL Luke Van Ness has recorded a team-best four sacks.
• DB Riley Moss has three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
• K Caleb Shudak has converted eight-of-nine field goal attempts

INDIANA NOTES

• The Nittany Lions improved to 19-10 in Big Ten home openers.
• Penn State recorded its first shutout both overall and in a Big Ten game since a 59-0 win over Maryland in 2019.
• Penn State handed Indiana its first shutout since a 2000 loss to Michigan (58-0), a span of 246 games.
• Penn State scored on a 9-play, 96-yard drive in the second quarter. It is Penn State’s longest drive, by yards, this season.
• With two touchdowns in the game, QB Sean Clifford and WR Jahan Dotson connected for the 18th time on TD scores, passing Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson (1980-82) for the most by a Penn State QB-WR duo in program history.
• With a stop on fourth-and-goal in the first quarter and a blocked field goal in the third quarter, the Nittany Lions have held their opponent without a score for seven times in 15 redzone possessions.
• The Nittany Lions blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. It was Penn State’s second blocked field goal of the season. It marks the first time Penn State has blocked two or more field goals in a season since 2004 (five blocked field goals).

SEAN CLIFFORD

CAREER PASSING YARDS 6,068 Clifford currently ranks fourth all-time at Penn State with 6,068 career passing yards. Clifford sits 322 yards behind Matt McGloin (2009-12) for fourth place.
CAREER PASSING TDS 52 Clifford sits second all-time at Penn State with 52 career passing touchdowns. He is 18 touchdowns away from the record held by Trace McSorley (2015-18).
CAREER PASSING COMPLETIONS 449 Clifford has completed 449 passes in his Nittany Lion career, sitting sixth all-time at Penn State. He is 11 completions behind Anthony Morelli (2004-07) for fifth place.
CAREER PASSING ATTEMPTS 730 Clifford has attempted 730 passes in his Penn State career, good for eighth in program history. Clifford is eight attempts away behind Daryll Clark (2006-09) in seventh.
CAREER COMPLETION PCT. 61.5 Clifford has completed 449-of-730 pass attempts in his career for a 61.5 completion percentage. He holds the all-time lead at Penn State.
CAREER YARDS PER PASS ATTEMPT 8.3 Clifford holds third all-time at Penn State averaging 8.3 yards per attempt (6,068 yards on 730 attempts). He trails only Mike McQueary (8.9; 1995-97) and John Hufnagel (8.7; 1970-72).
CAREER YARDS PER PASS COMPLETION 13.5 Clifford averages 13.5 yards per completion, ranking 18th all-time at Penn State.
CAREER TOUCHDOWN PCT. 7.12 Clifford holds a 7.12 touchdown percentage in his career (52 touchdowns on 730 attempts), ranking fourth in Penn State history.
CAREER PASSING EFFICIENCY 149.6 Clifford has a 149.6 passing efficiency rating in his Nittany Lion career, sitting first all-time at Penn State.
CAREER 200-YARD PASSING GAMES 15 Clifford sits sixth all-time at Penn State with 15 career 200- yard passing games. He is one behind tying Kerry Collins (1991-94) and Zack Mills (2001-04) for fourth place. CAREER 300-YARD PASSING GAMES 4 Clifford is tied fourth in program history with four 300-yard passing games. He is two away from tying Matt McGloin (2009-12) for third all-time.
CAREER 20+ YARD COMPLETIONS 82 Clifford has completed 82 passes of 20 or more yards in his Penn State career, including 20 in 2021.
CAREER RUSHING YARDS (QB) 871 Clifford ranks third all-time among quarterbacks at Penn State with 871 career rushing yards. He sits behind Trace McSorley (1,697 yards; 2015-18) and Michael Robinson (1,637 yards; 2002-05).
CAREER RUSHING TDS (QB) 9 Clifford has rushed for nine career touchdowns. Among Penn State quarterbacks, he ranks eighth all-time. He is one away from tying Todd Blackledge (1980-82) and Rashard Casey (1997-00) for sixth place.
CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE 6,939 Clifford has accumulated 6,939 total yards (6,068 passing, 871 rushing) in his Nittany Lion career. He ranks fourth alltime at Penn State.
CAREER TDS RESPONSIBLE FOR 61 Clifford is responsible for 61 touchdowns at Penn State (52 passing, 9 rushing). He sits third all-time at Penn State, seven behind Daryll Clark (2006-09) for second place.

JAHAN DOTSON

CAREER RECEIVING YARDS 2,021 Dotson sits seventh all-time at Penn State with 2,021 career receiving yards. He is 374 yards behind Derek Moye (2008- 11) for sixth place.
CAREER RECEIVING TDS 19 Dotson owns 19 career receiving touchdowns, sitting three behind Deon Butler (2005-08) for third all-time.
CAREER RECEPTIONS 127 Dotson has 127 career receptions, sitting 10th all-time at Penn State. He is two receptions behind MIke Gesicki (2014- 17) for ninth place.
CAREER YARDS PER RECEPTION 15.91 Dotson has a 15.91 yards per reception average in his career. He holds 11th all-time at Penn State.
CAREER 20+ YARD RECEPTIONS 30 Dotson has 30 career catches of 20 or more yards, including seven in 2021.
CAREER 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 8 Dotson has earned eight career 100-yard receiving games. He is tied with Bryant Johnson (1999-02) for sixth all-time at Penn State, one behind third place.
SEASON 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 2 Dotson has two 100-yard receiving games this season with 102 yards against Wisconsin and 117 yards against Villanova.
QB-WR TD DUOS 18 Dotson has connected with Sean Clifford for 18 career touchdowns. The duo ranks first all-time at Penn State. Clifford and Dotson are also tied among current FBS duos with Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and Charlie Kolar (18).
SEASON RECEIVING YARDS 446 Dotson sits fifth in the Big Ten and 24th in the nation with 446 receiving yards.
SEASON RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME 89.2 Dotson ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 27th in the nation with 89.2 receiving yards per game.
SEASON RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS 6 Dotson ranks sixth in the country and leads the Big Ten with six receiving touchdowns in 2021.
SEASON RECEPTIONS PER GAME 7.0 Dotson paces the Big Ten and ranks 13th in the nation with 7.0 receptions per game.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION 34 Dotson has a reception in 34-straight games, dating back to October 20, 2018 against Indiana. That ranks fifth among current FBS players.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A TD RECEPTION 6 Dotson has a receiving touchdown in each of his last six games, the longest streak in program history. Dotson has a touchdown in his last seven games, including an 81-yard punt return against Michigan State in 2020.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A 20-YD RECEPTION 8 Dotson has at least one 20-yard reception in eight-straight games, dating back to the Rutgers game in 2020.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 5+ RECEPTIONS 7 Dotson has hauled in at least five receptions in each of his last seven games, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2020. Since 2000, only Allen Robinson (8; 2013) has more.

RUNNING BACK NOTES

•Penn State boasts a deep running back corps. The room has combined to play in 97 games, including 35 starts. Four members have started at least one game.
• Junior Noah Cain leads the running backs group and returns after missing all but the first drive at Indiana in 2020. • Cain had a rushing touchdown in each of the first three games of a season for the second time in his career (2019, 2021).
• Cain scored on a 3-yard run against Auburn.
• Cain rushed for 69 yards and a 5-yard touchdown against Ball State. He also set a career high with 30 receiving yards on three catches.
• Cain averaged 6.0 yards per carry against Wisconsin. The sophomore had a career-long 34-yard carry in the fourth quarter against the Badgers.
• Cain reached the 500-yard mark for his career with a 48-yard day against Wisconsin.
• Sophomore RB Keyvone Lee had a career-long 44-yard run against Indiana. He added a 21-yard run to lead Penn State with 74 yards on eight carries.
• Senior RB John Lovett made his Penn State debut against Auburn and had an 18-yard reception.
• The trio of Lee, junior Devyn Ford and sophomore Caziah Holmes combined for 207 carries, 939 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020.
• Lee averaged 8.5 yards per carry against Ball State with eight carries for 68 yards. He added a career-long 24-yard reception.
• Lee had a strong freshman campaign in 2020 with a teamhigh 438 yards on 89 carries. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and had four rushing scores.
• Ford started five games in 2020, rushing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
• Ford has rushed for 601 career yards and six touchdowns.
• Holmes gained 227 yards on the ground in 2020 with 4.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
• Run game coordinator/running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider has 13 yards of college coaching experience, including 10 at the Power Five level.
• Seider helped a young running backs group to rank fifth in the Big Ten in rushing in 2020. • In 2019, Seider mentored Journey Brown, who had 11 rushes of 20 or more yards and posted a Cotton Bowl and Penn State bowl-record 202 rushing yards.
• In 2018, Penn State posted its highest rushing average (204.9) since 2008 (205.8), led by second-team All-Big Ten selection Miles Sanders.
• As a player at Florida A&M, he won the Doug Williams Award for National Offensive Player of the Year, Jake Gaither Award (considered the Heisman Trophy of Historically Black Colleges) and earned All-America honors after throwing for 2,622 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for 740 yards and 14 touchdowns in 1999.
• Seider, who was the 1999 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, was selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers

LINEBACKER NOTES

In addition to leading the Nittany Lion defense, Brent Pry is in his eighth season coaching linebackers at Penn State.
• In his previous seven seasons, Pry has coached seven Penn State linebackers that have moved on to the NFL.
• Linebacker Micah Parsons was selected 12th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft.
• Parsons was the highest drafted Penn State defensive player since Aaron Maybin went 11th overall to the Buffalo Bills in 2009.
• He was the first Nittany Lion defensive player drafted in the first round since Jared Odrick (2010; 28th overall to the Miami Dolphins) and the first PSU linebacker selected in the first round since LaVar Arrington (2000; second overall to the Washington Redskins).
• Parsons became the fifth Penn State linebacker to be selected in the first round, joining Arrington, Shane Conlan (1987; eighth overall to the Buffalo Bills), Ed O’Neil (1974; eighth overall to the Detroit Lions) and Dave Robinson (1963; 14th overall to the Green Bay Packers).
• Penn State has 69 linebackers drafted all-time, the most for any school.
• Senior Jesse Luketa and junior Brandon Smith each earned a spot on the 2021 Butkus Award Watch List. • Smith was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Auburn. • Smith recorded a solo sack and a pass breakup against Indiana.
• Smith blocked a field goal for the first time in his career, against the Hoosiers, blocking a 30-yard attempt in the third quarter to help preserve the shutout.
• Luketa was named the Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week following her performance vs. Ball State.
• Luketa recorded his first career interception against Ball State, returning it 16 yards for a touchdown.
• Sophomore Curtis Jacobs, making his first career start, notched a career-best five tackles in the season opener.
• Jacobs posted his first career sack against Ball State.
• Redshirt senior Ellis Brooks is the veteran of a linebacker group that has combined for 147 career games. • Brooks paced the Nittany Lions with 11 tackles, eight solo, against Wisconsin. Brooks added a solo sack in the first quarter.
• Brooks tied his career high for tackles and earned his second career double-digit tackle performance.
• Redshirt junior Charlie Katshir had a career high-tying three stops against Ball State.