Penn State’s rocky road to the College Football Playoff

He caught four passes for 142 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown, and added 47 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Now the stakes get cranked up a notch.

Iowa had arguably its worst game in nonconference play the last time it took the field, nearly two weeks ago against Loyola.

Also this week, Smith was among 11 FBS and 22 overall honorees for their community service as recognized with Allstate AFCA Good Works honors. The only possible negative that could be said is that the defense allowed the Panthers to move the ball for 320 yards and 21 first downs.

Still, Penn State is a 12-point favorite for a reason.

Now, Allen will look for another at Kinnick Stadium against a quarterback who has thrown just one this season – Nate Stanley, who helped guide Iowa to a 3-0 in nonconference play.

“Offensively, one of our issues past year was starting out slow”, head coach James Franklin said.

“I really value people, and I value life”, Smith said. With games still at Michigan and Ohio State and a hosting of Penn State still on the schedule, Notre Dame will be a litmus test of how far Michigan State will come from three wins last season.

The Huskers play the Buckeyes at 7:05 p.m.at Hibner Stadium on Friday, then host the No. 7 Nittany Lions at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Penn State’s non-conference opponents have a combined 2-6 record – both wins coming against FCS opponents – and have been blown out in those losses. The shift in date now means the Huskers will play four straight road matches against Big Ten opponents.

The Youngstown State women’s golf team will play their second event of the season on Saturday and Sunday at the 2017 Penn State Nittany Lion Invitational in State College, Pa. Most figure that ESPN is saving a trip to Stillwater for Bedlam later in the season when Oklahoma comes to take on the #6 ranked Cowboys. I’m not going to make a big deal out of it with our guys.

THE SERIES: This is the 27th meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Hawkeyes.

“We had some players really step up, more players getting playing time, and it’s made a big impact for us”, Ochoa said.

“One of the kind of cooler, historical things in college football from a tradition standpoint is their pink locker room”, Franklin said.

To excel and succeed at a premier football program like Penn State requires an uncanny devotion to the game, a marriage between player and sport. Being only Georgia State, the Nittany Lions completely devastated the whole Georgia State team. I think defensively, it’s just making sure we stay connected as a unit. Big Ten opener at Kinnick Stadium may be keeping the Penn State offense off the field.

But none of those three wins came against above-.500 teams. 3 MI 14-13 past year as a 24-point underdog.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz can’t put a tangible explanation on it. “Each game stands alone. Obviously, if we could keep guys like McSorley and Barkley off the field, that’s going to be a pretty big advantage for us”. And there are so many characters we have gotten to know throughout the seasons.

Expect this game to be run heavy. They had a 38-31 lead, too, and all Stanley did during that game was direct five drives that were 76 yards or longer, including the one that tied the game, which was a 91-yard drive with three-and-a-half minutes left when it started.

ABOUT PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions jumped to No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press football poll after last week’s 56-0 triumph over Georgia State.

For all the stats for him to ponder, one is most important to Penn State safety Marcus Allen: Takeaways.