As always, there are plenty of storylines related to Nebraska football’s game against Penn State at Beaver Stadium (capacity 106,572) in University Park Saturday night.
Matt Rhule was a football walk-on at Penn State, an equipment manager, a walk-on again, the center on the scout squad for one season, and then a linebacker for the Nittany Lions.
While the head coach at Temple, Rhule hired Penn State’s interim head coach, Terry Smith.
Husker defensive coordinator John Butler served as defensive coordinator at Penn State in 2013, after one season as secondary coach there.
Penn State, ranked second nationally to begin the season, broke a six-game losing streak last week against Michigan State and could still be bowl-eligible with victories against Nebraska and at Rutgers. The Huskers, already bowl eligible, could improve their bowl possibilities with a win. Despite the Nittany Lions’ 4-6 record, “I think they’re an excellent, excellent football team,” Rhule said.
Despite the losing record, they’ve outscored opponents 304-211.
Nebraska freshman quarterback TJ Lateef will be getting his second start following Dylan Raiola’s season-ending injury, and Penn State’s quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, stepped in after Drew Allar also suffered a campaign-ending injury.
Lateef will face what Rhule described as a “ferocious pass rush,” led by defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who has recorded five sacks, forced three fumbles, intercepted two passes and broken up two others. He also has blocked three punts and was included on the watch lists for the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards.
So was defensive tackle Zane Durant, who has three sacks and an interception. Penn State has a “high-pressure, aggressive-type defense,” offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday.
Linebacker Amare Campbell is the leading tackler with 76, including 2.5 sacks. The Nittany Lions have 22 sacks; Nebraska has 18, led by Williams Nwaneri, 2.5.
The environment will be dramatically different than the one at the overtaken-by-red Rose Bowl, where Lateef got his first start two weeks ago — near his Compton, California, home.
Husker running back Emmett Johnson, among 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award announced this week, will have a chance to draw further national attention, including Heisman Trophy promotion. As expected, Johnson acknowledged the offensive line, tight ends and wide receivers as reasons for his success. “I just want to stay focused, stay humble,” Johnson said Tuesday.
Nebraska’s defense will face “one of the best offensive lines you’ll see,” said Rhule.
The line is anchored by center Nick Dawkins and guard Olaivavega Ioane, included on numerous preseason All-America first teams, including those by the Associated Press, ESPN and CBS. He also was on the watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Walter Camp Award.
Rhule said he couldn’t “minimize how good their offensive line is.”
That has opened the way for running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Allen has rushed for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns, Singleton 419 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions have averaged 159.9 yards rushing per game.
“They have a great offensive line,” Butler said. “They have two great running backs, big, physical tight ends and a mentality of that region and that program to run the football.
“So it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and an opportunity.”
The Nittany Lions rushed for 240 yards, including 181 by Allen, against Michigan State. According to Rhule, 130 of their rushing yards came in the fourth quarter, in which they controlled the ball for 10-plus minutes. They ran the ball 50 times in the game, with only 13 passes.
Some of the runs came on quarterback drop-backs, still . ..
“We struggle against the run,” Rhule said.
Even though it’s a homecoming for Rhule, no longer a candidate for the coaching vacancy after signing a Nebraska extension, he wants “this week to be 100% about our players,” he said.
There are other storylines for Saturday night’s game — kickoff 6 p.m. CT, televised on NBC, more prime-time national exposure — but let these suffice.
