Nittany Lions Face Hostile Environment Against Mountaineers (Game Preview)
- bryanportney01
- Aug 31, 2024
- 3 min read
Nittany Lions Face Hostile Environment Against Mountaineers (Game Preview)
No. 8 Penn State (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten in 2023) at West Virginia (9-4, 6-3 Big 12 in 2023)
Date: Saturday, August 31
Times: 12:00 PM
Location: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium (Morgantown, WV)
Coverage
TV: FOX
Radio: LionVision & CommRadio (PSU) & The Varsity Network (WVU)
Live Stats: ESPN GameCast & StatBroadcast (PSU) & StatBroadcast (WVU)
Storylines
New Playoff Format Opens the Door
Since the end of the BCS era in 2014, the Nittany Lions have not made a CFP appearance. With a new season incoming, Penn State could finally take part in the newly-expanded 12-team playoff field come time for December. (Source: Wikipedia)
A Hostile Environment
Milan Puskar Stadium can only hold 60,000 fans, but when 70,222 supporters packed the house on November 20, 1993, the Mountaineers pulled off the upset of all upsets in a 17-14 win over No. 4 Miami (FL). If history has any way of repeating itself, Morgantown might prepare to grease the poles in their biggest game of the season. (Source: Wikipedia & 247Sports)
No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia: Team Numbers (2023)
No. 8 Penn State1 | Offense | West Virginia |
36.2 | Points Per Game | 31.5 |
215.0 | Pass Yards Per Game | 205.7 |
184.8 | Rush Yards Per Game | 228.9 |
40.80% | 3rd Down % | 39.66% |
14 (1.08) | Turnovers (per game) | 31 (2.38) |
No. 8 Penn State | Defense | West Virginia |
13.5 | Points Allowed PG | 26.2 |
172.1 | Pass Yards Allowed PG | 236.8 |
75.5 | Rush Yards Allowed PG | 144.0 |
30.20% | Opponent 3rd Down % | 38.60% |
33 (2.54) | Takeaways (per game) | 29 (2.23) |
Nittany Lions Big-Brother Mountaineers in Head-to-Head
Penn State is 49-9-2 against West Virginia all-time, according to Winsipedia. Their last meeting was in 2023, when Penn State beat West Virginia 38-15 at home. Penn State is 16-6-1 against West Virginia on the road all-time, with their last road meeting being a 40-26 Penn State victory in 1992. Penn State has won the last 5 head-to-head meetings dating back to 1989. West Virginia last beat Penn State on October 29, 1988 in a 51-30 home victory.
Top Players on Offense (2023)
No. 8 Penn State
QB Drew Allar, Jr.
2023 Passing: 233-for-389, 2,631 yds, 25 TD, 2 INT
2023 Rushing: 74 car, 124 yds, 4 TD
Wildcat QB Beau Pribula, R-So.
2023 Rushing: 56 car, 329 yds, 6 TD
RB1 Kaytron Allen, Jr.
2023 Rushing: 172 car, 902 yds, 6 TD
2023 Receiving: 14 rec, 81 yds, 1 TD
RB2 Nick Singleton, Jr.
2023 Rushing: 171 car, 752 yds, 8 TD
2023 Receiving: 26 rec, 308 yds, 2 TD
WR Julian Fleming, Sr. (Ohio State)
2023 Receiving: 26 rec, 270 yds
TE Tyler Warren, Sr.
2023 Receiving: 34 rec, 422 yds, 7 TD
West Virginia
QB Garrett Greene, Sr.
2023 Passing: 147-for-277, 2,406 yds, 16 TD, 4 INT
2023 Rushing: 120 car, 772 yds, 13 TD
RB1 Jaheim White, So.
2023 Rushing: 109 car, 842 yds, 4 TD
2023 Receiving: 5 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
RB2 C.J. Donaldson, Jr.
2023 Rushing: 171 car, 798 yds, 11 TD
2023 Receiving: 9 rec, 59 yds
WR1 Hudson Clement, R-So.
2023 Receiving: 22 rec, 480 yds, 4 TD
WR2 Jaden Bray, R-Jr. (Oklahoma State)
2023 Receiving: 30 rec, 382 yds, 2 TD
WR3 Justin Robinson, R-Sr. (Texas A&M)
2023 Receiving: 21 rec, 257 yds
Top Players on Defense (2023)
No. 8 Penn State
DE Abdul Carter, Jr.
2023 Defense: 48 tot, 4.5 sacks, 5 QBH, 5.5 TFL
DT Zane Durant, Jr.
2023 Defense: 17 tot, 12 solo, 2 sacks, 5.5 TFL
LB Kobe King, R-Jr.
2023 Defense: 59 tot, 39 solo, 1.5 sacks, 6 TFL
LB Dominic DeLuca, R-Jr.
2023 Defense: 29 tot, 2 FF, 3 PD, 2 INT
SS Kevin Winston, Jr.
2023 Defense: 61 tot, 34 solo, 5 PD, 1 INT
NB Jaylen Reed, Sr.
2023 Defense: 46 tot, 32 solo, 4 TFL, 2 INT
West Virginia
DE Sean Martin, Sr.
2023 Defense: 27 tot, 15 solo, 4 QBH, 5 TFL
DT Edward Vesterinen, Sr.
2023 Defense: 28 tot, 10 solo, 3 sacks, 4 TFL
LB Aubrey Burks, Sr.
2023 Defense: 48 tot, 39 solo, 4 PD, 1 TFL
LB Trey Lathan, R-So.
2023 Defense: 27 tot, 11 solo, 7 QBH, 1 TFL
CB Garnett Hollis, R-Sr. (Northwestern)
2023 Defense: 49 tot, 33 solo, 3 PD, 1 INT
FS Anthony Wilson, R-Sr.
2023 Defense: 80 tot, 54 solo, 4 PD, 1 INT
Quick Picks: Expert Analysis
Bryan: Penn State enters a tough atmosphere in Morgantown this week as they’ll face a raucous crowd and an underrated West Virginia team. The Nittany Lions are focused on this new season, however, and with returning talent helping them out, I think they’ll squeak out a close one. Pick: No. 10 Penn State
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