Just the Stats: Penn State vs Nebraska
All the national rankings behind this week’s senior day matchup versus the Huskers
Penn St. Nittany Lions (4-6; 1-6 Big Ten) vs Nebraska Cornhusker (7-3; 4-3 Big Ten)
7 p.m. ET, November 22—Peacock
Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,572 / University Park, PA)
| Penn State | Value (Nat’l Rank) | Value (Nat’l Rank) | Nebraska | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 159.9 (T – 64) | 161.1 (91) | Rushing Defense (ypg) |  |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 178.9 (112) | 134.6 (3) | Passing Defense (ypg) |  |
| Pass Efficiency | 129.47 (80) | 102.57 (5) | Pass Efficiency Defense | |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 338.8 (107) | 295.7 (15) | Total Defense (ypg) | |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 30.4 (T – 52) | 19.9 (T – 25) | Scoring Defense (ppg) | |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 148.4 (70) | 137.4 (90) | Rushing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 167.7 (12) | 248.2 (46) | Passing Offense (ypg) | |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 128.38 (58) | 167.5 (5) | Pass Efficiency | |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 316.1 (22) | 385.6 (70) | Total Offense (ypg) | |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 21.2 (T – 35) | 32.5 (37) | Scoring Offense (ppg) | Push |
| Punt Return Defense (ypr) | 8.0 (73) | 13.61 (18) | Punt Return Yds (ypr) | |
| Punt Return Yds (ypr) | 6.94 (93) | 0.33 (2) | Punt Return Defense (ypr) | |
| Net Punting Yds (ypp) | 41.63 (27) | 39.0 (78) | Net Punting Yds (ypp) | |
| Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) | 20.28 (78) | 16.13 (12) | Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) | |
| Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) | 20.18 (72) | 30.24 (5) | Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) | |
| Turnover Margin | +.2 (T – 50) | +.3 (T – 38) | Turnover Margin | Push |
| Passes Had Intercepted (total) | 7 (T – 50) | 6 (T – 86) | Passes Intercepted (total) | |
| Passes Intercepted (total) | 6 (T – 86) | 6 (T – 31) | Passes Had Intercepted (total) | |
| Penalty Yds/Game | 33,1 (8) | 41.9 (T – 20) | Penalty Yds/Game | Push |
| Sacks (spg) | 2.2 (T – 49) | 2.7 (T – 113) | Sacks Allowed (spg) | |
| Sacks Allowed (spg) | 1.5 (T – 37) | 1.8 (T – 88) | Sacks (spg) | |
| Tackles for Loss (tpg) | 6.3 (T – 32) | 4.9 (T – 48) | Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | Push |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | 4.8 (T – 42) | 5.4 (T – 74) | Tackles for Loss (tpg) | |
| Redzone Offense (% season) | 87.5% (T – 52) | 95.2% (131) | Redzone Defense (% season) | |
| Redzone Defense (% season) | 86.1% (T – 94) | 88.1% (T – 44) | Redzone Offense (% season) | |
| Redzone TD % (season) | 67.5% | 71.43% | Redzone TD % Defense (season) | |
| Redzone TD % Defense (season) | 58.33% | 61.9% | Redzone TD % (season) | Push |
| 3rd Down Conv. % (season) | 42.5% (49) | 35.3% (38) | 3rd Down Defense % (season) | Push |
| 3rd Down Defense % (season) | 39.8% (T – 77) | 46.0% (28) | 3rd Down Conv. % (season) | |
| 4th Down Conv. % (season) | 57.7% (T – 60) | 63.2% (114) | 4th Down Defense % (season) | |
| 4th Down Defense % (season) | 59.1% (T – 94) | 37.5% (T – 119) | 4th Down Conv. % (season) | |
| 1st Downs (season) | 192 (T – 94) | 168 (19) | 1st Downs Allowed (season) | |
| 1st Downs Allowed (season) | 169 (20) | 216 (T – 52) | 1st Downs (season) | |
| Time of Possession (mpg) | 29 (89) | 30 (37) | Time of Possession (mpg) | |
| Strength of Schedule | 45 | 57 | Strength of Schedule | Push |
| Difference | > 25 | in | National Rank | |
| Difference | > 50 | in | National Rank | |
| Difference | > 75 | in | National Rank | |
| Difference | > 100 | in | National Rank | |
Note:
All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is taken from Power Rankings.
The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.
Quick thoughts:
It’s very rare that a game so late in the season will impact these rankings exorbitantly, but last week’s Penn State game versus the Spartans did so. Most of the movement of the Nittany Lion team was in a decidedly positive direction, but the ones that stuck out to me the most were time of possession (despite the advantage the Cornhuskers still have, Penn State jumped over 20 rankings this past week), sacks per game (almost 30 spots), and 3rd down defense (also almost 30 spots gained in one week).
Here’s to hoping that PSU builds on the momentum they had in the fourth quarter last week, and comes out on fire at night on senior day in Beaver Stadium.
A little bit more behind these stats:
- Penn State has attempted 26 fourth down conversions, and converted on 15 of them; Nebraska has made 16 4th down attempts, and converted on just 6
- The Nittany Lion defense has faced 22 fourth down conversion attempts and allowed conversions on 13 of them, while the Husker defense has faced 19 attempts and allowed 12 conversions
- PSU has had 40 offensive trips inside the RedZone, and scored 27 touchdowns and 8 field goals (35 times) on those attempts; UN has had 42 offensive trips, and scored 26 touchdowns and 11 field goals (37 times)
- Penn State’s defense has allowed 36 opponent trips inside the RedZone, which resulted in 22 touchdowns and 10 field goals (32 scores). Nebraska’s defense has allowed only 21 opponent trips into the redzone, resulting in 15 touchdowns and 5 field goals (21 scores)
- The Nittany Lions have punted 30 times to the Cornhuskers’ 26 times
- PSU has attempted 18 punt returns and faced 9 returns; UN has attempted 23 punt returns and faced only 3 return attempts
- Penn State has returned 18 kickoffs and faced 11 kickoff returns, while Nebraska has returned 17 kickoffs and faced 23 kickoff returns
What say you all?
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