Penn State has had little time to dwell on its first loss of the season at the hands of Ohio State and is now quickly turning its attention to Washington (5-4, 3-3), which will make its first-ever trip to Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
The Huskies will be met with another White Out crowd. However, the Nittany Lions fans may be less energetic coming off a disappointing loss amid a record-setting attendance just last week against the Buckeyes.
Regardless, No. 6-ranked Penn State (7-1, 4-1) still controls its own destiny and will look to avoid a letdown in order to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Top storyline
Penn State struggled offensively against Ohio State, failing to find the end zone and coming away with no points on two drives that ended inside the 5-yard line. The running game was particularly poor, with Nittany Lions running backs accounting for just 42 yards on 18 carries, good for just 2.3 yards a pop.
The Huskies' pass defense has been elite, ranking No. 2 nationally in yards allowed per game. However, the Huskies have struggled to stop the run this season, surrendering over 150 yards per game.
The Nittany Lions will have an opportunity to get their run game back on track against a weaker defensive front, but they’ll need improved play from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen to do so.
Players to watch
Nick Singleton: The running back hasn’t looked the same since sitting out against UCLA with an undisclosed injury. In three games since, he’s recorded just 90 yards while toting the rock 28 times, leading some to question his health status. Regardless, his success — or lack thereof — will go a long way in determining the outcome of this matchup.
Jaylen Reed: For the second straight week, the safety will be tasked with guarding a strong wide receiver corps. Washington likes to air it out. Quarterback Will Rogers has thrown almost 100 more passes than Drew Allar, so Penn State’s cornerbacks will be tested. If the Nittany Lions can shut down the Huskies’ passing attack, it would bode well in their quest for their eighth win of the season and fifth in Big Ten conference play.
Tyler Warren: Washington’s secondary will make it difficult for Penn State’s receivers to get open, but if there’s one player who’s proven the ability to haul in contested catches, it’s Warren. If Allar needs to make a play or key conversion, throwing to the tight end seems like a safe bet. He’s had at least three catches in every game this season, and that should continue this week.
Behind enemy lines
Will Rogers: Washington didn’t record a passing touchdown in either of its last two outings, struggling to convert through the air despite heavy volume. Still, Rogers ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards and will likely continue to air out the ball early and often against the Nittany Lions. If Rogers returns to form and plays like he did toward the beginning of the season, he could make things interesting on Saturday.
Denzel Boston: Though they lost Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan to the NFL this offseason, the Huskies now have star receiver Denzel Boston, who’s tied for fourth nationally with nine touchdowns. Boston recorded nine catches for 99 yards last Saturday in a victory over USC and has surpassed 100 yards on two occasions this season. He’s been Rogers’ favorite target and could post another big performance if Penn State isn’t careful.
Carson Bruener: The linebacker leads all Huskies by a wide margin with 67 tackles in 2024, including at least four in every game so far. He’s been effective in pass coverage, too, with three interceptions and five pass deflections this season, though he has no sacks this season. Bruener is also coming off a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award, a well-deserved honor after 11 tackles and two picks against the Trojans.
Prediction
Penn State 24, Washington 13
Both teams have great pass defenses, so big plays through the air will be hard to come by. However, the Nittany Lions should be able to find success in their ground game and control the clock en route to a comfortable win in Beaver Stadium.
First Published: November 8, 2024, 4:40 p.m.
Updated: November 8, 2024, 4:43 p.m.
