Game To Watch: #22 Auburn vs #10 Penn State: September 18, 2021
Auburn will play Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday at 7:30 EST. So far the Bryan Harsin era is off to a good start with two blowout wins over Akron and Alabama State. Penn State already has a hard fought win at Wisconsin under their belt and a comfortable win over Ball State as well. Both teams had a disappointing 2020 season and are looking to build on their 2 – 0 start to the 2021 season.
Recent History
Auburn and Penn State have split their two previous meetings. Auburn won the Capital One Bowl 13 – 9 in 2003 and Penn State won the Outback Bowl 43 – 14 in 1996.
Top 25 Players
Penn State
| Player | Rank |
|---|---|
| Jahan Dotson | #10 WR |
| Rasheed Walker | #22 OT |
| Arnold Ebiketie | #21 DE |
| Derrick Tangelo | #25 DT |
| Tariq Castro-Fields | #16 CB |
| Jaquan Brisker | #11 S |
Penn State Nittany Lions Gear
What To Watch For…
Can Penn State Slow Down Tank Bigsby?
Tank Bisgby was impressive as a true freshman and has already become one of the best running backs in college football. He is off to an excellent start to his sophomore season with two 100 yard games despite not being needed much because of the blowout nature of the games. Bigsby has run for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 carries so far this year. With a closer game expected Saturday, he will get more touches and will be counted on to set the tone for the offense. Penn State has been stingy against the run this year, holding Wisconsin to 3.1 yards per carry and Ball State to 2.7 yards per carry in the first two games. The Nittany Lions have been strong on the defensive front despite remaking most of their defensive line this season. They will have to continue the strong play and keep Bigsby in check, forcing Auburn to take chances in the passing game.
Penn State’s Dynamic Duo at WR
Penn State’s offense benefits from the big play potential of it’s receivers. Jahan Dotson is a top receiver and dominated in the second half of the Wisconsin game when little else was working on offense. He has the ability to beat good defensive backs and change the complexion of the game. His counterpart is second year receiver Parker Washington who has ten catches in the first two games this year. He provides a viable threat opposite Dotson for defenses to account for. Sean Clifford has already relied on this duo this year and will continue to do so in tight games this year. Auburn’s defense has been excellent in 2021, but they have not faced anywhere near the level of talent they will face this week. The Tigers have allowed just five points per game through two weeks and less than one yard per carry against the run. With the excellent linebacker play Auburn has had this year, it will be important for Penn State to make big plays in the passing game. They have the receivers to threaten the defense, but Auburn will do all they can to contain them.
How Will Bo Nix Fare Against Penn State’s Defense?
Bo Nix has been the starter at Auburn since arriving on campus and has gone through many trials and tribulations. He averaged under seven yards per attempt in each of his first two seasons and threw 13 interceptions against 28 touchdowns. With a coaching change this off-season, Nix has flourished in Bryan Harsin’s offense the first two weeks of the season. He is averaging 9.8 yards per attempt and has thrown 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. Nix has always been a good runner, but if he can be efficient as a passer it will help the Auburn offense reach new heights. Penn State has made opposing quarterbacks miserable this year. The Nittany Lions are allowing just five yards per attempt and have four interceptions and no touchdown passes allowed this year. With star safety Jaquan Brisker leading the way, the pass defense will be a tough test for Bo Nix on Saturday. He will need to pass that test if Auburn is going to win this game.
Prediction
Auburn has been explosive on offense the first two weeks, but playing Penn State at night will be a much tougher challenge. Penn State has been tested already this year, their offense will take deep shots to their receivers and Dotson is likely to make a few big plays. Tank Bigsby is too good to contain for a full game, but Penn State will make him earn his yards. Bo Nix will have to be efficient and convert key third downs, but Penn State’s defense is likely to win that battle and as a result the game. Penn State 27 Auburn 21.
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Beaver Stadium Whitout 2018 image taken by StateLionPro is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.