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topicnews · October 25, 2024

No. 3 Penn State puts its undefeated record on the line when it visits up-and-coming Wisconsin

No. 3 Penn State puts its undefeated record on the line when it visits up-and-coming Wisconsin

No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

BetMGM college football odds: Penn State at 6 1/2.

Series record: Penn State leads 11-9.

What is at stake?

Penn State is seeking its first 7-0 start since 2019, when the Nittany Lions won their first eight games and finished 11-2. Wisconsin is trying to beat a top-five team for the first time since a 31-18 win over No. 1 Ohio State in 2010. Wisconsin will also try to beat Penn State for the first time since 2011. Penn State has won the last five games of this series.

Key match

Wisconsin offensive line vs. Penn State defensive line: Wisconsin’s first-team offensive line of Jack Nelson, Joe Huber, Jake Renfro, Joe Brunner and Riley Mahlman has a combined 138 starts. This group has allowed just three sacks and paved the way for 736 yards rushing during Wisconsin’s three-game winning streak. Abdul Carter, who has four sacks and 9 1/2 tackles for loss, leads Penn State’s stingy defensive front. Penn State ranks sixth in yards allowed per game (262.5) and 12th in yards allowed per game (4.51).

Players to watch

Penn State: TE Tyler Warren was named to the first team of the Associated Press midseason All-America team last week. In Penn State’s final game, Warren had 17 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown – setting a Football Bowl Subdivision record for a tight end – and Penn State won 33-30 in overtime at Southern California.

Wisconsin: RB Tawee Walker rushed for 418 yards and six touchdowns during the Badgers’ three-game winning streak. He has eight touchdown runs in conference play, leading all Big Ten players.

Facts & Figures

This is the second straight season Penn State has won its first six games. After back-to-back losses to No. 15 Alabama and Southern California, Wisconsin has beaten its last three opponents by a combined margin of 117-16. The Badgers have allowed just one touchdown in their last three games. Since 1956, Penn State’s Drew Allar is the only FBS quarterback to total more than 500 pass attempts, more than 40 touchdown passes and six interceptions or fewer in his career. Wisconsin is 10-1 in its last 11 night games at Camp Randall Stadium. But the Badgers are also just 2-13 in their last 15 overall games against top-25 opponents, including an 0-4 mark in Luke Fickell’s coaching tenure.