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>> 2020 RECORD 2-2, 2-2 Colonial Ath- letic Association COACH Mark Ferrante (21-18 in four seasons at Villanova; career record: same) SERIES HISTORY The Nittany Lions lead the series, 5-3-1. MOST RECENT MEETING In a game marred by personal fouls, Villanova de- feated Penn State, 20-14, on Oct. 6, 1951. The Wildcats were :agged for 138 yards in penalties, and as Ridge Riley wrote in the Football Letter a0erward, "It took self control and high moral courage to keep Saturday's game from developing into a bedlam of :ying 'sts." The game took place at Allentown High School Stadium, in part because Penn State was trying at the time to recruit a young running back from Reading named Lenny Moore. OFFENSE Quarterback Daniel Smith didn't put together a gaudy statistical portfolio during Villanova's recently concluded spring season, completing only 48.7 percent of his attempts for 677 yards, with four touchdown passes and two interceptions. But he orchestrated a Villanova attack that 'nished second in the CAA in total o.ense, averaging 400.8 yards per game. It was a balanced e.ort that produced 210.8 yards per game on the ground and 190.0 through the air. Smith's top target, wideout Rayjoun Pringle, will also be back a0er leading the team with 17 catches for 245 yards and two TDs. Justin Covington led the Wildcats in rushing with 309 yards and six TDs, averaging 7.5 yards per carry, but it was unclear as of this writ- ing whether he was planning to come back. DEFENSE Villanova struggled with its pass defense this spring, as opposing quarterbacks completed 65.6 percent of their attempts for an average of 235.5 yards per game. But the Wildcats did toughen up in the red zone, allowing a league-low two touchdown passes. Cor- nerback Christian Benford is the standout in the secondary, having won 'rst-team All-Conference honors a0er totaling 18 tackles, four pass breakups and an inter- ception. Two other 'rst-team All-Con- ference defenders – linebacker Forrest Rhyne and defensive end Malik Fisher – have the option of coming back. SPECIAL TEAMS Cole Bunce hit 7 of 8 'eld goal tries for the Wildcats, with his longest being a 45-yarder. Nathan Fon- dacaro handled the punting duties, av- eraging 38.4 yards. SCHEDULE The Wildcats' upcoming nonconference season consists of three in-state opponents, with Penn State joined by Lehigh and Bucknell of the Pa- triot League. A week before facing the Nittany Lions on Sept. 25, Villanova will open its CAA season against visiting Richmond. GAME OF THE YEAR Villanova's annual rivalry game against Delaware, the Bat- tle of the Blue, will take place Nov. 20 at Newark, Del. The Wildcats have won 13 of the past 15 in the series, but the Blue Hens prevailed last year in Philly, 27-20. OUTLOOK The CAA opted to delay its 2020 season until this spring, and the Wildcats were able to play four of their six scheduled games. Will that put them at a competitive disadvantage in the fall? Probably not. All but one of their 11 up- coming opponents did likewise, and the one that didn't – Penn State – exists in a di.erent competitive realm. Whatever happens in Beaver Stadium on Sept. 25 isn't likely to be impacted by disparities in the scheduling approaches taken by the Big Ten and the CAA. The last time Penn State faced an FCS foe, it thrashed Idaho, 79-7, in its 2019 opener. That result may or may not be in- dicative of what we can expect when the Lions and Wildcats resume this long- dormant series. But at the very least, Vil- lanova will be hard pressed to extend its three-game winning streak against PSU, which dates back to 1936. –M.H. TOP RETURNEES PASSING Daniel Smith 56 of 115 | 677 yds. | 4 TD | 2 int. RUSHING Justin Covington 41 att. | 309 yds. | 6 TD RECEIVING Rayjoun Pringle 17 rec. | 245 yds. | 2 TD TACKLING Jalen Goodman 21 solo | 8 asst. | 29 total SACKS Malik Fisher 4 sacks | 22 yds. 2020 RECORD 6-2, 6-1 Big Ten COACH Tom Allen (24-22 in four full seasons and one partial season at Indi- ana; career record: same) SERIES HISTORY The Nittany Lions hold a 22-2 lead in their series against the Hoosiers. MOST RECENT MEETING Indiana came roaring back from a late de'cit, tying the score on a two-point conversion with 22 seconds le0, then winning the game on another two-point conversion in over- time. The Hoosiers' 36-35 victory over the visiting Lions on Oct. 24, 2020, was their 'rst in the series since 2013. WEEK 4 VILLANOVA T I M E T B A | S E P T . 2 5 | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K , P A . WEEK 5 INDIANA T I M E T B A | O C T . 2 | B E A V E R S T A D I U M | U N I V E R S I T Y P A R K , P A .

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