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KEY MATCHUPS P E N N S T A T E V S . T E M P L E | B Y P H I L G R O S Z W H E N P E N N S T A T E H A S T H E B A L L O T H E R M A T C H U P S PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 101.9 YPG, 2.9 YPC TEMPLE RUN DEFENSE 160.2 YPG, 3.8 YPC THE LOWDOWN Even though PSU finished last season with the worst rushing attack in the Big Ten, they ran the ball ef- fectively vs. Temple, as Akeel Lynch and Bill Belton ran for a team-high 130 yards. The Owls are led by MLB Tyler Matakevich, who paced them with 117 tackles as a junior, including 10.5 tackles for loss. The Owls also have an ex- cellent run defender up front in All-Conference DT Matt Ioannidis. Penn State's projected starting offensive guards – Brendan Mahon and Brian Gaia – will do battle with Matakevich and Ioannidis. Additionally, Temple re- turns all 11 starters, so this should be an excellent test for Penn State's offensive line. EDGE Penn State PENN STATE PASSING GAME 233.4 YPG, 11.0 YPC TEMPLE PASS DEFENSE 186.9 YPG, 10.4 YPC THE LOWDOWN The Owls feature what many believe is the best CB tandem in the American Athletic Conference in sen- ior Tavon Young and sophomore Sean Chandler. Both are said to have NFL potential, and same with redshirt jun- ior DE Praise Martin-Oguike, a returning All-AAC performer, but he could miss the game due to injury. It will be interesting to see how Penn State's eight-man receiver rotation, headlined by returning Big Ten receptions leader DaeSean Hamilton, performs against Young, Chandler and the rest of Temple's secondary. In addition, projected starting LT Paris Palmer in his Division I debut will need to help keep Hackenberg off of his back. EDGE Even PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. TEMPLE PASS DEFENSE TEMPLE RUNNING GAME 107.8 YPG, 3.5 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 100.2 YPG, 2.9 YPC THE LOWDOWN The Owls struggled on the ground last year. Their leading rusher was Jahad Thomas with only 324 yards and an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Now a senior, Thomas is again the projected starter, and he's being pushed by freshman Ryquell Armstead, who reportedly enjoyed an excellent preseason camp. PSU was second in the country in total defense last year, allowing 278.7 yards per game, thanks in large part to the performances of elite DTs Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson. The key matchup here will pit All-AAC center Kyle Friend against Zettel and Johnson. EDGE Penn State TEMPLE RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE TEMPLE PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE THE LOWDOWN Given the uncertainty about Penn State's starting kicker and punter, it's tough to predict how these units will perform. As for Temple, Anderson will return punts and Thomas will bring back kicks after compiling a team- best average of 23.7 yards last season. The Owls will also be looking for improvement from PK Austin Jones after he converted only 13 of 22 field goal attempts as a freshman. EDGE Even SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWN The Nittany Lions hold a 39-3-1 edge in the all-time series against Temple, but the lopsided history won't mean a thing on Saturday. The Owls' recruiting has improved in recent years, and with 17 starters return- ing, including all 11 on defense, they believe that this is the year they can pull off their first win in the series since 1941. EDGE Temple THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN This is a special game for Temple head coach Matt Rhule. He was a walk-on at Penn State and played his high school football for State College High. James Franklin is entering his second season on the job and wants to show the Nittany Lion faithful that his team is prepared to take a big step forward. The emotional edge, however, here is with Rhule. EDGE Temple COACHING STAFF W H E N T E M P L E H A S T H E B A L L PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. TEMPLE RUN DEFENSE S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 3 TEMPLE PASSING GAME 200.7 YPG, 11.3 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 178.2 YPG, 10.8 YPC THE LOWDOWN The Owls had difficulty throwing the ball in 2014, ranking 86th in the country. QB P.J. Walker is back for his junior season after completing 53.3 percent of his attempts for 2,317 yards last fall, with 13 TDs and 15 inter- ceptions. The receivers are led by senior Robby Anderson, who had 44 catches for 791 yards and nine TDs in 2013 but was academically ineligible last season. Pitt transfer Adonis Jennings should help, too, after enjoying a strong preseason camp. Collin Thompson is Temple's top tight end with 11 catches for 98 yards last fall. The key matchup here will pit Anderson against CBs Grant Haley and Trevor Williams. EDGE Penn State

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