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Wisconsin Badgers Game Day: Penn State

By Mike Fiammetta
Patrick Smith
Game Day Vitals:
  • Wisconsin Badgers (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten/Leaders) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-4, 5-2 Big Ten/Leaders)
  • Beaver Stadium (107,282); Sat., Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m. CT
  • TV: ESPN2
  • All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads, 9-6
  • Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 45-7 (Nov. 26, 2011 in Madison)
  • Tickets: Wisconsin Badgers Tickets

Opponent Vitals:

Coaches:

Key Players:
NAME STATS
LEADING PASSER QB Matt McGloin (Sr.) 61.4% comp, 3,071 yards, 23 TD, 5 INT
LEADING RUSHER RB Zach Zwinak (So.) 167 car, 821 yards (4.9 YPC), 5 TD
LEADING RECEIVERS WR Allen Robinson (So.)
TE Kyle Carter (Fr.)
WR Brandon Moseby-Felder (Jr.)
 73 rec, 983 yards (13.5 YPC), 11 TD
36 rec, 453 yards (12.6 YPC), 2 TD
30 rec, 427 yards (14.2 YPC), 1 TD
LEADING TACKLER LB Gerald Hodges (Sr.) 102 tackles (8.5 for loss - 33 yards), 1.0 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF
LEADING SACKER DE Deion Barnes (So.) 6.0 sacks - 30 yards, 25 tackles (10.0 for loss - 39 yards), 3 FF
LEADING INTERCEPTER LB Michael Mauti (Sr.) -- WILL NOT PLAY 3 INT - 125 yards, 95 tackles (4.0 for loss - 31 yards), 2.5 sacks, 3 FF

2012 Schedule/Results:
  • Last week: W 45-22 vs. Indiana. Penn State obliterated Indiana with 546 total yards of offense, career days from McGloin (22-of-32, 395 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT) and Robinson (10 rec, 197 yards, 3 TD), but the most significant news of the day came when Mauti left the field in the first quarter with an apparently serious left knee injury. Mauti has already been ruled out for Saturday's game vs. Wisconsin, meaning the senior leader will have played his last game for Penn State. He will, however, almost assuredly earn the loudest ovation in the pre-game Senior Day festivities.
  • Biggest win: Week 6 vs. No. 24 Northwestern, 39-28. The Nittany Lions overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter with 22 unanswered points, thanks primarily to a solid day from McGloin (35-of-51, 282 yards, 2 TD) and Zwinak (28 car, 121 yards, 1 TD). Penn State out-gained Northwestern, 443-247, while also preventing the Wildcats from claiming their first 6-0 start in 50 yards.
  • Biggest loss: Week 9 vs. Ohio State, 35-23. Imagine if Penn State won the Leaders Division in the first season following the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the firing of Joe Paterno? Who knows what would've transpired afterward, but a win over the Buckeyes would've gone a tremendous way in helping the Nittany Lions, at the very least, keep pace in the division. But PSU was unable to contain OSU quarterback Braxton Miller (134 rushing yards and 2 TD) or overcome a the Buckeyes' 21-point third quarter.
  • Outlook: Penn State's season winds to a halt this Saturday, and I'd venture that win or loss, you'd have to call it a success considering the turmoil of the offseason. Bill O'Brien -- who has yet to commit to another season in Happy Valley, by the way -- has done a remarkable job of keeping Penn State competitive, though who knows for how many years he'll be able to stretch that success.

DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME RECORD
Sat, Sept. 1 Ohio L 24-14 0-1
Sat, Sept. 8 @ Virginia L 17-16 0-2
Sat, Sept. 15 Navy W 34-7 1-2
Sat, Sept. 22 Temple W 24-13 2-2
Sat, Sept. 29 @ Illinois W 35-7 3-2 (1-0)
Sat, Oct. 6 #24 Northwestern W 39-28 4-2 (2-0)
Sat, Oct. 20 @ Iowa W 38-14 5-2 (3-0)
Sat, Oct. 27 Ohio St. L 35-23 5-3 (3-1)
Sat, Nov. 3 @ Purdue W 34-9 6-3 (4-1)
Sat, Nov. 10 #16 Nebraska L 32-23 6-4 (4-2)
Sat, Nov. 17 Indiana W 45-22 7-4 (5-2)
Sat, Nov. 24 Wisconsin 2:30 p.m. CT

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Wisconsin Badgers Game Day: Penn State

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