Penn State working again Kaytron Allen (13) carries the ball within the fourth quarter of a Massive Ten soccer sport in opposition to Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in State School, Pa. UCLA coach DeShaun Foster knew to anticipate going through a bodily, defensive-oriented type of play with the Bruins’ transition to the Massive Ten Convention, and Saturday’s go to to State School, Pa., to face No. 7 Penn State guarantees precisely that.
Bruins first-year coach Foster exhibits his group basic heavyweight boxing matches within the lead-up to sport day. UCLA (1-3, 0-2 Massive Ten) will want to have the ability to soak up some haymakers from a Penn State protection that has been one of many nation’s greatest by the primary month of the 2024 season.
The Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0) head into the primary assembly between Penn State and UCLA since 1968 having allowed simply seven factors during the last two video games. Most lately, they wore down then-No. 19 Illinois en path to a 21-7 win final Saturday.
Penn State allowed simply 219 complete yards of offense to Illinois, together with 34 speeding yards. In overwhelming the Illini’s floor sport, Penn State improved to a 72-yard per sport defensive speeding yield and ranks seventh nationally in opposition to the run.
Opponents are averaging a mere 2.3 yards per carry in opposition to the Nittany Lions. In the meantime, UCLA’s 57 speeding yards per sport ranks in direction of the underside amongst all FBS offenses by Week 5.
“It is largely the main points,” Foster stated of UCLA’s offensive struggles. “We have had too many penalties. … We’re engaged on that proper now. Play inside your self. Do not get on the market and attempt to do one thing out of the bizarre or that you just weren’t coached to do.”
The Bruins have but to succeed in the century mark on the bottom in any sport this season, peaking with 96 in a 42-13 Massive Ten-opening loss Week 3 to Indiana. UCLA’s speeding low got here in Week 4 when the Bruins managed simply 14 yards in a 34-17 loss at LSU.
Incapability to ascertain an efficient speeding menace is a major trigger for the Bruins having but to attain greater than 17 factors in any of 4 outings in 2024. UCLA has additionally sputtered in opposition to an exceedingly difficult early-season schedule.
With the Sept. 21 go to to LSU and Massive Ten house contests in opposition to Indiana and final Saturday’s 34-13 loss to Oregon, Penn State marks the Bruins’ fourth consecutive opponent ranked within the AP Prime 25. Indiana entered the ballot on Sunday at No. 23.
However whereas Penn State is ranked seventh and undefeated, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin sees appreciable room for enchancment as his group approaches the meat of convention play, and in an space the place UCLA has additionally struggled.
“The plain one we have not acquired corrected but is penalties,” Franklin stated. “It is making issues more durable than it must be. … The followers do not need to hold listening to me speak about it, we simply must get it fastened.”
Penn State is averaging 66 yards of penalty yardage per sport. Franklin stated the six flags for 63 yards racked up in opposition to Illinois allowed the Illini to dictate the tone of the sport till late within the second half, particularly in limiting the Nittany Lions offense.
UCLA, in the meantime, is averaging 75 yards in penalties a contest.
Being behind the chains some on offense has not hindered Penn State’s speeding assault an excessive amount of, nonetheless. Nicholas Singleton is carrying for 102 yards per sport and a whopping 7.7 per rush to steer the Nittany Lions.
–Area Stage Media