Penn State Hosts No. 2 Indiana Amid Injury Concerns

University Park, PA – Penn State football returns to Beaver Stadium today to face the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers in a Big Ten showdown. This marks the first home game for the Nittany Lions since the firing of head coach James Franklin nearly a month ago. They are currently seeking their first conference win of the season, aiming to upset the undefeated Hoosiers.

The game is set for noon and will be broadcast on FOX, featuring play-by-play from Gus Johnson and color commentary by Joel Klatt, while Jenny Dell will report from the sidelines.

Weather conditions at Beaver Stadium are mild, with temperatures at 59°F and a RealFeel of 58°F. Fans can expect a cloudy day with wind gusts up to 17 mph and a 10% chance of rain.

Interim head coach Terry Smith provided an update on the team, noting that backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik is still considered week-to-week due to an injury sustained during the matchup against Iowa. Freshman quarterback Bekkem Kritza served as the second-string quarterback behind Ethan Grunkemeyer last week but missed practice due to illness, raising concerns about his availability against Indiana.

Health issues have been a recurring theme for the Nittany Lions, as multiple players—including Drew Allar, Josiah Brown, and Tony Rojas—sat out the recent match against Ohio State. Despite these challenges, Penn State has historically performed well against Indiana, boasting a record of 25-2 against them and riding a three-game win streak following a controversial overtime victory in 2020.

Indiana, under the leadership of head coach Curt Cignetti, is currently favored by 14.5 points. The Hoosiers remain undefeated at 9-0 for the season and have proven strong, with their only close contest being a five-point win over No. 20 Iowa.

Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, is having an impressive season, throwing for over 2,000 yards and leading the country with 24 touchdown passes. His explosive offense features standout players like wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. Sarratt leads the team with 10 touchdowns, while Cooper tops the team in receiving yards.

On the defensive side, Indiana has been a formidable force, ranking in the top tier nationally in points allowed per game. This includes standout performances from safety Louis Moore, who leads with five interceptions, and a stable of linebackers that have been relentless against opposing offenses.

As the Nittany Lions look to turn their season around, the outcome of today’s game at Beaver Stadium will be crucial not only for their championship aspirations but also for reestablishing home-field dominance.