Penn State operating again Kaytron Allen (13) carries the ball through the fourth quarter throughout a Massive Ten Convention soccer sport at Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. , vs. Illinois. UCLA coach DeShawn Foster is aware of the Bruins will face a extra bodily defensive type of play as they transition to the Massive Ten and go to Penn State on Saturday to face No. 7 Penn State ensures simply that.
First-year Bruins coach Foster offered his workforce with a basic heavyweight showdown earlier than sport day. UCLA (1-3, 0-2 Massive Ten) wants gamers who can suck some hay out of a Penn State protection that has been struggling by way of the primary month of the 2024 season. Among the finest defenses within the nation.
The Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0) enter Penn State and UCLA’s first assembly since 1968 having allowed simply seven factors of their previous two video games. Currently, they’ve worn out – no. 19 Illinois gained 21-7 final Saturday.
Penn State allowed solely 219 yards of offense to Illinois, together with 34 yards speeding. In an overwhelming Illini floor sport, Penn State held its protection to 72 yards per sport and ranked seventh nationally in run protection.
In opposition to the Nittany Lions, opponents averaged simply 2.3 yards per carry. In the meantime, UCLA’s 57 speeding yards per sport ranked final amongst all FBS offenses in Week 5.
“It is principally within the particulars,” Foster stated of UCLA’s offensive woes. “We have been punished a lot… We’re attempting to determine it out proper now. Work inside your self. Do not exit and attempt to do one thing out of the peculiar, or one thing you are not coached to do. .
The Bruins haven’t reached the 100-game mark in any sport this season, scoring a excessive of 96 factors in a 42-13 loss to Indiana in Week 3 of the Massive Ten Convention opener. UCLA’s low level got here in Week 4, when the Bruins gained simply 14 yards in a 34-17 loss to LSU.
The shortcoming to ascertain an efficient speeding menace is the principle motive the Bruins have failed to attain greater than 17 factors in any of their 4 video games in 2024. good.
A go to to LSU on Sept. 21 and a Massive Ten dwelling sport in opposition to Indiana College, in addition to final Saturday’s 34-13 loss to Oregon, mark the Bruins’ fourth straight opponent within the AFC. High 25 within the society.
Although Penn State is ranked No. 7 and stays undefeated, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin believes the Nittany Lions shall be higher off as his workforce nears the guts of convention play and in a subject the place UCLA additionally struggles. Taney Lions coach James Franklin believes there’s loads of room for enchancment.
“The plain difficulty we have not corrected but is penalties,” Franklin stated. “It makes it harder than it must be…The followers do not wish to maintain listening to me discuss it, we simply want to repair it.”
Penn State averages 66 penalty yards per sport. Franklin stated a 63-yard six-flag drive in opposition to Illinois allowed Illinois to dictate the tone of the sport till late within the second half, particularly in limiting the Nittany Lions’ offense.
In the meantime, UCLA is averaging 75 yards per punt.
Nonetheless, being behind some guys on offense did not hinder Penn State’s speeding assault an excessive amount of. Nicholas Singleton leads the Nittany Lions with 102 yards per sport and seven.7 yards per carry.
–Scene-level media
