Penn State-Michigan State preview: How will Nittany Lions use both QBs in Detroit?
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It’s a short week and a homecoming of sorts for a handful of Penn State players from Detroit and the surrounding areas.
Twins Kobe and Kalen King grew up within 10 minutes of Ford Field. Safety Jaylen Reed played in the venue three times growing up in Detroit: twice in high school and once in youth football. Tight end Theo Johnson is from just across the Detroit River in Windsor, Canada. He said he’s trying to secure 20 tickets for Friday to go along with those that others have already bought.
“Just to have the opportunity to go back home, where I’m from, around the people that I grew up with, it means a lot,” Kalen King said. “I wouldn’t rather have any other opportunity for my last game this season than going back to Detroit. ... I’m taking it all in. Very excited for this week.”
No. 11 Penn State’s trip to play Michigan State (4-7) at Ford Field was finalized this summer. The all-time series is tied at 18-18-1. Penn State is 17-10 against the Spartans since joining the Big Ten and 4-5 against Michigan State during James Franklin’s tenure.
With a shot at another 10-win regular season on the line, here are four keys to Penn State’s regular-season finale and a prediction.
Quarterback Drew Allar was on the practice field Tuesday night but did not attempt a pass during the media viewing window. Franklin said afterward he’s “still confident” Allar will be able to play.
Allar exited last week’s game against Rutgers early in the third quarter with an apparent upper-body injury. He continued to stretch out his throwing arm and shoulder while backup Beau Pribula led three scoring drives in the second half. Penn State anticipates both quarterbacks having a role in this game. Pribula’s role — whether it’s a series here and there or that of a starter — remains to be seen.
“Our model and plan doesn’t need to change based on the information that we have right now,” Franklin said Tuesday.
The Pribula package that was talked about so much this year has been used in two games (against Maryland and Rutgers). Pribula’s mobility, something he showcased against Rutgers, helped open the rest of the ground game for Penn State.
Running the ball is what this offense does best. If it needs to run the ball a lot, like it did in the second half last week and against Iowa , it can and will. Pribula attempted just one pass against Rutgers. He played almost the entire second half. Teammates said the redshirt freshman’s arm might be “underrated” and that they’ve seen him throw well in practice.
“People see him running really well, and they don’t realize he’s also an elite passer too,” Johnson said. “This past Saturday I told coach (Ja’Juan) Seider we all trust Beau. I came up to him on the sideline and was like, ‘We all trust Beau to throw the ball out there, so don’t be afraid to dial up a shot or something,’ just to kind of let him know.”
Franklin said they went into last week’s game focused on highlighting what players such as wide receiver Omari Evans do well and getting him and other receivers on the field early and often. This is how they’re trying to build confidence with this group for the future. Though the passing game has been all over the place this season, it can’t hurt to keep dipping into this largely unproven group.
“That’s something that I was pretty adamant about,” Franklin said. “What are some of the things these guys do well? Let’s put them in position to use those traits and use those skills. We’ll continue to do that. I think that’s a really important piece of being an offensive coordinator or being a position coach — fighting for your guy and saying these are the things I think they can do well and help the team and have a role that we can build on.”
At this point in the season, it’s also likely about trying to show some of them how they might be utilized in the future, too, with the transfer portal opening next month. Finding creative solutions to help this roster and also have as many players — especially in the receiving corps — involved as possible seems like a solid plan.
Michigan State quarterback Katin Houser has completed 102 of 177 pass attempts (58.6 percent) this season. He has thrown six touchdowns and four interceptions, two of those picks coming last week at Indiana.
Manny Diaz’s defense can generate pressure from just about anywhere. Cornerback Johnny Dixon has come up with sacks. Dani Dennis-Sutton , Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson are as good of a group of defensive ends as any in the country. Linebacker Abdul Carter has been trending in the right direction in the second half of the season.
This is a defense in which any number of players can swing the game. It’s one of the best in college football for a reason. Going against an offense that’s 121st in the FBS in total offense (123rd in rushing offense, 89th in passing) should make for a long night for the Spartans. Diaz might not even need to be overly aggressive or creative given the talent disparity. I wouldn’t be surprised if Penn State gets into some of its defensive rotations even earlier than usual.
Michigan State’s tight end is coming off a career day against Indiana . Maliq Carr had seven receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He has 26 catches for 320 yards and three touchdowns while playing in nine games this season. He’s one player Penn State can’t lose track of. At 6 feet 6, 260 pounds, he’ll likely be hard to miss.
Communication has been strong on this defense. Middle linebacker Kobe King is coming off a 10-tackle performance and already seems like 2024 captain material, based on how teammates describe the quarterback of the defense. Add in safeties like Kevin Winston Jr. and Reed, who are playing arguably the best football of their careers, and this defense likely knows it has to be on the same page when it comes to defending Carr.
Keep in mind
This was the game last season when KeAndre Lambert-Smith put together one of the best performances of his career. Lambert-Smith had five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. Could a similar performance be in order? The Spartans pass defense is 74th in FBS, so it’s again a favorable matchup for Penn State, but just how much it will rely on the passing game is anyone’s guess.
Don’t forget about
The Land Grant Trophy. The winner gets to haul home one of the sport’s most bizarre trophies — and keep it until at least the 2025 season when these teams meet again. The origin story of the trophy is every bit as entertaining as the prize itself. Watching players try to hoist it during the on-field celebration is always entertaining. Penn State will be lugging it to Detroit.
Player we’ll be talking about this weekend
Pribula. The backup quarterback will have plenty of eyes on him regardless of Allar’s status. Pribula’s mobility provided a spark against Rutgers, and Penn State would be wise to tap back into his skill set. Whether it’s a play, a series here and there or a package in the red zone, there’s a lot it can do with him, and it seems there’s a willingness to use him as co-offensive coordinators Ty Howle and Seider formulate their game plan.
Penn State getting to play indoors — avoiding any potential snowy field conditions and/or lightning delays, all of which have highlighted previous trips to East Lansing — seems like a plus. Michigan State’s offense is messy at best, and Penn State has relied on this suffocating defense all season. Friday night will be more of the same for a Penn State team that should be eyeing another 10-2 regular season.
Penn State 31, Michigan State 10
(Photo of Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)
