Recent stats:
- Entering Saturday’s slate of games, Penn State leads the country in total defense, holding opponents to 223.3 yards per game. The 223.3 mark currently stands as the lowest in a single season in the FBS since Alabama’s 183.6 in 2011.
- The Nittany Lions had two shutouts against Big Ten opponents (31-0 vs. Iowa; 42-0 at Michigan State) for the first time since 2021 (24-0 vs. Indiana; 28-0 vs. Rutgers).
- Penn State earned its third shutout this season (31-0 vs. Iowa; 63-0 vs. UMass; 42-0 at Michigan State). Penn State posted three shutouts in a season for the first time since 1978 (19-0 at Ohio State; 58-0 vs. TCU; 30-0 at Kentucky).
- Penn State held Michigan State to 53 total yards, marking the second time this season holding an opponent to 76 or fewer yards (76 vs. Iowa).
- Since 1947, the 53 total yards are Penn State’s fourth-fewest allowed in a game (-47 vs. Syracuse, 1947; 25 vs. Temple, 1947; 43 vs. Pitt, 1947) and the fewest allowed in a game in the James Franklin era.
- Since 2000, Penn State and TCU (2017 vs. Jackson State and Kansas) are the only FBS schools to hold multiple opponents to 76 total yards or fewer in a single season. Penn State is the only team to do so against two conference opponents.
- Penn State limited Michigan State to -35 rushing yards. The Nittany Lions have held two opponents under -35 rushing yards this season (-49 at Maryland), the two-lowest single-game totals in the FBS this season.
- Since 2000, Penn State is the only FBS school to hold multiple opponents to -35 rushing yards or fewer in a single season.
- Since 1947, the -35 rushing yards are Penn State’s third-fewest allowed in a game (-107 vs. Syracuse, 1947; -49 at Maryland, 2023) and the second-fewest allowed in a game in the James Franklin era.
- Penn State has held opponents under 100 rushing yards 10 times this season.
- Penn State has 24 takeaways this season (12 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries).
- Since the start of 2022, Penn State has forced 50 turnovers (26 interceptions, 24 fumbles), tied for second-most in the nation and most amongst Power Five teams.
- Manny Diaz is in his second season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and was a Broyles Award semifinalist in 2022.
- Through nine games in 2023, Penn State leads the country in rushing defense (60.3) and sacks per game (4.22).
- The Nittany Lions rank second in the nation in first downs defense (118), total defense (234.2), fumbles recovered (10) and takeaways (20), while sitting third in scoring defense (11.9).
- Penn State sits fourth in the country in tackles for loss per game (8.4), eighth in third down conversion defense (28.7), ninth in passing efficiency defense (109.24), 12th in passing defense (173.9) and 19th in interceptions (10).
- Through nine games, 24 Nittany Lions have recorded at least one tackle for loss and 19 have recorded at least one sack.
- Among FBS teams, Penn State has the most players (19) with at least 1.0 sacks this season, while Penn State and Texas State are the only teams with 24+ players with at least 1.0 tackles for loss this year.
- After the Maryland game, Penn State has held eight-straight opponents under 100 rushing yards (Delaware, 82; Illinois, 78; Iowa, 20; Northwestern, 45; UMass, 64; Ohio State, 79; Indiana, 80; Maryland, -49).
- The eight-straight games holding opponents under 100 rushing yards is the nation’s longest active streak.
- Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State has held 17 opponents under 100 rushing yards, tied-most in the FBS.
- Over the last two seasons, Penn State has held opponents to under a 50 completion percentage in nine games, the nation’s third-most in that span.
- Over the last two seasons, the Nittany Lions have allowed under 10 completions in four games, tied fourth-most in the nation.
- Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State has forced 46 turnovers (24 interceptions, 22 fumbles), tied-second in the nation.
- Penn State’s 22 fumbles recovered over the last two seasons are tied-second in the nation and most in the Big Ten, while the 24 interceptions are tied 17th.
- Penn State has recorded three or more takeaways in nine games over the last two seasons, tied-most among FBS teams.
- Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State is first in the nation in turnover margin, averaging a +1.27 margin (2.09 gained per game; 0.82 lost per game).
