Piano's keys to the game -- Indiana

Indiana has the worst rushing defense in the Big Ten — and it's not even close. The Hoosiers have allowed 244 rushing yards per game, 62.5 more yards per contest than Purdue, who has the second-worst rushing defense in the conference. Last week, Montee Ball and Wisconsin embarrassed Indiana on the ground. Ball ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns as part of a Badger rushing attack that totaled 564 yards. Penn State's running game hasn't exactly been the team's forte this season. But Zach Zwinak has posted 100-yard games in each of the Nittany Lions' last two contests, and it'd be no surprise if he had another one against Indiana.

 

The redshirt freshman had a solid game against Nebraska, totaling three tackles for loss and a sack. Indiana enters the weekend boasting one of the top passing offenses in the conference. Pressure off the edge could disrupt quarterback Cameron Coffman and the Hoosier offense. If Barnes, a defensive end, continues what he did against the Cornhuskers, Coffman could be seeing a lot of No. 18 and not so much of his receivers. 

 

3. Pretend the second half is a new game

 

For as good as first quarters have gone, third quarters have been dreadful for Penn State this season. The Lions have been outscored, 80-55, in the 15 minutes following halftime opposed to having an 83-6 advantage in the first quarter. Against Nebraska, Penn State gave away a 14-point halftime lead in barely five minutes on its way to a nine-point loss. Many players and coaches haven't been able to put their fingers on what goes wrong out of the break, but it's something they'll need to correct in the last two games.

 

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