Cari GreeneWed, November 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM UTC·5 min readPenn St. Nittany Lions (5-6; 2-6 Big Ten) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6; 2-6 Big Ten)3:30 p.m. ET, November 29—BTNSHI Stadium (Capacity: 52,454 / Piscataway, NJ)Tableizer using codebeautify.org table.cb-tableizer { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } cb-tableizer td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .cb-tableizer th { background-color:#A0A2A3; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; }Penn State
Value (Nat’l Rank)
Value (Nat’l Rank)
Rutgers
Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg)
166.4 (63)
201.7 (127)
Rushing Defense (ypg)
Passing Offense (ypg)
179.1 (112)
224.2 (75)
Passing Defense (ypg)
Pass Efficiency
134.41 (66)
156.96 (128)
Pass Efficiency Defense
Total Offense (ypg)
345.5 (99)
425.9 (117)
Total Defense (ypg)
Push
Scoring Offense (ppg)
31.0 (45)
31.09 (T – 114)
Scoring Defense (ppg)
Rushing Defense (ypg)
146.8 (T – 63)
169.6 (T – 49)
Rushing Offense (ypg)
Passing Defense (ypg)
169.5 (17)
259.5 (35)
Passing Offense (ypg)
Push
Pass Efficiency Defense
124.83 (48)
141.88 (54)
Pass Efficiency
Push
Total Defense (ypg)
395.6 (60)
Total Offense (ypg)
Scoring Defense (ppg)
20.09 (T – 26)
28.0 (68)
Scoring Offense (ppg)
Punt Return Defense (ypr)
8.0 (70)
18.2 (5)
Punt Return Yds (ypr)
Punt Return Yds (ypr)
8.11 (81)
11.8 (109)
Punt Return Defense (ypr)
Net Punting Yds (ypp)
41.91 (20)
41.55 (24)
Net Punting Yds (ypp)
Push
Kickoff Return Yds (ypr)
20.28 (79)
19.84 (65)
Kickoff Return Defense (ypr)
Push
Kickoff Return Defense (ypr)
21.44 (83)
21.0 (T – 62)
Kickoff Return Yds (ypr)
Push
Turnover Margin
+.18 (T – 52)
+.09 (T – 61)
Turnover Margin
Passes Had Intercepted (total)
7 (42)
5 (T – 111)
Passes Intercepted (total)
Passes Intercepted (total)
6 (T – 93)
7 (T – 42)
Passes Had Intercepted (total)
Penalty Yds/Game
36.0 (10)
31.73 (5)
Penalty Yds/Game
Push
Sacks (spg)
2.27 (T – 43)
3.18 (T – 123)
Sacks Allowed (spg)
Sacks Allowed (spg)
1.45 (T – 34)
.91 (T – 132)
Sacks (spg)
Tackles for Loss (tpg)
6.2 (T – 35)
5.82 (T – 98)
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg)
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg)
4.82 (T – 40)
3.9 (T – 124)
Tackles for Loss (tpg)
Redzone Offense (% season)
89.1% (T – 37)
88.6% (110)
Redzone Defense (% season)
Redzone Defense (% season)
82.5% (T – 54)
78.0% (T – 109)
Redzone Offense (% season)
Redzone TD % (season)
69.57%
72.73%
Redzone TD % Defense (season)
Redzone TD % Defense (season)
55.0%
60.0%
Redzone TD % (season)
3rd Down Conv. % (season)
43.4% (T – 39)
42.5% (99)
3rd Down Defense % (season)
3rd Down Defense % (season)
41.1% (90)
42.0% (T – 48)
3rd Down Conv. % (season)
4th Down Conv. % (season)
59.3% (47)
66.7% (T – 118)
4th Down Defense % (season)
4th Down Defense % (season)
50.0% (T – 42)
65.6% (21)
4th Down Conv. % (season)
Push
1st Downs (season)
213 (T – 89)
226 (T – 80)
1st Downs Allowed (season)
Push
1st Downs Allowed (season)
186 (T – 19)
252 (26)
1st Downs (season)
Push
Time of Possession (mpg)
29 (82)
32 (15)
Time of Possession (mpg)
Strength of Schedule
43
30
Strength of Schedule
Push
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> 25
in
National Rank
Difference
> 50
in
National Rank
Difference
> 75
in
National Rank
Difference
> 100
in
National Rank
Note:
All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is taken from Power Rankings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.
Quick thoughts:
For the second week in a row, the Nittany Lions’ rankings in nearly every stat got better. No surprise, as they took on a good Nebraska team and absolutely dominated them; last week’s win wasn’t a fluke, and the scores weren’t on tricky plays or even turnovers. It was a methodical win, dominating both lines of scrimmage. And though this week is on the road for Penn State, unlike last week’s game, the opponent isn’t as complete of a team, despite having their mobile starting quarterback still playing.
Rutgers is, just like PSU, playing for the post season this week, but they’re not the same team they’ve been in previous years, as defense-first as Greg Schiano otherwise might prefer. The most dangerous thing about this game is the scrambling ability of the quarterback, but if the Nittany Lions play like they have been the last three weeks, their season should be able to be extended.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA little bit more behind these stats:
Penn State’s fourth down defense had the best single-week increase I can remember between MSU and Nebraska, elevating over 50 spots in the rankings off a few key red zone stops (including a game-starting impressive goal line stand)
The Nittany Lions have attempted conversions on 27 fourth downs, and gotten the conversion on 16 of those attempts; the Scarlet Knights have attempted 32 conversions, and succeeded on 21 of those attempts
PSU’s defense has faced 28 fourth down conversion attempts and allowed conversions on 14 of them – compared to RU’s defense facing just 12 attempts, and allowing conversions on 8 of them
Penn State has had 46 red zone trips on offense, resulting in 32 touchdowns and 9 field goals. Rutgers has had 50 trips, resulting in 30 touchdowns and 9 field goals
The Nittany Lion defense moved up in the red zone rankings almost 40 spots, having allowed 40 red zone trips, off which their opponents have scored 22 touchdowns and 11 field goals. The Scarlet Knight defense has allowed 44 trips, with opponents scoring 32 touchdowns and 7 field goals
PSU has returned 18 punts, while RU has only returned 5. Penn State’s opponents have only returned 9 punts on the season, while Rutgers’ opponents also have only attempted 5 returns
The Nittany Lions have returned 18 kickoffs, while the Scarlet Knights have returned just 9. On the flip side, PSU has faced 16 kickoff returns, while RU has faced 19.
What say you all?
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