When the Faculty Soccer Playoff expanded to 12 groups, 6-seed Penn State was held up as a shining instance of a staff that might’ve benefitted probably the most from an expanded discipline your entire playoff period. Properly, it seems it was true as a result of right here we’re within the first season of the 12-team discipline, and look who not solely made the sector however has received two video games to succeed in the semifinals.
It is the Penn State Nittany Lions!
Yep, the staff that is lengthy been hit with the “cannot win the large one” tag has certainly received a few huge ones the previous couple of weeks, and now it finds itself a pair extra huge ones away from its first nationwide title since 1986. Of the 4 groups remaining, Penn State is considered because the underdog, however it’s a misnomer contemplating the standard of the sector remaining.
Whereas Penn State may not be the staff with the most effective odds of hoisting the trophy on Monday, Jan. 20, it has a practical likelihood to take action. This is why.
1. A hell-raising protection
The largest query surrounding Penn State after its Fiesta Bowl victory is the standing of standout defensive finish Abdul Carter, who ended the sport on the sideline watching as a result of damage. The excellent news is Carter’s social media presence suggests his damage is not going to maintain him out of the Orange Bowl, which is nice information for the Nittany Lions and horrible information for Notre Dame.
Carter is the most effective participant on among the best defenses within the nation. It is a unit that ranks ninth nationally in factors allowed per possession (1.41), and its power is a defensive entrance that causes a ton of chaos. Carter leads the way in which with 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, however he is hardly a one-man present. Dani Dennis-Sutton (11 TFL, 6.5 sacks), Zane Durant (10 TFL, 3 sacks), Kobe King (8.5 TFL, 3 sacks), Amin Vanover (3.5 sacks) and loads of others are very happy to hitch the get together within the backfield.
It is why the Nittany Lions protection ranks ninth in havoc fee (19.6%) and tenth in detrimental play fee (37.9%). In brief, they finish numerous performs earlier than they ever have the prospect to start.
2. An explosive offense
It surprises folks to be taught that regardless of not having family names on the extensive receiver place, Penn State has one of the vital explosive offenses within the nation. Everyone is aware of about Ohio State’s offense and the longer term NFL star receivers, so they don’t seem to be stunned to listen to the Buckeyes rank fifth nationally with an explosive play fee of 16.5%. However guess who’s sixth? That is proper, it is Penn State at 15.6%.
What’s extra exceptional? Penn State is tied with Ohio State for explosive cross fee at 20%, which ranks tenth nationally. The explanation for it’s a mixture of Drew Allar, Mackey Award-winning tight finish Tyler Warren and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s capability to scheme open gamers with the prospect to get yards after getting the ball.
The Nittany Lions are explosive on the bottom with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen too, and numerous the injury comes late in video games. Penn State has an explosive rush fee of 11.2% within the first half of video games — which is sweet however not nice. That quantity climbs to 13.5% within the second half. We noticed proof of this within the Fiesta Bowl the place Singleton and Allen wore the Boise State protection down all recreation earlier than Singleton busted unfastened for the 58-yard landing run within the fourth quarter to ice the sport.
It is a well-rounded unit that may win video games in several methods.
3. Pink zone excellence
You hear coaches speaking in regards to the purple zone on a regular basis as a result of the purple zone is extraordinarily essential. One of the best groups end drives with touchdowns and maintain their opponents to discipline objectives or no factors in any respect. Penn State is nice at each elements, and it is a huge purpose the Nittany Lions have gotten this far.
On offense, 37.58% of Penn State’s possessions attain the purple zone (seventeenth nationally), which is increased than every other remaining CFP staff. The 4.84 factors the Lions rating after they attain the purple zone ranks seventeenth as properly and trails solely the 4.89 factors Ohio State scores when it is there.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions rank 2nd nationally by permitting solely 3.24 factors per purple zone journey. Once more, the one staff they path in that division is Ohio State at 3.09.
