Penn State will honor over 30 seniors on November 18, 2023, as they face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their final home game of the season at Beaver Stadium. Both teams are vying for a crucial victory, but the Nittany Lions are particularly motivated to celebrate Senior Night with a win after struggling through a challenging season.
The 2022 recruiting class at Penn State has been under immense pressure since their arrival, yet they have largely met expectations. Their tenure has seen the Nittany Lions achieve a record for wins over a three-year span, participate in four New Year’s Six bowl games, and secure a College Football Playoff berth for the first time in school history. Interim head coach Terry Smith praised their contributions, stating, “They’ve been incredible for us. These guys have really transformed the expectation for Penn State football.”
Despite the accolades, this season has not unfolded as anticipated for the Lions, who currently hold a record of 1-6 in the Big Ten and 4-6 overall. Smith expressed his pride in the senior class and emphasized the importance of the upcoming game, hoping to send the seniors off with a victory. “I’m super proud that we can go out there on Saturday night, pay tribute to those guys, and hopefully get a victory for them,” he said.
In order to become bowl eligible, Penn State must secure victories against both Nebraska and Rutgers the following week. This situation contrasts sharply with expectations set before the season when the Lions were ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll.
Running back Nick Singleton, a standout from the 2022 class, is eager to leave his mark on the program. “I obviously want to win both of them. I want to perform to the best of my ability,” he stated. Singleton, along with fellow running back Kaytron Allen, has the potential to establish new career records in the coming games. Allen ranks third on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,794 yards, trailing only Evan Royster and Saquon Barkley. Last week, he achieved a career-high 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-10 victory over Michigan State, breaking a six-game losing streak.
Singleton, although having a less-than-stellar season, is on the verge of tying Barkley’s records for overall career touchdowns and career rushing touchdowns. He currently sits with 49 career touchdowns and 39 rushing touchdowns, while also being second in all-purpose yards with 5,308.
On the opposing side, Nebraska will look to their impressive running back, Emmett Johnson, who ranks fourth nationally with an average of 113.1 rushing yards per game. Johnson’s performance has been pivotal, as he recorded 129 yards and a touchdown against UCLA recently. The Cornhuskers are adapting to the absence of their starting quarterback, Dylan Raiola, who is sidelined for the season due to injury.
Smith noted the challenge posed by Nebraska’s running game, stating, “They’re going to try to get in third-and-short situations where they can still run the ball and not force the quarterback to throw.” The Lions will aim to create obvious passing situations for Nebraska’s quarterback, TJ Lateef, in order to capitalize on their defensive strengths.
This matchup also marks the first time that Penn State alumni Matt Rhule and Smith will face off since Rhule was at Temple. It is also noteworthy as the first prime time game played in late November at Beaver Stadium, adding to the emotional stakes for the seniors.
Safety Zakee Wheatley, who began his career in 2021, reflected on the significance of the night. “It’s crazy how fast all these years went by. The last one at Beav, I’m just excited to be on that field one more time,” he said.
As Penn State prepares for this pivotal game, analysts predict a close contest, with Rich Scarcella suggesting a score of Penn State 24, Nebraska 17. The expectation is for a ground-focused game rather than a high-scoring shootout, as both teams rely heavily on their running games and young quarterbacks.
With the stakes high for both teams, Penn State hopes to conclude their home season on a high note, leaving a lasting legacy for their senior players.