No. 10 Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) vs. Maryland (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten)
Byrd Stadium, College Park, Maryland
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
Scouting Penn State
The No. 10 Nittany Lions beat Nebraska, 56-44, last week as Saquon Barkley generated 224 all-purpose yards, 157 of them coming on the ground. Barkley, who ran for three scores, exceeded the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season and was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Trace McSorley has completed 65.2 percent of his passes to date, for a Big Ten-leading 2,991 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has been intercepted eight times. Coach James Franklin said earlier this week that linebacker Manny Bowen will miss his third straight game for what Franklin has called a violation of team rules. Franklin also said he hopes to have defensive end Ryan Buchholz back. He has missed the last three games after suffering an undisclosed leg injury early in the Oct. 28 loss at Ohio State. The status of offensive tackle Ryan Bates is less certain. He too suffered a leg injury against the Buckeyes and has been out the last three weeks.
Scouting Maryland
The Terrapins fell last week in the snow at Michigan State, 17-7, their third straight loss and their sixth defeat in the last seven games. Max Bortenschlager, one of four quarterbacks to start for Maryland this season, returned after missing the previous game with a head injury. He has clicked on 51.3 percent of his passes this season, for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns, while being intercepted five times. D.J. Moore (72 catches, 933 yards, eight TDs) leads the Big Ten in receiving, while Ty Johnson (805 yards, 6.2 per attempt) is eighth in rushing. Maryland is no better than 12th in the conference in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense or passing defense.
History
PSU leads the all-time series, 37-2-1, and has won the last two meetings. The score last season was 38-14.
Storyline to watch
It is likely to be the final regular-season game for Barkley, who has firmly established himself as one of the great players in school history.
What’s at stake
The Lions will seek to fill in the final lines on their résumé in hopes of earning a bid to a New Year’s Day bowl.
Prediction
Penn State, 45-14.