Is the Penn State football team ready for a top-five clash at Iowa?
It's one of the top topics of conversation among Nittany Lions fans today as the team sits just days away from the 4 p.m. Saturday showdown at Kinnick Stadium.
Today's newsstand has previews of the matchups, info on new recruiting offers, top-25 updates, and much more.
Let's dive into the top tweets and headlines about the Penn State Nittany Lions and college football as a whole on Oct. 4.
Penn State offered Class of 2024 quarterback Michael Van Buren on Monday morning. Rivals photo (Rivals.com)
Tweets of the day
Let's start with a rankings update: The Nittany Lions stayed at No. 4 in the AP top-25 and were moved up to that spot in the Coaches Poll. Of course, that means they were jumped by the Hawkeyes, who are now No. 3 in both.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It was a good day for former Nittany Lions in the NFL, as Saquon Barkley scored a walk-off touchdown in the Giants' win over New Orleans, and Mike Gesicki hauled one in as well.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PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv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On the recruiting front, Penn State offered Class of 2023 York receiver Kenny Johnson on Sunday before extending one to Baltimore, Md., St. Frances quarterback Michael Van Buren on Monday.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PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0nc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxvY2sgc3RfX2NvbnRlbnQtYmxv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Finally, Penn State-Iowa is an unprecedented matchup in the Big Ten. One stat shows why: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Headlines of the day
Penn State makes 2 more red zone stops against Indiana : Scarcella, Reading Eagle
It's Penn State-Iowa week: Spread, TV info, storylines, more : Pickel, BWI
Chemistry between Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson fueling undefeated Penn State’s success : Juliano, Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn State Football Photos: Recruits at the Indiana Game : Snyder, BWI
Penn State-Iowa storylines to start the week: The Hawkeyes’ amazing turnover margin, the Lions’ tenacious duo, more : Flounders, PennLive
Trip to unbeaten Iowa awaits Nittany Lions : Herb, BWI
Sunday observations: Is Iowa ready for Penn State? : Giger, DKonPittsburghSports
Notebook: Nittany Lions credit run-stuffing D for Pick City, Clifford, more : Bauer, BWI
Quote of the day
“Iowa is playing really good, and they’re able to run the ball. They’re playing great defense. That defensive coordinator has been doing a really good job. And what’s amazing is, you turn on the tape from yesterday, turn on tape from six years ago, turn the tape on from 12 years ago — they do what they do, and they do it well.
“The fact is that they’re always in zone coverage and they always have eyes on the quarterback. They have these massive defensive linemen that are able to get pressure and bat balls down. They’re a good team, so I’m going to try to enjoy this one for a few hours.”
--Penn State coach James Franklin, as transcribed by Statecollege.com, on facing Iowa.
*******
• Talk about this article inside The Lions Den
• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Sign up for our daily newsletter and breaking news alerts
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue-White Illustrated
• Follow us on Twitter: @BWIonRivals , @NateBauerBWI , @RivalsSnyder , @DavidEckert98 , @GregPickel , @ThomasFrankCarr
• Follow us on Instagram
• Like us on Facebook