Penn State vs. Indiana Game Predictions

Story posted October 1, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Logan Bourandas, Neil Conley, Adam Babetski, Antonio Fondacaro

The game Penn State fans have been waiting for has arrived.

Revenge could be on the mind of the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions as they welcome in the Indiana Hoosiers to Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. Following last season's thrilling Hoosiers 36-35 win in overtime, this game is looking like one of the best games of the weekend.

Let’s see how our CommRadio Sports staff thinks the matchup will go.

Logan Bourandas:

Much has changed since the last matchup between Penn State and Indiana. The Nittany Lions have managed to rebound following last season’s upset while the Hoosiers hold a 2-2 record and fell out of the top 25.

Despite the record, those two losses have come against ranked teams against Iowa and Cincinnati who are now currently in the top ten in the polls.

Michael Penix Jr., who dominated against the Nittany Lions last year, has gotten off to a rough start this season already throwing six interceptions in the team’s first four games. It’s tough to see how the Hoosiers can pull off the upset for the second year in a row against a Penn State team that has played efficient football all season long.

The blue and white have lived up to their No. 4 ranking in the polls after defeating two ranked opponents in Wisconsin and Auburn.

With that being said, it would not be a surprise to see these two teams in a close battle this Saturday. The last three matchups between the two have all been one-possession games and this one could end up going that same route with the Nittany Lions getting their revenge.

Penn State 34, Indiana 28

Neil Conley: 

The Nittany Lions face the Indiana Hoosiers in what some are calling a “revenge” game. The Hoosiers stunned Penn State last year beating them 36-35 in a controversial 2-point conversion that gave them the win in overtime.

The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 4 while the Hoosiers are unranked. Also, Penn State is unbeaten while Indiana has suffered two losses through four games.

The Hoosiers struggled against Iowa in their first game, which resulted in a 34-6 loss. Indiana put up a fight against the Cincinnati Bearcats but fell in that contest as well. The Hoosiers had strong wins over Idaho and Western Kentucky. 

The difference in ranking and record along with the evident struggles Indiana has had against top-10 teams creates an unfortunate trifecta for the Hoosiers. Penn State will come out victorious.

Penn State 37, Indiana 13

Adam Babetski:

Last year’s debacle against Indiana ruined the season just hours after it started. Fortunately, the 2021 version of Penn State football has proven it is a completely different animal from last year.

The Hoosiers have stumbled to a 2-2 start after high expectations to start the season.

Several factors are at play here: Penn State is at home, it’s at night, and the fans are in the building. Indiana might need something more than leaf blowers in their practices to replicate the noise.

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is fresh off of Big Ten Player of the Week honors after the best performance of his career. Receiver Parker Washington has emerged as a threat alongside Jahan Dotson, giving Clifford several options to throw to. The Nittany Lions’ defense allowed a few garbage-time touchdowns should not be worried ahead of this game.

The Hoosiers have enough playmakers to keep it close, including QB Michael Penix Jr., but they will be playing from behind all night. Even if they exploit Penn State’s weak run game, they won’t be able to mount the same defense against Clifford.

Penn State 31, Indiana 20

Antonio Fondacaro:

After last year's soul-crushing defeat against Indiana, coach James Franklin and his roster have a chip on their shoulder.

Penn State's 38-17 victory against Villanova came with many concerns as PSU’s ground game couldn’t get going against a heavily unfavored FCS opponent.

Penn State’s reliance on the air raid may allow lesser opponents like Indiana to scheme against the Nittany Lions. Luckily for Penn State, if quarterback Sean Clifford can replicate similar stats to last week's 401 passing yards and four touchdowns; Penn State should be smooth sailing during this week’s matchup.

PSU will try to reinstall their rushing attack with Noah Cain, John Lovett, and Keyvone Lee. Expect stud receivers Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington to put up incredible stats solidifying themselves as some of CFB’s best.

The Hoosiers have an inferior roster playing away at night inside a hostile Beaver stadium. QB Michael Penix has a tough task ahead of him to put up serious points against the elite Penn State defense.

If Indiana wants to stand a chance against the Nittany Lions, they will have to keep this game low scoring which in previous matchups has been a struggle for their team. Penn State covers the spread and wins in a decisive victory.

Prediction: Penn State 42, Indiana 23

Logan Bourandas is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.

Neil Conley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email nzc5252@psu.edu.

Adam Babetski is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email aqb6023@psu.edu.

Antonio Fondacaro is a first-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, Email adf5400@psu.edu

About the Contributors

Logan Bourandas's photo

Logan Bourandas

Third-Year / Broadcast Journalism

Logan Bourandas is a third-year broadcast journalism major from Long Island, NY. He is a the news director for CommRadio and the host of Ducks on the Pond, which is an all-baseball talk show on CommRadio. He is also a sports writer, broadcaster and podcaster for CommRadio. He got his start as the station manager for his high school radio station WPOB in his hometown of Plainview, NY, where he hosted numerous radio shows and was involved in sports broadcasts. You can contact him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Adam Babetski's photo

Adam Babetski

Sophomore / Communications

Adam Babetski is a third year from Sterling, Virginia majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Neil Conley's photo

Neil Conley

Senior, fourth-year / Broadcast Journalism

Neil Conley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. He calls play-by-play for various sports and is also a beat writer and board operator for CommRadio. He hosts a talk show, Current Events with Conley, for Commradio. He writes articles and contributes to podcasts for Commradio as well. Also, he writes scripts, records shots and edits video for After the Whistle, a student-run high school football production and broadcast. Football is his favorite sport, specifically at the collegiate level. He is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To contact him, his email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).