In anticipation of this weekend's game, HawgBeat compared the projected starting lineups for Arkansas and Penn State using the players' star ratings as recruits and their Pro Football Focus grades from this season.
We also did a side-by-side statistical comparison of the two teams using their numbers in 2021.
Stat Comparison - Penn State | Arkansas (FBS rank, out of 130 teams)
Offense
Scoring: 26.3 (83rd) | 31.5 (42nd)
Total yards: 381.0 (t-80th) | 440.9 (32nd)
Passing: 274.4 (22nd) | 223.6 (73rd)
Rushing: 106.6 (118th) | 217.3 (11th)
Third downs: 38.9% (77th) | 37.5% (86th)
Sacks allowed/game: 2.67 (t-95th) | 2.08 (t-57th)
Turnovers: 13 (t-27th) | 9 (t-6th)
Defense
Scoring: 16.8 (7th) | 24.0 (t-45th)
Total yards: 345.5 (32nd) | 371.3 (t-57th)
Passing: 208.3 (33rd) | 215.1 (45th)
Rushing: 137.2 (40th) | 156.3 (70th)
Third downs: 36.6% (39th) | 32.9% (15th)
Sacks/game: 1.83 (t-91st) | 1.92 (t-86th)
Turnovers forced: 19 (t-42nd) | 14 (t-90th)
Star Comparison (using Rivals ratings)
*Penn State doesn't have an official depth chart, so we used the projected starters from our friends at NittanyNation.com, the Penn State Rivals site, as a guide.
**There is an "or" listed at nickel and cornerback for Arkansas. We went with Brooks and Clark because they started the last game.
Breakdown
Arkansas: 4
Penn State: 16
Tied: 2
Pro Football Focus Comparison (using season grades)
Team Grades (Penn State | Arkansas)
Overall: 81.8 | 83.2
Offense: 74.6 | 82.5
Passing: 71.5 | 76.4
Rushing: 72.8 | 86.2
Receiving: 72.8 | 69.1
Pass blocking: 63.4 | 69.3
Run blocking: 67.2 | 78.0
Defense: 80.0 | 71.2
Run defense: 65.4 | 68.5
Tackling: 68.4 | 71.6
Pass rush: 74.5 | 77.4
Coverage: 88.9 | 68.9
Special teams: 87.6 | 75.3
