Game: Penn State
Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
Terps Fashion: 1961 throwback uniforms
Broadcast: ESPN
Gametime weather forecast: Mostly cloudy, 60 degrees with 0 percent chance of precipitation
Captains: Wes Brown (offense), Quinton Jefferson (defense), Will Likely (special teams)
Flag Bearers: Safety Anthony Nixon (USA), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (Md.)
Momentum: This will be the Terps’ first game under interim head coach Mike Locksley and a win would snap a three-game losing streak. If the Terps don’t beat Penn State, it won’t get any easier. The Terps’ next three games are against Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan State, which sport a combined 19-2 record.
Three Terps to watch
Quarterback Perry Hills gave the Terps some production under center two weeks ago when he rushed for 170 yards against No. 1 Ohio State, a program record for quarterbacks. While his legs helped the Terps hang around, he’s still completing less than half of his passes and has one more passing touchdown than interception.
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is tied for third in the Big Ten in sacks (7) and will have a chance to add to that total Saturday. The Nittany Lions are tied for 121st in the country in pass protection, allowing an average of 3.43 sacks per game. Ngakoue will need to anchor the Terps run defense as well.
Wide receiver D.J. Moore helps the Terps stretch the field vertically. The freshman caught a 52-yard touchdown pass against the Buckeyes, and his 17.5 yards per catch ranks second most on the team, among players with more than one catch. Moore is second on the Terps in catches (11) and receiving yards (193), as well.
Three Nittany Lions to watch
Defensive end Carl Nassib has been disruptive in opponents’ backfields all season. The fifth-year senior and former walk-on leads the nation in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (15.5). He’ll face a Terps offensive line that has allowed 10 sacks in the past three games.
Running back Saquon Barkley was the lone bright spot in the Penn State offense last Saturday in its 38-10 loss to No. 1 Ohio State. Barkley, who returned after an ankle injury that kept him out the previous two games, produced 194 of the Nittany Lions’ 315 yards. The freshman is averaging more than 8 yards a carry and 113 rushing yards per game.
Linebacker Jason Cabinda leads the Nittany Lions in tackles (51) and averages more than seven a game. The sophomore anchors the linebacking corps, which will be tested by the Terps’ running attack Saturday.
For updates: Follow beat writers Joshua Needelman (@JoshNeedelman), Phillip Suitts (@PhillipSuitts), columnist Ryan Baillargeon (@RyanBaillargeon) and DBK Sports (@DBKSports) on Twitter for in-game news and commentary.
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