UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- If Saturday goes the way most Saturdays have for Penn State this season, history will be made at Beaver Stadium when Iowa comes to town.
With a loss, the Nittany Lions would start a season 0-5 for the first time in the program's illustrious history, which dates to 1887. A Penn State win, though, would put the Nittany Lions just one away from No. 900 as a program, a milestone only eight other teams have accomplished.
To do that, Penn State will have to do something it has not done this season -- getting a fast start. The Nittany Lions will have to start well defensively, something they've not been able to do under head coach James Franklin.
Iowa enters the game with an exceptionally balanced offensive attack, rushing the ball 135 times while throwing it 137. The Hawkeyes lost their first two games, but recorded blowouts against Michigan State and Minnesota in the last two weeks. They rank fourth in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 31 points per game.
Penn State enters the game with its back against the wall, much as it was last week against Nebraska. This week, a loss would clinch a losing season for the first time since 2004, and would seemingly send the remainder of the season spiraling out of control.
It remains to be seen is who will line up at quarterback to start the game. The spark the team showed under Will Levis last week should provide all the evidence needed he should get the starting nod, but Franklin is fiercely loyal. The Nittany Lions will have to keep it simple, whether it's Sean Clifford or Levis at the helm, and take care of the football. That will be particularly important because the Hawkeyes are giving up only 15 points per game and have only allowed a total of just 14 points in their last two games.
Against a defense predicated on getting to the quarterback, it could be another long day if Clifford becomes jittery in the pocket and makes bad decisions. Should Levis start, the rush Iowa typically deploys could be neutralized if he's can avoid it and keep his eyes downfield, as he was able to do against the Huskers.
The Penn State offensive, which has given up six interceptions in four games, cannot afford to turn the ball over against the Hawkeyes, whose secondary has eight interceptions in four games. That doesn't bad well for Penn State, but the potential change in quarterbacks could help.
Penn State had its best game up front all season against Nebraska, springing the run game for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The Nittany Lions will need much of the same this week as they face a defensive line that's sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times.
Defensively, Penn State allowed only 95 yards and three points in the second half against the Huskers. The defense, though, allowed 20 points in the first half, when it couldn't overcome poor field position and the offense's early-game struggles.
The Nittany Lions will need big games from defensive ends Shaka Toney and Jayson Oweh as they try to thwart an Iowa rushing attack that averages 5.4 yards per rush. It is led by Tyler Goodson with 5.95 yards per carry.
Stopping the rush will be imperative if the Nittany Lions are to win, but so will be keeping Iowa off the scoreboard in the first quarter. That's something Penn State has been unable to do since the opening game of the season, against Indiana. The Nittany Lions are allowing 23.25 points in the first half, compared to 11.5 points in second halves (including an overtime).
At 0-4, Penn State desperately needs a victory, and Iowa has shown in the past that it can be beaten; the Nittany Lions have won six games in a row against the Hawkeyes, with the last three being one-possession games.