STATE COLLEGE, Pa. _ Penn State is on a roll of points and yards and confidence, and the question now is how much further they can rise in the College Football Playoffs rankings in the coming weeks.
The Nittany Lions debuted in the rankings last Tuesday at No. 12, or eight spots higher than the No. 20 ranking they owned in the Associated Press poll. They likely will climb when the new poll comes out because the two teams immediately ahead of them _ Nebraska and Florida _ lost.
The Lions took care of business Saturday night with an overwhelming offensive performance that resulted in a 41-14 victory over Iowa before a loud crowd of 106,194 at Beaver Stadium. The result, their fifth straight win, was not surprising, but the ease in which they handled the physical Hawkeyes certainly was.
So while hands were raised in surprise when Penn State's first CFP ranking was revealed last week, this game was the Lions' way of showing that maybe that lofty perch was justified.
But the motivation of the team isn't that right now. It's getting ready for Saturday at Indiana, a game that will start at noon.
"It's a great feeling to know that the successes and the hard work is being recognized," quarterback Trace McSorley said after the game, "but at the same time we understand that as fast as we are able to climb in the rankings, it could be taken away just as fast. So we have to come to work every single day and prepare like we're not ranked anywhere in the top 25."
Penn State (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) lost yardage on its last play to finish with 599 yards of total offense, falling just short of its first 600-yard game since Sept. 23, 1995 against Rutgers. Saquon Barkley rushed for 167 yards, sprinting 57 yards for one touchdown and catching a 44-yard pass from McSorley for another.
Barkley now has rushed for 1,055 yards, his second straight 1,000-yard season.
The offense had its best day of the season on third down, converting a season-high seven in 14 chances. It also went the entire game without a three-and-out.
The defense was superb, limiting the Hawkeyes (5-4, 3-3) to 30 yards rushing and 234 yards overall. The unit sacked C.J. Beathard four times and limited Iowa to two third-down conversions in 10 attempts. Safety Troy Apke had an interception, only Iowa's sixth turnover all season.
"The running back is a tremendous football player, the quarterback is really playing well," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said, speaking of Barkley and McSorley. "They're a very good football team and they had it all click tonight."
Most important to James Franklin, the Lions' offensive and defensive lines controlled the trenches.
"We talked about how physical this game was going to be up front, [offensive] line, [defensive] line, and I thought we proved that we can match up with people," Penn State's head coach said. "We're making tremendous progress. Holding that team to 30 yards rushing [is] big-time."
Franklin also commented about his team's improving depth. Starting offensive tackle Brendan Mahon left the game on the first series with an undisclosed injury. Redshirt sophomore Chasz Wright came on and drew his coach's praise.
"We lose Mahon, one of our better offensive linemen," he said. "Chasz comes in and really plays well. Had one play that I know he'd like to have back but besides that, played really well. It helps that he's 6-foot-7 and 300 and a cheeseburger away from 50, 350 pounds, and played with confidence tonight. So that shows the depth that we're starting to create."
