Nov 9, 2018 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE – Penn State needs more out of its offense or the 21st-ranked Nittany Lions might not get much more out of their season.

The team started the year with Big Ten championship and playoff hopes and had averaged 49 points over a 24-3 stretch. But the Nittany Lions have hit a wall with Wisconsin (4-2 Big Ten, 6-3) up next.

Penn State ( 3-3, 6-3,No. 20 CFP) will try to erase last week’s humiliating loss in Ann Arbor where its offense was held to single digits for the first time since 2014.

“It’s going to be very important that we find a way to establish the run game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “So there’s not so much on the shoulders of Trace McSorley.”

The Nittany Lions averaged 252 yards rushing through the first six weeks of the season and had 200-plus on the ground in nine straight games, dating back to last year. They’ll take to Beaver Stadium on Saturday looking for a spark after averaging just 120 rushing over the last three games.

Running back Miles Sanders has remained diligent. He said the backs paid a visit to the offensive line room this week to let the linemen know they have faith in them.

Injuries mounting for TCU: TCU coach Gary Patterson figures all those injuries that have piled up for the Horned Frogs could present a problem for No. 7 West Virginia.

Patterson joked it might be difficult for West Virginia to put together a scouting plan against TCU’s revolving-door defense.

“It’s been a hard year for us,” Patterson said. “This team hasn’t quit battling.”

TCU has seen 20 season-ending injuries and 36 players have missed playing time.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been down seven safeties in a three-safety system,” Patterson said. “Freshmen say they want to play, so here we go.”

Patterson and West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen have a mutual respect for each other. Their teams joined the Big 12 together in 2012. Holgorsen always pays compliments to TCU’s defense when the teams meet and, injuries aside, today will be no different when TCU (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) plays the Mountaineers (7-1, 5-1, No. 9 CFP).

In the high-scoring Big 12, TCU has held opponents under 20 points three times in its last five games.

Despite the injuries, the Horned Frogs have the Big 12’s best pass defense, allowing 194 yards per game.

“It doesn’t matter who plays these spots in a Gary Patterson defense,” Holgorsen said. “This will probably be the stiffest test that we’ve had to date for our offense.”

And conversely, one of the toughest defensive challenges for Patterson. West Virginia’s Will Grier has thrown for 28 touchdowns, including three in a 42-41 win last week at No. 15 Texas. He’s averaging 327 yards per game.

“I don’t know if we’ve played anybody at this point that throws like they do,” Patterson said.

{span}A win would move Holgorsen into second place in school history with 61, one ahead of Rich Rodriguez. Hall of Famer Don Nehlen holds the mark with 149 wins.{/span}