UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In a matchup of traditional college football powers, the Nittany Lions (6-3, 4-1) travel to No. 16 Nebraska (7-2, 4-1) for a 3:30 p.m. kick in Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

With Big Ten title game aspirations on the line for the Huskers and an undefeated Big Ten road mark for the Lions, Saturday's clash is shaping up to be intriguing.  Coach O'Brien previewed the game on Tuesday.  Take a look through some of his key remarks.


Looking Ahead to a Loud Atmosphere
Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is among the top venues in college football.  The Nittany Lions are expecting a loud, intense atmosphere with passionate Cornhusker fans.  Penn State practiced with music playing on Monday, and it will continue to do so throughout the week.  Bill O'Brien talks about playing in bowl games every Saturday, and this week's trip to Nebraska is a prime example.  Penn State has played well on the road in Big Ten play, out-scoring its opponents 107-30, but this will be its biggest challenge away from Beaver Stadium.

"We're really looking forward to it," O'Brien said.  "It's Nebraska ‑ Penn State, that's what college football is all about.  You have two big‑time college football programs that have two good coaching staffs and a lot of good players and playing in a great game in Lincoln, that atmosphere, hopefully it's fun."

Improving Secondary
The Nittany Lion secondary is a unit that has progressively improved with each passing week.  The unit is thin on numbers, but not on talent.  From top to bottom, the secondary has done a much better job playing the ball as the season has moved into the final weeks.  The unit has had its fair share of opportunities to make big plays, but have come up just short.  The players in the secondary would be the first to tell you that they have left some interceptions on the field this season.  We talk about it every week, but the unit is on the cusp of making a series of big plays.

"I believe they're one of the most improved units on the team," O'Brien said.  "They're very well coached by John Butler.  I think that anybody that's been to our practices and watches John coach those guys with detail and intensity and he's a teacher, you know, he accepts nothing less than their best.  So I think he's done a great job with those guys.  Then you have to give them a lot of credit.  Stephon Morris, Adrian Amos, they have done a really good job...Then you look at the safety position with Malcolm Willis and Jake Fagnano and Steven Obeng, these guys have played well for us.  Then you look at the role guys that are in that position like Jesse Della Valle, he's come up big in special teams for us.  Then you look at freshman like Jordan Lucas and Da'Quan Davis; these guys have improved every week.  You can't say enough about the players in that position.  We have three games left, let's hope they improve, but to this point in the season they have done everything we have asked them to do."

Defending Nebraska's Attack
Taylor Martinez is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the nation.  Martinez is a big-play quarterback with great speed and quickness.  He has rushed for 666 yards and eight touchdowns.  Additionally, the junior is completing 64 percent of his passes (1,941 yards) and 18 touchdowns.  Martinez accounted for 365 yards of offense last week in Nebraska's come-from-behind victory at Michigan State, including 205 rushing yards.  Nebraska's offense plays at a quick tempo, which has led the Huskers to 23 scoring drives in fewer than 2:00.  Keeping fresh legs on the field as much as possible is going to be important for the Nittany Lion defense on Saturday.  Nonetheless, the Lions are used to practicing against tempo every day against their own offense.

"Number one is they do a great job with their up-tempo, no‑huddle package, so basically every time we have practiced that out on the practice field some form of fast‑pace, no‑huddle, so hopefully our players will be ready for the tempo," said O'Brien.  "You never totally get that same tempo in practice that you're going to get in a game but hopefully they will do it."

Moseby-Felder Strong in Big Ten
In Penn State's five conference games, junior wide receiver Brandon Moseby-Felder is fourth in the Big Ten with 330 receiving yards.  In each of his last three outings, Moseby-Felder has made a 42-yard reception.  The Maryland native hauled in the first touchdown of his career at Purdue, and he is becoming a consistent downfield threat for the Nittany Lion offense.

"He's improved in his route running, he's done everything we asked him to do in the running game, blocks, blocks the down safety, blocks corners, blocks for the screens," O'Brien said.  "He's a team guy, one of the more improved guys on our football from a route running standpoint, from a health standpoint, durability standpoint, he's catching the ball better, and hopefully he can continue to improve over the next three weeks."

Hill and Carter Injury Update
Bill O'Brien listed senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill (knee) and redshirt freshman Kyle Carter (ankle) as day-to-day this week.  Both players will continue to get treatment every day.  They will both be evaluated throughout the week before a decision is made later in the week if they will play on Saturday.


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