Penn State vs. Purdue: Where to watch, what to know about 2022 season opener
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Penn State's top two receivers are locked in and could be rising stars in the Big Ten.
Junior Parker Washington and senior transfer Mitch Tinsley certainly are proven producers.
But what may ultimately define the Nittany Lions' receiving group are those behind them. Successful offenses usually need more than two trusted options in the pass game, which is where wideouts KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Malick Meiga and Trey Wallace factor in.
What kind of contribution can they give, starting with Thursday's opener at Purdue?
Improved consistency may be the most important criteria for each. Lambert-Smith has gotten the most work the past two seasons but has only shown big-play flashes with his size and speed. Meiga offers even more physical upside at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and figures to be a unique commodity on special teams. Wallace already has received attention for his stunning leaping ability and fast learning.
"Malick Meiga's a specimen, man. He looks the part, he has the speed. He has the want-to and the desire. Malick has really worked hard on being more consistent," said receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield. "That's one thing we challenge him on in terms of his ball-catching ability. Like, 'Hey, not everybody is going to be able to catch every ball.' But when something does not happen (right), be able to shut the door and move forward. Like in golf where one bad shot leads to two bad shots.
"His work ethic, his personality are infectious."
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Wallace, a redshirt freshman, has worked himself into the rotation with impressive spring and summer camps, Stubblefield said.
“(He’s) a guy that we expect to play and play a lot. He’s right on that fringe, in terms of viewing him as a starter," head coach James Franklin said this week.
“Maybe not a whole lot of people are talking about him right now, but I think he’s got a chance to be one of those guys that, by the middle of the season or the end of the season, not only the fans and the media are talking about him but our opponents are saying, ‘Hey, this is the guy we better be aware of’.”
What time does Penn State play Purdue?
The Nittany Lions and Boilermakers will kick off at 8 p.m., Thursday.
What TV channel for Penn State vs. Purdue?
The game will be broadcast on FOX Sports.
How can I watch Penn State vs. Purdue online via live stream?
Check out FuboTV with a free trial.
What are the odds for Penn State vs. Purdue?
Penn State is favored by 3.5 points. The over/under is 53.5 points, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
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Game day details
TV: Gus Johnson will handle play-by-play with Joel Klatt on color commentary. Jenny Taft will report from the sideline.
Radio: WSBA 910 AM, WGLD 1440 AM
Listen online:Penn State Sports Online Audio
Weather: Clear skies with temperatures dropping into the 60s after kickoff. Winds light and variable.
Rankings: Neither team is ranked, though Penn State falls just outside the Top 25 in the Associated Press and AFCA Coaches polls.
Series: Penn State leads, 15-3-1. The Lions have won the last nine meetings, including 35-7 in 2019.
Road Warriors: Penn State opens its Big Ten schedule on the road for the seventh-straight season and12th time in the last 13 years.
Strange day to play: The Lions will play their first non-Saturday season opener since the 2000 season. Then, it opened on a Sunday against USC (29-5 loss) at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. They have never opened the season on a Thursday.
Purdue connections: Penn State assistant coach Taylor Stubblefield was a consensus All-American receiver at Purdue (2001-04). He made an NCAA-record 325 receptions (still a Big Ten record) and ranked second in league history with 3,629 yards. ... Penn State safeties coach Anthony Poindexter was an assistant at Purdue from 2017 to 2020.
Closing in: Four-year starting quarterback Sean Clifford is second all-time at Penn State with 62 careerpassing touchdowns. He's eight short of Trace McSorley (2015-18).
Penn State
Head coach: James Franklin (67-34, 9th season at Penn State; 91-49, 12th season overall)
Last three seasons
2021: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
2020: 4-5 (4-5 Big Ten)
2019: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten)
Penn State 2022 schedule
9/1 at Purdue, 8 p.m.9/10 OHIO UNIVERSITY, noon9/17 at Auburn, 3:30 p.m. 9/24 CENTRAL MICHIGAN10/1 NORTHWESTERN10/15 at Michigan10/22 MINNESOTA, 7:30 p.m.10/29 OHIO STATE11/5 at Indiana11/12 MARYLAND11/19 at Rutgers11/26 MICHIGAN STATE
Recent Penn State coverage
Purdue
Head coach: Jeff Brohm (27-29, 6th season at Purdue; 57-39, 9th season overall)
2021 record: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
2020 record: 2-4 (2-4 Big Ten)
2019 record: 4-8 (3-6 Big Ten)
Purdue 2022 schedule
9/1 PENN STATE, 8 p.m. 9/10 INDIANA STATE, 4 p.m.9/17 Syracuse, noon9/24 FLORIDA ATLANTIC, 7:30 p.m.10/1 at Minnesota10/8 at Maryland 10/15 NEBRASKA10/22 at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m.11/5 IOWA11/12 at Illinois11/19 NORTHWESTERN11/26 at Indiana
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football: College football, Big Ten, Purdue, James Franklin
