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All the numbers behind this year’s bowl matchup for the Lions in Atlanta!
No. 10 Penn St. Nittany Lions (10-2; 7-2 Big Ten East) vs No. 11 Mississippi Rebels (10-2; 6-2 SEC West)
12:00 p.m. ET, December 30, 2023—ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Capacity: 71,000 / Atlanta, GA)
| Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Ole Miss | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 186.7 (25) | 151.9 (69) | Rushing Defense (ypg) | [TAG1] |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 204.3 (91) | 220.0 (59) | Passing Defense (ypg) |
 |
| Pass Efficiency | 139.16 (56) | 127.26 (43) | Pass Efficiency Defense | Push |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 391.0 (T - 60) | 371.9 (58) | Total Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 37.2 (12) | 21.83 (35) | Scoring Defense (ppg) | Push |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 69.7 (1) | 178.8 (39) | Rushing Offense (ypg) | [TAG1] |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 153.6 (3) | 276.6 (26) | Passing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 109.34 (8) | 162.24 (11) | Pass Efficiency | Push |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 223.2 (1) | 455.4 (15) | Total Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 11.42 (3) | 34.8 (19) | Scoring Offense (ppg) | Push |
| Punt Return Defense (ypr) | 4.72 (27) | 9.17 (60) | Punt Return Yds (ypr) | [TAG1] |
| Punt Return Yds (ypr) | 10.77 (36) | 9.93 (92) | Punt Return Defense (ypr) | [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Net Punting Yds (ypp) | 42.35 (10) | 38.02 (84) | Net Punting Yds (ypp) | [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) | 24.07 (16) | 14.55 (5) | Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) | Push |
| Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) | 17.73 (35) | 16.11 (120) | Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) | [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Turnover Margin | +1.5 (1) | +.75 (T - 12) | Turnover Margin | Push |
| Passes Had Intercepted (total) | 1 (1) | 12 (T - 29) | Passes Intercepted (total) | [TAG1] |
| Passes Intercepted (total) | 12 (T - 29) | 6 (T - 15) | Passes Had Intercepted (total) | Push |
| Penalty Yds/Game | 42.75 (T - 24) | 61.83 (111) | Penalty Yds/Game | [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Sacks (spg) | 4.0 (1) | 2.17 (T - 75) | Sacks Allowed (spg) | [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Sacks Allowed (spg) | 1.25 (T - 22) | 2.83 (16) | Sacks (spg) | Push |
| Tackles for Loss (tpg) | 8.4 (2) | 6.83 (T - 106) | Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | 3.83 (10) | 6.4 (26) | Tackles for Loss (tpg) | Push |
| Redzone Offense (% season) | 95.1% (4) | 84.2% (T - 75) | Redzone Defense (% season) | [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Redzone Defense (% season) | 90.0% (T - 112) | 87.3% (43) | Redzone Offense (% season) |
|
| Redzone TD % (season) | 77.05% | 63.16% | Redzone TD % Defense (season) | Push |
| Redzone TD % Defense (season) | 50.0% | 65.45% | Redzone TD % (season) | [TAG1] |
| 3rd Down Conv. % (season) | 40.8% (55) | 39.0% (64) | 3rd Down Defense % (season) | Push |
| 3rd Down Defense % (season) | 29.2% (9) | 36.9% (84) | 3rd Down Conv. % (season) | [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| 4th Down Conv. % (season) | 79.2% (5) | 40.7% (23) | 4th Down Defense % (season) | Push |
| 4th Down Defense % (season) | 47.1% (T - 50) | 66.7% (T - 12) | 4th Down Conv. % (season) |
|
| 1st Downs (season) | 271 (41) | 244 (T - 66) | 1st Downs Allowed (season) | [TAG1] |
| 1st Downs Allowed (season) | 151 (1) | 275 (T - 32) | 1st Downs (season) | [TAG1] |
| Time of Possession (mpg) | 33 (10) | 27 (122) | Time of Possession (mpg) | [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] [TAG1] |
| Strength of Schedule | 58 | 39 | Strength of Schedule | Push |
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Difference >50 in National Rank = [TAG1][TAG1]
Note:
All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is taken from Power Rankings.
The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.
Quick thoughts:
That’s...a lot more chipmunk logos than I expected. I did expect mostly pushes but the differences on the line when our defense is on the field is a lot starker when looked at like this. Penn State’s defense will be the best that Ole Miss has faced all year (Georgia is good, but not as good as this defense) - so the question will likely be, how much will PSU miss Manny Diaz in this game?
A few additional thoughts:
- Penn State has allowed only 20 trips inside the red zone by their opponents this season - fewest in the nation. Mississippi has allowed 38 red zone attempts
- PSU has been in the red zone 61 times, to Ole Miss’s 55 trips
- The Nittany Lions have faced 47 3rd down attempts, while the Rebels have faced 67
- PSU has attempted 169 3rd downs to UM’s 157
- The Ole Miss defense has faced 11 fourth down conversion attempts to Penn State defense’s 8 attempts faced
- The Rebels have gone for it on 22 fourth downs, while the Nittany Lions have made 19 fourth down conversion tries
- PSU opponents have returned 15 kickoffs with 54 touchbacks; UM opponents have returned 11 kickoffs with 66 touchbacks
- Penn State has returned 15 kickoffs to Mississippi’s 18
- The Nittany Lions have allowed 18 punt returns on 46 punts with 2 touchbacks. The Rebels have allowed 15 punt returns on 44 punts with 0 touchbacks.
- PSU has returned 31 punts to UM’s 12
What say you all?
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By: Cari Greene
Title: Just the Stats: No. 10 Penn State vs No. 11 Ole Miss at the Peach Bowl
Sourced From: www.blackshoediaries.com/2023/12/27/24014872/penn-state-football-just-the-stats-10-vs-11-ole-miss-peach-bowl-postseason-offense-defense-special
Published Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:41:00 +0000
