No. 6 Penn State looks to rebound against Washington in White Out Game

Vega Ioane grew up in Graham, Wash., less than 50 miles south of Seattle, and viewed Washington as the hometown college football team.

He even committed to the Huskies before de-committing and winding up across the country at Penn State.

The 6-4, 348-pound Ioane will get a chance to play against some familiar faces and a familiar team when the sixth-ranked Nittany Lions (4-1 Big Ten, 7-1) welcome Washington (3-3, 5-4) to Beaver Stadium for the first time.

“I guess people see it as a rivalry type of game,” Ioane said. “I’ve seen some people saying I made a mistake coming here. I’m going to find out Saturday. We’ll see. They’re a really good team.”

After a 20-13 loss last week to Ohio State, Penn State will look to rebound in its annual White Out Game against the Huskies Saturday night at 8 (TV-Peacock).

The Lions are all but guaranteed of making the 12-team College Football Playoff if they win their remaining four games. A loss would put their chances in limbo.

“We have a whole lot of season left,” Ioane said. “We have a whole lot more to play for. We have a whole lot left to work for.”

Washington looks very different now than the program that recruited Ioane, Penn State’s left guard. He decommitted from the Huskies after head coach Jimmy Lake was fired in December 2021.

Kalen DeBoer was hired and guided Washington to a 25-3 record in two seasons, including a loss to Michigan in the CFP national title game last season. DeBoer left for Alabama and was replaced by Jedd Fisch, who had a 16-21 record in three seasons at Arizona.

After NFL teams drafted 13 Washington players, Fisch brought in quarterback Will Rogers from Mississippi State, where he became the No. 2 passer in Southeastern Conference history, and several Arizona players, including running back Jonah Coleman.

Although Washington ranks 10th…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-6-penn-state-looks-044600540.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2024-11-09 04:46:00

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