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Penn State Football: 3 takeaways from Week 8 win over Indiana

By Connor Muldowney

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 20: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball for a four-yard touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers in the fourth quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 20: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball for a four-yard touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers in the fourth quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 20: Peyton Ramsey #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the third quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 20: Peyton Ramsey #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers runs the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the third quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Penn State’s defense is holding this team back

Yet again, the defense has let this team down. No, it didn’t lead to a loss, but the Nittany Lions had to feel helpless as they watched the defense allow over 500 yards of total offense to the Hoosiers. This would have been a game that the Penn State defense would have dominated a year ago.

Losing a plethora of starters on this side of the ball is expected to make the unit weaker, but allowing 549 total yards to an Indiana team that’s 4-4 is unacceptable.

The Nittany Lions look like one of those teams that could be great with an improved defense, but things must change in a hurry. Peyton Ramsey and Michael Penix Jr. were able to throw for over 300 yards and the run game accounted for 224 yards and three touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry.

Next. Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8. dark

If the Nittany Lions want to get back on track after a 1-2 record in their last three games with a couple of heart-breaking losses against Big Ten East contenders and a slim win over a middle-of-the-pack squad, they need to figure things out on this side of the ball.

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