When the Eastern football team takes the field at 11 a.m. Saturday to face Penn State at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., the Panthers will face an opponent unlike any they have seen before.

The Nittany Lions were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation in the Football Bowl Subdivision’s Associated Press Poll, and currently sit at No. 14.

They’re one of the most historic programs in NCAA football history, with their football program dating back to 1887, have the sixth-most victories in the history of NCAA football (804 all-time), and have competed in the postseason 40 times, good for eighth all-time. Since 2005, Penn State has the ninth-best record in the NCAA, going 44-12 over that span, and is the defending co-Big Ten Champions.

So it’s safe to say the odds are stacked against the Panthers Saturday.

But while some fans of the Nittany Lions may consider the game to be a pushover, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, the most legendary head coach in the history of college football, isn’t buying into the hype, even expressing annoyance during his press conference Tuesday when reporters quizzed him as to why he would schedule such a “weak” opponent in the middle of Big Ten season.

“When you have the solid, sound coaching staff as they have at EIU, they’re going to be tough,” Paterno said. “I’m annoyed with that (negative) attitude toward them.”

Even so, the Panthers will have their hands full with the Nittany Lions, led by senior quarterback Daryll Clark.

Clark was named First Team All-Big Ten last season, voted so by both the Big Ten coaches and media.

Clark has thrown for 1,133 yards on the season to go along with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

But while Clark may be the most dangerous player on the field for the Nittany Lions, they are led by their running attack.

Junior Evan Royster and sophomore Stephfon Green form a running back tandem for Penn State that averages more than five yards per carry.

Royster has 410 yards and four touchdowns on the ground this season, while Green has 190 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Senior quarterback Jake Christensen, one of two Panthers to have played in Beaver Stadium during his time at Iowa, said he knows the odds are not with Eastern Saturday, but says the team needs to keep things in perspective going against such a high-profile school.

“I think it’s more important for our team to play a good, solid game,” he said. “Win or lose, who knows what’s going to happen, but we need to feel good about our performance. That’s the most important thing for us.”

The Panthers are coming off their first loss of the season, a 36-31 loss to Eastern Kentucky Saturday on Family Weekend at O’Brien Field.

In that game, Eastern committed five turnovers (three lost fumbles and two interceptions), and allowed Christensen to be sacked seven times.

Penn State will be the last non-conference opponent the Panthers face this season.

After Saturday’s game, the Panthers return home next Saturday for their Homecoming game against Tennessee Tech.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at O’Brien Field. At halftime, former Eastern quarterback and current Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo will be among five former Panthers inducted into the Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

Eastern senior quarterback Jake Christensen looks upfield as he scrambles during Saturday’s loss to Eastern Kentucky at O’Brien Field.(Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

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