Penn State (11-5-1) is coming off a satisfying series split with No. 6 Notre Dame. The first half of the season saw the Lions win 8 of the first 9 games, and also weather a four-game streak without a win. The single game with Princeton on Saturday will be the final non-conference test of the regular season.
A twenty-day break between the game this weekend and the next game, at Minnesota on January 4, will give the team time to regroup and prepare for the second half conference slate. More than half of the games following the break will be televised, which will make it easier for fans to follow the team through the stretch run.