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Following are the highlights of James Franklin's Tuesday press conference:
Saturday's game: vs. Iowa (7:30 p.m., CBS)
Records: Both teams are 3-0.
Rankings: Penn State is ranked No. 7 by the Associated Press. Iowa is ranked No. 24.
Main storyline
Franklin is 4-2 against Iowa but has lost the last two. Typically, the games are lower scoring as Penn State has surpassed 21 points once in the last five games.
Led by Kirk Ferentz, now in his 25th season and the Big Ten's most tenured coach by far (Franklin is second at 10 years), Iowa is defensive oriented.
"They do what they do, they've been doing it for a long time, and they do it well," Franklin said. "You have games where you have to grind it out."
Franklin said Illinois "had a real front seven," last week and that Illini coach Bret Bielema, who is part of Iowa's coaching tree (under Hayden Fry and then Ferentz), provided a "good litmus test" for the Hawkeyes.
"You look at their style and how they play on offense ... we've got to find ways to win," he said. "They are who they are, and I mean that as a compliment."
Then he said, probably tongue-in-cheek, "We may even put some fullbacks out there."
White Out on deck
This week marks Penn State's annual White Out game, the 19th since the tradition started with a student-only mission in 2004 and swelled to a full stadium effort in 2007.
Franklin called it "one of the best environments in all of sports."
He said he wants his players "to take it all in for 30 seconds but then it comes down to execution."
There was a light moment at the press conference as Franklin was informed that the weekly press release, in citing 15 White Outs, was wrong.
Consequently, Franklin and Greg Kincaid of the Sports Information Department each did 10 pushups.
"Accountability," he said.
Run game in check
Franklin has noted the lack of explosive plays the last two weeks. The Nits have broken just two runs of longer than 20 yards this year.
"We've got to consistently show people that we can throw the ball over their heads," he said. "Drew (Allar) has shown what he's capable of, but people are still going to say, 'We're not going to allow Kaytron (Allen) and Nick (Singleton) to beat us.'''
Scheduling snipe
Just as Franklin likes to bemoan how many times the Lions have opened Big Ten play on the road (eight straight years and 13 of the last 14), he mentioned that they've played Iowa, one of the best teams in the West Division, more than any other West foe.
"We love that," he said. "It's almost like opening on the road in the Big Ten. … We're appreciative of the Big Ten for that. I know it's random. Random."
Notable ...
n Franklin is focused on cleaning up the Lions' 14 penalties in the last two games. He cited pre-snap penalties as "lack of focus" and post-snap penalties as "lack of discipline."
n The coach showered praise on redshirt freshman punt returner Kaden Saunders, saying, "catching the ball in traffic with confidence is underappreciated." He said Saunders (No. 7) will continue to see chances at receiver as well.
n Walk-on freshman Ethan Black, the Conemaugh Township speedster, was named the developmental squad's special teams player of the week.
n Trace McSorley and Grant Haley, heroes of the 2016 Big Ten title team and "beloved in Penn State history," Franklin said, are in town for the week and will be honorary captains Saturday night.
(Compiled by Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.)