ATLANTA — Penn State hasn't been on the field in more than a month, but there's been plenty of action for the Nittany Lions to follow over the last four weeks.
This month, the Lions hired a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator, had several prominent players declare for the NFL Draft, and landed a solid recruiting class on National Signing Day.
On Saturday, there will finally be some actual football for fans to obsess over, as Penn State takes on Ole Miss in the Chik-fil-a Peach Bowl. The game will kick off at noon on ESPN.
Here's a preview.
ABOUT PENN STATE
FIRST TIMERS: This is Penn State's first-ever appearance in the Peach Bowl, and the first time the Nittany Lions will ever face Ole Miss.
The Peach Bowl is Penn State's 16th different bowl game in 53 overall bowl appearances.
Ole Miss is Penn State's 33rd different bowl opponent.
STRIVING FOR NO. 11: A win on Saturday would give Penn State an 11-2 record this season and would mark the fifth time that coach James Franklin has led the Lions to 11 wins.
FEELING A DRAFT: Several star players have already declared their intent to join the NFL Draft, but Penn State will not be short-handed Saturday. Of those who are leaving early for the draft, only defensive end Chop Robinson and cornerback Johnny Dixon have said they will not play in the Peach Bowl, though offensive tackle Olu Fashanu has not made his plans clear even though he's reportedly in Atlanta with the team.
Linebacker Curtis Jacobs, tight end Theo Johnson, offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, defensive end Adisa Isaac and cornerback Daequan Hardy are expected to play, even though they've already made plans to join the draft.
NEW COACHES ARE HERE: Penn State relieved offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich of his duties with two games left in the regular season, and earlier this month hired former Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki to run the offense next season.
Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left Happy Valley to take the head coaching job at Duke shortly after the regular season ended. Franklin tapped former Indiana coach Tom Allen to replace him.
Both new coordinators are already with the team in Atlanta, and while neither has officially taken over yet, it's a safe bet that they've had some input in the game plan for Saturday.
Meanwhile, Penn State's offense will be directed by the tandem of assistants Ja’Quan Seider and Ty Howle, who took over for Yurcich on an interim basis following his firing and helped the Lions put up 69 points in their last two games (both victories).
The defense will be guided by assistants Anthony Poindexter and Robb Smith, whose top priority will be finding a way to slow down the Rebels' up-tempo attack.
The Nittany Lions finished the regular season leading the country in total defense (223.2), first downs allowed (151), yards per play (3.91), sacks per game (4.0) and total sacks (48).
ABOUT OLE MISS
RUNNING REBELS: Ole Miss finished the regular season with a 10-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in SEC play. The Rebels concluded November with a 17-7 win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Ole Miss rushed for 211 yards, including 119 yards and a touchdown by Quinshon Judkins, a sensational sophomore who has more than 2,600 rushing yards in his first two seasons. He's the top player on the Ole Miss offense and will need to be game-planned for by the Lions' defensive committee.
COACH KIFFIN: Rebel coach Lane Kiffin has made his way around the college football landscape. Now in his fourth season at Ole Miss, he owns a 33-15 record with the Rebels and a 94-49 career record. His previous head coaching stops were at Southern California, Tennessee and Florida Atlantic.
SEC TOUGH: Ole Miss is 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC this season. The Rebels earned SEC wins this season against LSU (55-49), Arkansas (27-20), Auburn (28-21), Vanderbilt (33-7), Texas A&M (38-35) and Mississippi State (17-7), while falling to conference powerhouses Georgia and Alabama.
HOW THEY RANK: Ole Miss ranks 19th in the country in scoring offense (34.8), 15th in total offense (455.4), 26th in passing offense (276.6) and 40th in rushing offense (178.8).
On defense, Ole Miss sits 34th in the country in scoring defense (21.8), 57th in total defense (371.9), 60th in passing defense (220.0) and 67th in rushing defense (151.9).