UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Amid Penn State’s collapse from being the No. 2 team in the nation to 3-6, no one ever expected its defense, one that was touted as potentially the best in college football, to be a factor in how its downward spiral transpired.

Despite the Nittany Lions bringing in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was fresh off a national championship with Ohio State, their defense regressed and doubt about if their defense was ever talented enough in the first place grew — that is, until they played No. 2 Indiana and gave the world a defensive performance that lived up to the program’s reputation.

Against the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, Penn State thrived from top to bottom. King Mack flew across the field to pick off Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza for h

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