UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Tim Brewster is in the middle of his third season as Minnesota's coach, but he will be facing Penn State for the first time today at Beaver Stadium.

The football teams have not met since 2006, the year before he replaced the fired Glen Mason, but Brewster knows the Golden Gophers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) will have their hands full with coach Joe Paterno's 14th-ranked Nittany Lions (5-1, 1-1).

The weather will not be great, either. There is more snow and/or rain in the forecast for the Homecoming game, with temperatures in the 30s.

---

Scouting report

• Matchup: No. 14 Penn State (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota (4-2, 2-1), 3:30 p.m., Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa. Penn State favored by 17 1/2 points.
• TV, radio, Internet: WTAE-TV; WEAE-AM (1250) and Penn State Sports Network. Game also can be heard at www.GoPSUsports.com.
• Penn State: Leads series, 6-4. ... Is 38-5 on Homecoming under coach Joe Paterno. ... DT Jared Odrick is tied for fifth in Big Ten Conference in sacks (four). ... Is 8-1 when QB Daryll Clark throws for 200 yards or more. ... TE Andrew Quarless is third on team in receptions (18).
• Minnesota: MLB Lee Campbell is second in Big Ten Conference in tackles (64). ... QB Adam Weber has thrown 6 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions this year. ... WR Eric Decker has four 100-yard games. ... Is allowing 23.8 ppg.
• Hidden stat:The previous time Minnesota rushed for 200 yards or more against a Big Ten Conference team was Oct. 13, 2007 against Northwestern.

---

"Obviously, we've got a tremendous challenge," Brewster said. "We're facing a great coach. We're facing a great team on the road in their house. Everybody understands what an environment it is when you go play at Penn State.

"Over 100,000 fans -- they're loud, they're very knowledgeable and they understand the game in a big-time way."

Brewster's first team in 2007 finished 1-11 but was 0-8 in the Big Ten. The Gophers started 7-1 a year ago and cracked The Associated Press Top 25 before losing their final five games, including a 42-21 setback to Kansas in the Insight Bowl.

This season, Minnesota has come from behind in all four of its victories.

The Gophers trailed three teams in the fourth quarter, before rallying to beat Syracuse (23-20 in overtime), Air Force (20-13) and Northwestern (35-24). And they fell behind Purdue, 10-0, a week ago before rebounding for a 35-20 victory.

After such a tough road test, Minnesota must travel to Columbus, Ohio, next week to face No. 7 Ohio State.

"The only trip we're concerned about is Penn State," Brewster said. "That's the only game we're concerned about and only thing we're thinking about at this point."

Minnesota is last in the Big Ten in total offense (319.7 yards per game) and rushing (114.5 ypg), yet the Gophers have a solid quarterback in Adam Weber and a record-breaking receiver in Eric Decker.

Weber needs 566 more yards to break the career passing yardage record of Bryan Cupito (7,446) and 11 more touchdown passes to eclipse his total (55).

Decker, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist last season, has 215 career receptions for 3,050 yards, both school records.

Outside linebacker Sean Lee -- sidelined the past three games with a sprained left knee -- is expected to see some playing time today for the Lions, who are ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense (10.2 points per game), eighth in run defense (81.8 ypg) and eighth in total defense (255.7 ypg).

Lee is among the 16 semifinalists announced yesterday for the Butkus Award, which is given to the top linebacker in the country.

Penn State is first in the Big Ten in total offense (427.5 ypg) and third in rushing (188.7 ypg). And, after going 6 for 11 in red-zone opportunities the first two games, the Lions are 14 for 14 the past four games with 12 touchdowns and two field goals.

"Everyone understands that we have the capability to be another Big Ten contender," quarterback Daryll Clark said. "The confidence is at an all-time high right now."

Ron Musselman's Penn State blog and videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.