TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The clash of rich college football traditions, iconic coaches and classic uniforms resumes this week when No. 2 Alabama travels to Penn State.

The game marks the 15th meeting between the historically powerful football factories. It will be the Crimson Tide's first trip to State College, Penn., since 1989, and just its sixth visit all-time.

The last time Alabama played in

Joe Paterno

's yard the Tide preserved a 17-16 victory thanks to

Thomas Rayam

, who used his 6-foot-7 frame to help block a 16-yard field-goal attempt by

Ray Tarasi

.

That gave the Tide a 3-2 advantage at Beaver Stadium. Overall, Alabama leads the series 9-5 after last year's 24-3 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"We have a lot of things to work on, and I think that everyone on our team needs to know that we're not going to play the same team next week that we played last year," Alabama coach

Nick Saban

said. "It was really hot when we played here last year. We went no huddle last year and they got tired. I played them for years at Michigan State. They always played better at Penn State than they did at Michigan State. So, they are going to be a better team this year and they are going to play better at their place and we are going to have a huge challenge."

One common area of concern for both schools remains at quarterback.

The Crimson Tide (1-0) and Nittany Lions (1-0) each used Saturday's lopsided victories in their home openers to serve as stages for quarterback competitions.

At Alabama, sophomore

AJ McCarron

helped guide the Tide to 48-7 victory against Kent State thanks to five scoring drives. He completed 14-of-23 passes for 226 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Tide sophomore

Phillip Sims

was 7-for-14 passing for 73 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Sims guided three scoring drives, but fumbled once and was sacked twice.

"I think there are good interceptions and bad interceptions, and we had a couple of bad ones, and there is a lot to learn from it," Saban said. "... Those are things that we learn from. And when you play with young players at quarterback there's a lot of things that can happen."

Penn State's 41-7 victory against Indiana State featured Nittany Lions senior

Matt McGloin

and sophomore

Rob Bolden

in their own quarterback tryout.

Bolden finished 6-for-12 for 37 yards, and McGloin was 6-for-8 for 77 yards. Neither quarterback threw a touchdown, but Bolden was sacked twice and McGloin sacked once.

Penn State earned most of its offense from running back

Silas Redd

, who had 12 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

"I think both of them are going to play, I think both of them can play," Paterno told reporters afterward. "They've been under an awful lot of pressure because of the media, and everybody else wants to know who's going to play quarterback. I think that they're fine. They'll get better. I think overall they did a pretty good job."

If Alabama's defense continues to operate as it did against Kent State, Penn State's offensive concerns could be a moot point. The Tide leads the nation in rushing defense after holding the Golden Flashes to minus-9 yards.

Alabama also registered four quarterback sacks, and an interception by

Phelon Jones

.

"Playing Penn State is gonna show us what our team is really made of," linebacker

Dont'a Hightower

said. "Playing there it's gonna mean even more. So getting in the film room, seeing how we played we'll make changes and get ready for Penn State."