Updated

His career as a full-time starter now at six games, Christian Hackenberg's freshman season already has reached halftime.

Penn State's 18-year-old quarterback has had more good times than bad while leading the Nittany Lions to a 4-2 record heading into a second bye week at the halfway point. And they'll follow up a 43-40, four-overtime victory over previously undefeated Michigan with an Oct. 26 trip to No. 4 Ohio State.

"I think we were going to (carry momentum) either way," Hackenberg said. "We're really focused as a team. That's a testament to the coaching staff and how we attack each day at practice.

"(The bye week) is even better. We have a couple more days to prepare, get a good game plan and get ready to go to a hostile environment and play a really good football team. I think it's more of a bonus for us."