SLIPPERY ROCK — It’s the best against the best Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Slippery Rock University has the top-ranked offense in the PSAC, averaging 50.4 points, 389 yards passing and 565.4 total yards per game.

Indiana (Pa.) leads the conference — and all of NCAA Division II — with 6.0 points, 118 passing yards and 213.4 total yards allowed per game.

“But that defense is also ranked No. 1 nationally,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “I just hope we’re able to compete.”

The league’s No. 1 defense against its No. 1 offense “is what everybody wants to talk about,” IUP coach Curt Cignetti said. “But the fact is, we’re pretty untested at this point.

“We haven’t faced an offense that can do what Slippery Rock’s can do.”

Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

IUP (5-0, 2-0) has defeated teams with a composite record of 6-19 entering play this weekend. Three of its first five opponents — Cheyney, Seton Hill and Millersville — are winless.

Regardless, IUP is ranked No. 7 in the nation.

“It’s not often you get a chance to play a team ranked among the top 10,” Mihalik said. “This gives us a chance to see how we stack up with them.

“This is a big game for us in terms of staying in the Western Division title picture. The last three division champions were 6-1. We’ve already lost one, so we can’t lose this one.”

The Crimson Hawks own a 49-36-2 lead in the overall series and are 20-6 against Mihalik-coached Rock teams, 10-3 in Slippery Rock. But The Rock (4-1, 1-1) has won the last two games played between the teams here, 20-6 in 2011 and 7-3 in 2009.

IUP won last year’s meeting, 33-16, in Indiana, rushing for 388 yards. Harvie Tuck ran for 233 yards and De’Antwan Williams rushed for 158.

“It’s no secret they’re going to want to control the football and limit our possessions,” Mihalik said. “We can’t totally sell out on stopping their run because their passing game can hurt you, too. But we can’t let them run all over us.”

Tuck is gone, but Williams has rushed for 481 yards and six touchdowns.

“De’Antwan is probably quicker than Harvie was and he’s shiftier,” Cignetti said. “He’s off to a good start for us.”

Mike Box has completed 58 of 94 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. Terrill Barnes leads the receiving corps with 25 catches for 432 yards and three TDs.

“Mike’s in his third year with us and that is invaluable experience,” Cignetti said. “He’s getting more effective all the time And that will help us playing a big game on the road.”

Senior linebacker Carl Fleming leads the Crimson Hawk defense with 39 tackles, including 26 solos. IUP has intercepted 12 passes — Eric Williams, Terrill Holloway and Marco Pecora getting three each — and has allowed only four touchdowns all season.

“We have to force punts and we can’t commit turnovers or other mistakes,” Mihalik said. “Barnes and Williams also return kicks for them and either is capable of going all the way once the football is in their hands.”

Mars graduate Austin Miele leads The Rock with 38 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Miele and Anthony Sauders have returned interceptions for touchdowns this season, Miele’s score coming last week.

SRU quarterback Nigel Barksdakle ranks fifth in the nation with 353 passing yards per game, fourth with 17.5 completions per game and 18 touchdown passes. John Schademan ranks fourth nationally with 658 receiving yards and eight TD catches.

“We’ve been banged up all year and we’re just starting to mend up,” Cignetti said. “This Slippery Rock team has weapons ... This will be two good teams going at each other.

“It should be a heckuva football game.”

Mihalik agreed.

“Anyone in this area wanting to see a good college football game should be in our stadium on Saturday,” he said.

Notes: SRU punter James McCombie leads the nation with an average of 46.7 yards per boot. ... Saturday’s game will be televised at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ROOT Sports. ... This will be the 201st Rock game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. SRU is 136-64 in the previous 200 and is 94-42 in home games under Mihalik.