WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the first time this season, Purdue coach Joe Tiller isn't sure where his team is headed.

The normally potent offense struggled for the second week in a row in a 12-0 loss to Penn State on Saturday. The Boilermakers were shut out for the first time in Tiller's 10 years at Purdue.

"I'm concerned about our team, and I don't worry that much about the game itself as I do our team and getting our team back positive," he said.

The Boilermakers have scored three points combined in home losses to Wisconsin and Penn State after ranking in the top five nationally in yards per game. Purdue (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) hadn't been shut out since Sept. 14, 1996, against Notre Dame. The run of 127 games without being shut out was the third-longest streak in the nation.

It was Penn State's first shutout since Oct. 19, 2002, against Northwestern.

The Boilermakers could struggle to qualify for a bowl game. They must win two of their last four games to become eligible, and three are on the road. They start with a trip to Michigan State on Saturday.

Quarterback Curtis Painter is struggling most of all. The sophomore completed 21 of 38 passes for 199 yards Saturday, but threw two interceptions.

"This was another illustration of Curtis misfiring the ball," Tiller said. "Today, we had an accuracy problem, and that's something we need to fix. Until we straighten it out, we'll continue to have a problem."

Tiller said his normally unflappable quarterback is starting to feel pressure.

"I'm going to have to do a little counseling this week in order to get him going and make him feel like it's not all him," Tiller said. "I think he feels like he has the entire weight of the team on his shoulders.

"I have not seen him take a loss this hard before."

Tiller said he's not considering changing quarterbacks in the immediate future. Painter still ranks among the nation's leaders in passing yardage.

The Nittany Lions held Dorien Bryant, the Big Ten's leader in receptions, to 5 yards on 5 catches. It was the junior's lowest offensive output since the first game of his freshman year.

"I don't know as though they shut him down," Tiller said. "I don't think we put the ball on him enough."

Penn State's Tony Hunt ran for 142 yards and scored the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Penn State (6-3, 4-2) held the ball for 35 minutes and finished with 422 total yards. Many times, Purdue's defense would get a stop, only to be back on the field minutes later.

Painter said he expects Purdue to bounce back.