There is always that off-year in football in a major conference like the Big Ten. This season could be one of those years for Penn State. Ohio State has questions at quarterback, and Michigan is in a rebuild, even with the addition of Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA, Penn State could finally get over the hump and win the Big Ten championship for the first time since 2016. With a stud quarterback returning and a new offensive coordinator the sky is the limit for Penn State.
Allar or Nothing
Penn State had offensive woes last year especially finishing the season 55th in the country in total offense. Anyone will tell you with the talent on the Nittany Lion offensive that is unacceptable. Drew Allar is a phenomenal underrated quarterback throwing for 2,631 yards 25 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. The only knock on Allar is the completion percentage coming in at just 60%.
Penn State Head Coach James Franklin acknowledged the offensive struggles by firing Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich and bringing in Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Kotelniki helped turn Kansas around and turned Kansas quarterback Jason Bean into the 12th most efficient passer in the nation.
Penn State has lost 4 games in the regular season to the same two teams in the last two years. Ohio State and Michigan are the only teams in the Big Ten to knock off the Nittany Lions. With the moves made in the off-season that should help Penn State improve along with Michigan having a mass exodus to the NFL and Ohio State having questions at quarterback, this is Penn State’s best shot at glory.
This isn’t a Cake Walk
Penn State is graced by a few tune-up games and will be able to work out the kinks to the offense. However, the midseason exams come and they do not stop.
@ West Virginia August 31
Penn State opens up on the road. The Mountaineers finished last season strong winning four of the last five games and capping off a win in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene will be looking to improve and put West Virginia on the map with a statement-upset win in Morgantown at the expense of the Nittany Lions.
Bowling Green September 7
The first of two MAC tune-ups before the Big Ten play. Penn State will be looking to tie up loose ends before they enter the grind of the Big Ten schedule. Bowling Green has made two consecutive bowl games and steadily improving. Bowling Green isn’t a stranger to upsetting bigger opponents upsetting Georgia Tech last year and Minnesota in 2021.
Kent State September 21
The final cupcake before the gauntlet from Penn State if there is anything left to figure out it better get figured out. Kent State went 1-11 last year with a goose egg in the win column in the conference. Kent State will be collecting a check and moving on.
Illinois September 28
Illinois is slept on, Bret Bielema in his fourth season as the Ilini coach. Illinois regressed last year going 5-7, a hungry Illini team will be looking to right the ship with a statement upset. However, the Nittany Lion’s defense will be too much for the Illinois offense.
UCLA October 5
The Bruins are in a bit of a turmoil situation with Chip Kelly’s shocking exit to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. DeShaun Foster will have massive shoes to fill at UCLA and the test in Beaver Stadium may be a bit too much to ask for the first-time head coach.
@ USC October 12
The first tough road test for Penn State. Lincoln Riley will have the Offense clicking in the post-Caleb Williams Era. This is the make-it-or-break-it game for Penn State. A win and they are in the conversation for the National Title picture, a loss, and the the seat of James Franklin heats right back up as he yet again loses a big game.
@ Wisconsin October 26
One of the toughest places to play in the country is Camp Randall. Luke Fickell is in his second season as the Badgers head coach. The Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke will be looking for a reboot of his career, with Luke Fickell’s offensive mind and Van Dyke’s talent this will be another classic between the Badgers and the Nittany Lions.
Ohio State November 2
This is THE test against Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State gets them at Beaver Stadium. This game is a powder keg both coaches could be in a position of coaching for lives. This game could be the difference between coaching at your respective school or waiting for a phone call from a Group of Five school.
Washington November 9
A battle of the W’s Washington with first-year head coach Jedd Fisch with transfer quarterback Will Rodgers the Huskies will looking to make a statement in their first season in the Big Ten a win in Beaver Stadium would send shockwaves throughout the Big Ten. For Penn State, this game is a must-win.
@ Purdue November 16
Purdue has collapsed since Jeff Brohm left for Louisville. Ryan Walters took over after Brohm’s departure and went 4-8. This game will be a bit of a reprieve after going through that gauntlet and finally an easier opponent for the Nittany Lions. If things have gone wrong by this point this would be the best chance to reset and right the ship.
@ Minnesota November 23
P.J. Fleck had a career year in 2019 but since then the Gophers have only been able to achieve a 9-4 record in 2021 and 2022 and slid even further last year going 6-7. Fleck may be coaching for his life by this point in the season. This should be a quick uninteresting game but as college football goes, anything can happen on any given Saturday.
Maryland November 30
Potential Big Ten Championship implications in this match-up. Penn State could be in a situation of win in while Maryland could play spoiler for their border rival. Maryland Head Coach and Nick Saban disciple Mike Locksley has steadily improved the Terps in his first full season in 2019 going 3-9 and improving to 8-5 last year. If Penn State is in a position to go to the Big Ten Championship game and overlook Maryland we could get an upset on rivalry weekend.
Penn State Hot Seat
This is a major opportunity for Penn State the Big Ten title is well within reach. There’s a lot of talk of Ohio State and Oregon winning the Conference but both Oregon and Ohio State are going to have a new quarterback learning a new system while Penn State has one of the best quarterbacks in the country returning a great defense.
Should James Franklin come out of the season not in the now expanded playoffs Penn State will have to make a move at Head Coach. Franklin has a 12-25 record against Top 25 teams and against Top 10 opponents Franklin is a laughable 3-17. At Penn State, you have to win big games and if you can’t State College is obligated to go out and find someone who will.
This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.
