Nick Fest
Staff Writer
Penn State football
looks to improve from last year’s 11-2 season and a Fiesta Bowl victory of
Washington. Their losses came from an Ohio State team that came back in the
fourth quarter to beat PSU by one point. Their second loss came from Michigan
State in the final seconds of the game as freshman kicker, Matt Coghlin, nailed
a 34-yard field goal to beat the Nittany Lions by 3. If you think of the season
as a whole, Penn State were 4 points away from a perfect regular season, a Big
Ten Conference Championship game, and potentially a chance at a national
championship.
While they are losing a copious number of starters to the
NFL draft, such as Saquon Barkley, Marcus Allen, and DaeSean Hamilton, they are
also gaining a lot of talent off of recruiting and more experienced players.
Penn State ranked 6th nationally in recruiting, filling spots that need
improvement on.
The college football preseason poll has ranked Penn State
number 9 coming into the season. Sitting right behind Miami, and Wisconsin.
Their schedule this year
is more difficult than last years, adding Wisconsin to mix, it will stir things
up in the Big Ten. Their first 4 games against, Appalachian State, Pitt, Kent
State, and Illinois were an easy 4-0 in 4 weeks. But the week after they played
Ohio State and look to avenge their comeback defeat. Playing Penn State in
Happy Valley is one of the hardest stadiums to play at no matter what team you
are. Under the lights, with 100 thousand people screaming cannot be an easy
contest. Even if you are a top 5 team in the nation. This is a big reason why Penn
State will have an amazing season, because their toughest games are at home
where they play best.
After a bad play call,
Penn State could not convert on a 4th and 5 causing them to lose the game 27 to
26. After the Coach Franklin felt hurt by the loss, but will use it to grow,
“Obviously this is painful, and it hurts,” he said. “But I do think that, when
used the right way, this can fuel us to continue to grow and continue to take
that next step.” They cannot let this week dictate their season because they
play Michigan State the week after, who were one of their two losses last year
along with Ohio State. Indiana should be a game where they can catch their
breath and breeze by to the next week. Iowa may not seem like a contender, but
they gave Penn State a run for their money last year with a 19-20 loss to the
Nittany Lions after Quarterback Trace McSorley threw a touchdown pass at the
buzzer. Penn State made a statement last year, embarrassing Michigan 42-13.
Michigan has been criticized since last year’s loss and is ready to show
critics they’re not a joke.
They are a more
experienced team this year with a top quarterback and are waiting for Penn
State on their home turf on Nov. 3. Beaver Stadium is one of the hardest places
to play in the country, but Michigan’s home field is just as hard. Again, PSU
will be tested in this matchup. The week after that Penn State has their final
big matchup of the regular season as the Big Ten Championship rematch of 2016
is set. Once this week is over the Nittany Lions should be in place for another
Big Ten Championship game. The next two weeks should be an easy route coming
against Rutgers, and Maryland as they are at the bottom of the Big Ten last
year.
It will without a doubt be an exciting year for coach
Franklin and his team, but it will also be a long year if they do not come into
every game like it’s their last. They will have to earn every win this. There's
no Saquon Barkley to carry them this year. If everyone does their job
offensively and defensively, it will be hard to beat them.
