Penn State’s opener against Marshall is just a couple days away, and the Nittany Lions are carrying a schedule that looks built for a playoff push.
To get there, Matt Campbell’s team will need at least nine wins, and maybe 10.
That 10-win target opens the door to a couple of Penn State fan questions, including one prediction that sees the Lions finishing 10-2 in the regular season. In that version, the only losses come at Washington and Michigan, while Penn State handles USC in a White Out on Oct. 10.
“I’m picking a 10-2 regular season with only the losses coming at Washington and Michigan and a spectacular Whiteout win vs USC. -- Tim Tewksbury”
The White Out game against USC has clearly caught the eye of Penn State fans, and for good reason. It also sets up a tricky follow-up, because the Lions would go to Ann Arbor a week later to face Michigan.
That matchup prompted another fan scenario: beat USC at home, then stumble against Michigan; or lose to USC, then go into the Big House and beat the Wolverines.
“If we beat USC at home, and we lay an egg vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor.
If we lose to USC, we turn the Big House in Michigan inside out and rout Michigan.
Which would the fans enjoy more, and which do we think is more likely to happen? -- Andrew Allison”
The answer on the enjoyment side is easy enough. Penn State fans would be thrilled by a road win over Michigan, especially with the Wolverines having piled up some lopsided home victories against the Lions.
As for what looks more likely, the tougher path is the one that asks Penn State to beat USC and Michigan on back-to-back Saturdays. The more probable outcome is a home win over USC in prime time, followed by a loss the next week at Michigan.
In Other News...
Rocco Becht's Penn State Debut Raised One Very Real Question
Rocco Bechts first game in a Penn State uniform was the kind of debut that can change the mood around a quarterback room in a hurry. Against Marshall, he completed 13 of 18 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, spreading the ball around with four different scoring throws and giving the offense the sort of easy rhythm coaches dream about when a new starter takes over.
Matt Campbells decision to go to backup Alex Manske after Penn State had already built a 31-0 lead only added to the conversation. Becht looked sharp, efficient and very much in command, and the performance left one very real question hanging over the program now: how long does Penn State keep leaning into the backup plan when the debut looked this ready? [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Are Already Judging One Big Matt Campbell Change
Matt Campbells first game as Penn States head coach drew plenty of attention beyond the usual season-opening buzz, because it gave fans their first real look at what the program might look like under his watch. After taking over in December as the 17th head coach in school history, Campbell arrived with the kind of reputation that tends to stir big expectations in Happy Valley, and plenty of people in the stands against Marshall were eager to see whether the program would feel different right away.
What stood out most was the reaction in the stadium, where many fans seemed to buy into the idea that Penn State was leaning back toward tradition and toughness. The hope around the program was obvious, even if the range of expectations was wide, with some already projecting a strong season and others treating this as the beginning of a longer transition. Either way, the first impression mattered, and it was clear plenty of eyes were on how Campbells version of Penn State would handle the early weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Defense Already Has A Freshman Forcing Big Decisions
A true freshman has already worked his way into Penn States defensive plans, and Josiah Zayas made his case quickly enough to earn a starting spot before taking the field against Marshall. For a secondary that values reliability and flexibility, that kind of early rise matters, especially when a young defender is showing he can handle more than one job on the back end.
Matt Campbell has pointed to Zayas versatility and the way he has made impactful plays in practice, and the early returns carried over into game action. He showed up around the line of scrimmage with tackles for loss and held up in coverage well enough to earn more trust, even with a few minor mistakes mixed in. For Penn State, the bigger question now is how much responsibility a freshman can absorb as the games get tougher. [Read more 🡒]