Blue White Illustrated

2 0 1 8 S E A S O N P R E V I E W The time is now. With four of its ;ve most challenging games taking place in Beaver Stadium, this season's schedule favors Penn State. There are certainly tests littered throughout, but I like the Nittany Lions in all but maybe one – enough to convince me this is the year they break into the playo=. The reason? Trace McSorley, a senior, a proven win- ner and someone who is determined to go out on top, is about to write the ;nal verse of his college career. Just wait, it's going to be a hit. What's more, behind a line that has been gradually reinforcing itself the past few years, this o=ense has the potential to pile it on – even a?er losing Saquon Barkley. Weapons remain to o=set what was once a lopsided load. There will be some shootouts along the way, as I still have questions about the middle of the defense. I think that's what will eventually come back to bite later in the year, either at Michigan or at home against Wisconsin. But even with one loss, I think PSU makes the postsea- son. If it starts the year with seven in a row, including wins over Ohio State and Michigan State, it should have the re- sume to make it back to Indy. There, with McSorley in charge, nothing can be counted out. PREDICTION 11-1 If Penn State's o=ensive line is as good as the coaches believe, life will be easier for a re-energized running and passing attack led by a new o=ensive coordina- tor, Ricky Rahne, and an experienced Heisman Trophy candidate at quarter- back in Trace McSorley. Rahne should be able to add a few wrinkles to help Mc- Sorley and his revamped corps of run- ning backs and wide receivers. Once again, it's the young defense that has the most question marks, particularly at linebacker and in the middle of the de- fensive line. The secondary may be the most solid area, bolstered by the return of the aggressive and talented John Reid a?er a year spent recovering from a knee injury. It would not be surprising to see more true and redshirt freshmen playing in key positions, including running back. If the past is prologue, the team will once again need to win at least one game in which it is virtually outplayed and not lose another against a lesser opponent on a day when nothing seems to go right. The best I can see is 10-3 with a bowl victory, but that could all change, one direction or another, depending on avoiding injuries and unexpected per- formances, good or bad, by certain play- ers. PREDICTION 9-3 Penn State is shooting for 10 or more wins for the third year in a row. When you look at the schedule, there's reason for fans to be excited. Of the ;ve most di>- cult games, only the one against Michi- gan in early November is on the road. The Lions do replace Nebraska with Wiscon- sin for one of their crossover games. That won't be easy, but I'll take Penn State's sta= over the Badgers' sta= every time. Obviously, the game against Ohio State is the one everyone has circled. The Buckeyes are replacing quite a bit of tal- ent themselves, so the fact that these two teams face each other before the end of September makes the matchup all the more interesting. For now, I still have to give Ohio State the edge. Prove me wrong, James Franklin. You've done that a lot over the past few years. Michigan State brings back a lot of tal- ent this year, but Penn State gets the Spartans at home and will be coming o= a bye with revenge on its mind. That's the game that will probably determine whether the Lions reach that 10-win mark. I think they get it done but fall short vs. the Buckeyes and Wolverines. Look for the Lions to play in the Citrus Bowl. A bit down compared to previous years, but still an excellent season. PREDICTION 10-2 TIM OWEN ASSISTANT EDITOR LOU PRATO CONTRIBUTING WRITER RYAN SNYDER RECRUITING REPORTER didn't have a potential Heisman Tro- phy contender ahead of him on the depth chart. "I did some searching around and looked to see if there was a better place for me somewhere and I talked to some schools," Stevens said. "Ultimately, I know what I have here. I love Penn State. I love the relationships that I have here and I love playing football with my best friends." It would be naïve to think that the Lions don't have their share of internal conflict. For all their recent success, they have suffered two of the more agonizing losses in the program's recent history, falling by a combined total of four points to Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl and Ohio State last October. Those are the kind of moments that can test a team's camaraderie, and sometimes even good teams fail that test. Three years ago, fol- lowing a 17-14 loss to Michigan State in which he carried only 12 times for 33 yards, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott questioned the coaches' play- calling and then abruptly announced that he would not be returning for his senior season. "There's no chance of me coming back next year," he said. Finger-pointing is just about the least- productive way for any organization to channel its energy, so it's another posi- tive sign that Penn State hasn't had any open insubordination. Even the apparent tension between Franklin and his first

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