Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503568
2 2 A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 3 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / NATE BAUER Admittedly, the easy pick is 10-2. Call it instinct, but the easiest blueprint for Penn State's 2023 season isn't the one I believe will come to fruition this year. The question is which alternative seems most likely as the Nittany Lions and head coach James Franklin vie for a College Football Playoff berth before its expansion. In many ways, 2016's success was the product of a program that found its stride ahead of schedule after two early-season setbacks. Seeing some similarities be- tween this team and that one, but without the same challenges on the schedule in September, I'm taking the bullish option. Illinois and Iowa will both be challeng- ing tests for Penn State's budding offense to overcome, but they shouldn't derail a meeting between two likely unbeaten teams at Ohio State on Oct. 21. Whether the Nittany Lions can clear that game, or Michigan three weeks later, is the un- known that's difficult to decipher. Yet, given a six-game lead-in to hit its stride, this is the year that Penn State wins one of them. Prediction: 11-1 THOMAS FRANK CARR There's a reasonable chance that Penn State comes out of the first month of the 2023 season with a loss. The Nit- tany Lions will face one of the nation's best defensive lines at Illinois on Sept. 16, then return home to take on another stingy defensive team, Iowa, the follow- ing week. Both opponents are offen- sively challenged but can even the odds against the PSU's stacked running game. Sophomore quarterback Drew Allar may struggle early on as the starter, and those games pose some risks. Yet the team's overall talent level is the best it's been in years. If the Lions go 10-2 again but beat Michigan at home, is that progress? That's a reasonable outcome for this group, but this is the season of opti- mism. So, I'm predicting that Penn State gets over the hump and beats Michigan at home, forcing its way into the College Football Playoff conversation. Prediction: 11-1 SEAN FITZ There are still plenty of questions to answer for the Nittany Lions heading into preseason camp, but this group is as stacked with talent as it's been since 2017. Of course, all eyes will be on the first-year starter at quarterback, but the roster from top to bottom is something that can help that situation. There's been so much talk this offsea- son about Drew Allar and the offense that the defense has almost been taken for granted. When the handwringing on that side of the ball comes from a defen- sive tackle position that's actually OK, it's a sign that coordinator Manny Diaz has something to work with. The defense and running game, an- chored by two really good backs and an experienced offensive line, should get Penn State through September while Al- lar gets his feet wet. From there, a trip to Columbus and a home matchup against Michigan will tell the tale of the 2023 season. I think the Nittany Lions split them for the first time since 2020. Prediction: 11-1 MATT HERB In Athlon's season preview magazine, an anonymous Big Ten assistant coach described Penn State as "always talented but not always tough. When recruiting is clicking, their roster looks close to Mich- igan or Ohio State, but they don't punch you back the same way those guys do." That's a fair assessment. The Nittany Lions have had fourth-quarter leads in three of their past six games against the Buckeyes yet have lost them all. They had a fourth-quarter lead on Michigan the last time the Wolverines visited Beaver Stadium and lost that game, too. When it was time to punch back, those oppo- nents kept their cool and landed hay- makers. To get where it wants to go this season, PSU will have to turn the tables. It must show the physical and mental fortitude to make big plays in high-pressure situ- ations at the end of tough games. The Lions don't necessarily have to win in Columbus, which is fortunate, because they haven't done it in 12 years. But they must earn a split against Ohio State and Michigan and avoid any upsets along the way if they hope to reach the playoff. I do think PSU has the manpower to take another next step forward. But my expectations are tempered by the knowl- edge that the Lions have struggled when they've been on the precipice of playoff contention. Prediction: 10-2 STAFF PREDICTIONS Picking Penn State's 2023 Regular-Season Record W H A T T H E Y ' R E S A Y I N G A B O U T P E N N S T A T E … "The Nittany Lions lose their long-time QB but many fans feel Drew Allar will be an upgrade. James Franklin has been knocking on the door but this year he needs to break through and beat a Top-10 team as he is 0-10 the last six years." — Phil Steele's '23 College Football Preview "Penn State's momentum and personnel have pumped up its fanbase, but the Lions are 3-9 against Ohio State and Michigan since 2017. It's up to them to prove themselves as more than also-rans by beating the Buckeyes in Columbus on Oct. 21, and the Wolverines at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 11." — Lindy's Sports College Football "Even with a young quarterback replacing a four-year starter, this looks like one of Franklin's bet- ter teams. But for Penn State to go from New Year's Six bowl participant to legitimate playoff con- tender, it must overcome its toughest divisional rivals." — Athlon Sports College Football