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FOOTBALL Schedules unveiled for 2018, '19 seasons Penn State will play host to five Big Ten opponents in 2018, and the following year it will host Michigan and end the season against Rutgers. The Nittany Lions will also face nonconference rival Pitt in both of those seasons, the schedules for which were recently released by the conference. The Big Ten will realign its divisions next year, with the Leaders and Legends making way for East and West divisions. And in 2016, member schools will play BWI'S MIDSEASON GRADES QUARTERBACKS Christian Hackenberg has had the expected struggles – six interceptions and a couple of unforced fumbles. He's also had unexpected success. After six games, he was leading the Big Ten with 278.7 passing yards per game. GRADE B+ RUNNING BACKS Zach Zwinak, Bill Belton and Akeel Lynch each have a 100-yard rushing effort to their credit. Fumbles, however, continue to plague Zwinak, Belton strives for consistency, and while Lynch averages 7.7 yards per carry, he had carried the ball sparingly heading into the Ohio State game; only twice had GRADE C+ he carried more than five times in a game. RECEIVERS Allen Robinson gives this unit bonus points, and Brandon Felder is fi- nally finding a groove in his final season. But there have been a few too many dropped passes, and the tight ends haven't been the mismatch that we heard about in the off-season. GRADE B+ OFFENSIVE LINE Penn State is still looking for consistency from its veteran-laden starting five, but there have been signs of promise, including single-game rushing efforts of 251, 193 and 287 yards. Plus, for the most part, Hackenberg's jersey has stayed pretty clean. GRADE BDEFENSIVE LINE The line had a lapse against UCF, but otherwise opponents have been limited to 150 or fewer rushing yards. (Syracuse, Eastern Michigan and Kent State were all held below 75.) DaQuan Jones is the flywheel at defensive tackle, and while Deion Barnes has been relatively quiet, fellow ends Anthony GRADE AZettel and C.J. Olaniyan have been anything but. LINEBACKERS Linebacker U isn't playing with a full deck of cards. Injuries have nagged starters and backups alike, and they have slowed this unit's production. Yet senior middle linebacker Glenn Carson keeps everyone driving forward, and GRADE Bhis individual effort has only increased his NFL draft stock. DEFENSIVE BACKS The secondary struggled against pass-happy offenses (UCF and Indiana) but had clutch performances in closes wins (Syracuse and Michigan). Penn State was allowing the second-fewest touchdown passes in the Big Ten through six games. Not terrible considering that a converted wide receiver GRADE Bstarts at cornerback, and one of its best safeties is now a linebacker. SPECIAL TEAMS Sam Ficken set the PSU record for most consecutive field goals (15), but he's also had some misses scattered among the makes. Alex Butterworth has improved his punting average by more than three yards (40.9) since last season, and the kick/punt returners have been formidable but far from threatening. GRADE B COACHES Bill O'Brien will go for it on fourth down, even in the most high-pressure situations. We know that by now. When he converts, he's lauded as a genius. GRADE B When he doesn't, well… nine conference opponents. The Nittany Lions will be in the East Division with Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Rutgers. The West Division will include Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin. Starting in 2016, every Big Ten team will play the other six schools in its division and also will face three teams from the other division. Penn State will have five conference home games during evennumbered years and four Big Ten home contests during odd-numbered years. In 2018, the Nittany Lions will have a blockbuster home schedule, hosting Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin and SEPTEMBER Maryland. They will TBA 1 close the regular at Pitt 8 15 TBA season against the 22 at Illinois Terrapins for the 29 OHIO STATE second consecutive OCTOBER 13 MICHIGAN STATE year, finishing on 20 at Indiana Nov. 24. In 2017, 27 IOWA Penn State will play NOVEMBER 3 at Michigan its regular-season 10 WISCONSIN finale at Maryland 17 at Rutgers for the first time 24 MARYLAND since 1965. The Nittany Lions will visit Illinois, IndiAUGUST 31 TBA ana, Michigan and SEPTEMBER Rutgers in 2018. 7 TBA The Big Ten Cham14 PITT 21 TBA pionship Game is 28 at Maryland set for Dec. 1 at a OCTOBER location to be de5 PURDUE 12 at Iowa termined. 19 MICHIGAN During the 2019 26 at Michigan State campaign, Penn NOVEMBER 9 at Minnesota State will play host 16 INDIANA to Purdue, Michi23 at Ohio State gan, Indiana and 30 RUTGERS Rutgers, welcoming the Scarlet Knights for the regular-season finale on Nov. 30. The Nittany Lions will end their regular season at Rutgers for the first time in program history. Penn State will travel to Maryland, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State during the 2019 season, which will include two bye weeks. 2018 2019

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