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lot of different needs, probably the most important of which are our competitive aspirations." Penn State's aspirations may not leave room for an opponent like Pitt. Franklin noted that Big Ten teams will be playing nine conference games starting in 2016, leaving only three slots for nonconference opponents. One of those nonconference games must be against an opponent from a Power Five conference, and Big Ten teams are forbidden from scheduling teams from the Football Championship Subdi- vision. With those rules in place, Penn State doesn't need a home-and-home se- ries against a traditional rival in order to boost its profile. Said Franklin, "The Big Ten scheduling model is taking care of strength-of-schedule for us." For Pitt, which averaged 41,315 fans at its seven home games last season, a rivalry with Penn State would offer the same benefits that it offers Maryland and Rut- gers: a chance to impress recruits, an at- tendance boost, a bump in regional media exposure. But while it might be the Eastern rivalry that would most excite fans, par- ticularly those in Allegheny County, which is home to the largest concentration of Penn State alumni in the world, the only way to turn it into an annual rivalry game would probably be for Pitt to join the Big Ten or, failing that, for Penn State to join the ACC. Neither one of those things is going to happen. But for schools like Pitt, Rutgers and Maryland, there's plenty of incentive to proactively seek a rivalry with the Nittany Lions. Penn State is still recovering from the NCAA sanctions, and if its would- be Eastern rivals can capitalize on its youth, winning a few games and cap- turing the attention of recruits such as Rivals four-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who in May chose Maryland over Penn State among other schools, maybe they can level the playing field permanently. The risk, of course, is that they are merely helping to wake a sleeping giant. Gallo, the Maryland tight end, admitted after last year's game that the Terps' hand- shake snub "wasn't a smart decision," adding that it was the kind of thing "that could cost us a game." It could indeed. In fact, if the Nittany Lions have their way, the price of that public display of disrespect could be more than a game. As of mid-August, Penn State was sixth in Rivals' 2016 recruiting rankings, while Maryland was 22nd and Rutgers 33rd. The longtime kings of Eastern football are developing the capacity to fight back, underscoring a bit of wisdom that has its roots in medieval politics but applies just as well to the similarly dynastic world of modern-day college football: If you're going to take a shot at the king, you'd better not miss. ■ 2 0 1 5 P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L D I N N E I N S T Y L L E … 100 Cricklewood Drive State College, P 814-234-2424 gieinnandspa.com ne car 100 Cricklewood Drive A ollege, P PA 814-234-2424 gieinnandspa.com

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