[ad_1]
Here we go, folks!
No more nonconference games against the Mountain West and the MAC. No more tune-ups, which will hopefully give the fans a little confidence in this team. It’s Big Ten game time! This is where the big boys play, and Iowa starts a big challenge on the table Penn State.
Penn State is rarely a team to be taken lightly. A program with traditional success on the gridiron, Penn State will always be a force in the Big Ten. It might not always feel like it, with critics mocking the Nittany Lions and head coach James Franklin specifically for not beating top teams. But Penn State still ranked as a top-10 team last year. This was after everyone announced the sky was falling after a tough two-season stretch for James Franklin’s boys.
Penn State looks back and is perhaps better than ever. With new, exciting faces on offense, Nittany Lions fans have plenty of reasons to be excited for their team. Of course, we’ve been through all of this before. Many are hesitant to trust James Franklin in the same way they prefer not to bet on Brian Ferentz’s offense. In this way, both teams are in similar boats heading into this year, trying to shed the veil of mediocrity and rise to contender status.
Here’s a look at Iowa’s week four opponent, Penn State.
[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Is this a Penn State team that will finally become a contender?
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State is one of the toughest teams in the nation. Theyshould to be a challenger. It’s Penn State! They have a storied football history and all the best recruiting you could ask for. They haven’t been bad under James Franklin, but they’re at the same point Michigan was a few years ago. They should compete for national championships.
Is this the year Penn State can break through to the next level?
The new look Nittany Lions
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest reason to be excited about this Penn State team comes from the new faces on offense. The Nittany Lions defense is as sure-footed as any in college football next to Georgia and Iowa. The names may change, but they always produce one of football’s elite units.
It’s an offense that has really let them down over the years. Trace McSorely was a solid college quarterback, but his weaknesses when throwing the ball were glaringly obvious. Sean Clifford has been the cause of blood pressure spikes every Saturday for several years now.
Now in 2023, Penn State fans have new hope in the form of talented young quarterback Drew Allari. Combined with Nicholas Singleton, this new Penn State offense could be special.
James Franklin has something to prove
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
At some point we will discuss James Franklin. Given the overall success of the program under him, that might seem fair, but we all saw how things were with Jim Harbaugh before Michigan took the next step. James Franklin simply hasn’t been able to beat truly elite teams. They are 2-15 against top 10 teams and 1-5 against top 5 teams led by Franklin. Again, Penn State should do more.
In a hostile environment
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
All bias aside, the Hawkeyes are heading into a very tough environment in their first Big Ten game of the season. Beaver Stadium offers one of the best home field advantages in football and arguably the best atmosphere in college ball. I’ve been there before, and even in the meaningless opener against Akron, held in the rain, it’s still electric.
A real test for Iowa
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa’s 2023 schedule doesn’t have too many massive tests on paper, but this one is key early in the year. After three non-conference games, which honestly aren’t the toughest of assignments, Iowa jumps right into the fire on the road against Penn State. The Hawkeyes have a chance at the start of the season to announce that they are, in fact, in the Big Ten.
Key player: Drew Allar, quarterback
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
I talked about him earlier, but Drew Allar is really the biggest key to Penn State’s success. The Nittany Lions boast so many strengths each year, but the passing game has left a lot to be desired. Sure, Sean Clifford didn’t have the worst stats, but anyone who watched Penn State football knew he could do better.
In fact, they saw it last year. Even as a freshman in limited time, Allar showed so much upside that it’s impossible to ignore. The rifle allows him to make throws that previous Nittany Lions QBs couldn’t even think of making. It will be interesting to see how ready he is for Big Ten ball, but he will have a massive test early in Phil Parker’s defense.
Key Player: Nicholas Singleton, Running Back
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
Now it’s not about this man at all. Nicholas Singleton burst onto the scene last year, leading Penn State with 1,061 rushing yards and 12 scores. Despite his inexperience, Singleton showed an athletic way of playing that just can’t be learned. Penn State has been desperate for a star like Singleton.
Player to Watch: Olu Fashanu, Offensive Tackle
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
That’s right, we show some love to the offensive linemen. You have to talk about Olu Fashanu when Penn State breaks because he might be their best player. Fashanu is a consensus preseason first-team All-American and numbers high in the first round of next year’s NFL draft.
Key Player: Kalen King, Cornerback
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
If Penn State’s best player isn’t Fashanu, it surely has to be Kalen King. Continuing Penn State’s stellar play in a second period that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, King recorded three picks and an impressive 16 passes defensed. Penn State could land another cornerback high in the draft.
Key player: Abdul Carter, linebacker
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
We have several defensive players we could feature, Chop Robinson is an electric pass rusher and Adisa Isaac is also a force on the line, but we have to talk about Abdul Carter. Carter was a surprise breakout in 2023, leading the Nittany Lions with 6.5 sacks. Watch out for Carter this year.
Contact us/Follow us@HawkeyesWireon Twitter and like our pageFacebooktrack ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinion.
Subscribe to the best local Iowa news, sports, entertainment and culture Des Moines Register.
|
Sources 2/ https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/lists/iowa-football-2023-schedule-breakdown-penn-state/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
[ad_2]