Key stretch: Penn State Nittany Lions

0 Shares Print As we draw nearer to the college football season, we’ve decided to take a closer look at the schedule of each Big Ten team. Namely, we’re looking at each team’s most critical three- or four-game stretch, why it’s important and what the most likely outcome is. Up next: Penn State Key stretch: Indiana on Oct. 10, at Ohio State on Oct. 17, vs. Maryland on Oct. 24 (M&T Bank Stadium), Illinois on Oct. 31 Breakdown: Thanks to the Nittany Lions’ cupcake nonconference schedule, they have a very strong shot at starting 5-0 by the time this Big Ten stretch kicks off. That’s what makes it so important: Going 4-0 thrusts them into the thick of the B1G championship picture, while 1-3 (or worse) means a likely low-tier bowl. This stretch will really help determine what kind of team Penn State has. The schedule could be more difficult than it may seem at first-glance. Penn State starts off with the Hoosiers — which it beat last season — but then has three straight games against opponents that bested it in 2014. And this won’t be the same Indiana team that Penn State faced last year. The Hoosiers were forced to start their third-string quarterback in 2014, and the Lions’ defense unsurprisingly took advantage. But IU’s passing game caused fits for PSU in 2013 and, with a healthy Nate Sudfeld returning, that should be the best offense the Lions face up until that point. Of course, it won’t get any easier the next week – when it travels on the road against Ohio State, the defending national champion. The difficulty of that game is evident. Even if PSU hung with the Buckeyes last year, this squad should be stronger — plus, it’s at The Horseshoe. The third game of the stretch continues on against Maryland. The Terps have a lot of question marks right now but, by Week 8 of the season, they should have most of them answered…

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