STATE COLLEGE — For the first time since the season-opening loss at Temple, there’s a tangible air of optimism around the Penn State football team. The players are loose and happy, the coaches seem prepared, and the program is confident. That’s because, since that loss to the Owls, an immense amount of pressure has been on the team — to perform against underwhelming opponents, to fix the struggles that have plagued the offense, to figure out the answers to the questions surrounding the special teams. This week, however, the pressure is off. After a historic five-game home stand in which the Nittany Lions were a perfect 5-0, the team is in Columbus this weekend to take on the top-ranked and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes in a primetime matchup. Realistically, not many outside of the Lasch Football Building on Penn State’s campus expect the Nittany Lions to put up much of a fight against the Buckeyes. Bookies in Las Vegas has the team as a 17.5-point underdog — and point spreads don’t concern head coach James Franklin — and many analysts have picked Ohio State to roll at home. But Penn State isn’t worried about what analysts, Vegas, or anyone else thinks. Franklin said the team realizes the opportunity in front of them, and is ready to seize it. “[After] five games in a row at home, now going on the road to Ohio State, my first time ever going there, and facing that type of adversity and that type of environment, it’s going to be a challenge,” Franklin said. …
Continue Reading: College Football: Penn State finally feels relaxed heading into Columbus
