We all know No. 8 Penn State is going to beat Bowling Green, so fans shouldn’t be stressing about the outcome.
But there’s a lot to watch in a college football game even in what, on paper, is a mismatch.
Here are some things for PSU should want to see against Bowling Green.
PENN STATE OFFENSE: RECEIVERS NOT NAMED HARRISON WALLACE III CONTRIBUTING CONSISTENTLY
I know. It’s hard to nitpick a receiving corps after the WR1 went for 117 yards and two touchdowns on five catches in a 22-point win. Bur aside from Wallace and one big play from Omari Evans, none of Penn State’s WRs as much as caught a pass for a positive gain. So in addition to beating Bowling Green, PSU fans should be looking for Julian Fleming— who impressed coach James Franklin with his blocking last week— to be more involved in the pass-catching department, for Liam Clifford to show what Penn State’s players and coaches had raved about all offseason and, if he’s fully healthy, for Kaden Saunders to show promise.
PENN STATE DEFENSE: A PICK
Yes, Penn State did have an interception at West Virginia. But Elliot Washington’s pick long after the outcome had already been sealed. All five of Penn State’s main DBs— safeties Jaylen Reed, KJ Winston and Zakee Wheatley, corners A.J. Harris and Jaylen Kimber— showed promise, to say the least. All five of them are capable of impacting a game without having a pick. But it would be rewarding for one of them to get one. Winston, in particular, almost had one early against WVU. He’s certainly capable of closing the deal.
PSU SPECIAL TEAMS: A TD
Remember last season when Daequan Hardy ran two punts back for touchdowns against UMass, which had never been done by a Penn State player? That was fun for Penn State fans. Remember the year before that, when Nicholas Singleton ran a kickoff back 100 yards at Rutgers? That was fun, too. Would be fun to see somebody do something like that again, eh?
Nicholas Singleton, 100 yard kickoff return @ Rutgers@NickSingletonn pic.twitter.com/CinKdnRpAi
— No Names All Game (@nonamesallgame) December 7, 2022
