This preseason has been much different than last preseason for Penn State.
Last August, Penn State fans and, well, just about everybody else were expecting the team to be right in the national title mix.
Instead, Penn State lost three of its first six games, fired coach James Franklin midway through his 12th season, and, for just the third time since 1966, PSU was looking for a new coach.
Matt Campbell ended up being the guy. Although the same “natty or bust” mentality isn’t there (as evidenced by Penn State’s modest No. 18 ranking in the AP Poll), it’s still reasonable to expect this group to do big things. At least one national analyst sees PSU as a team that can win in the College Football Playoff.
“The Nittany Lions only return four starters,” wrote Chris Hummer of CBS Sports, “and are a weird amalgamation of a Big Ten team stitched together with the best of Iowa State. But the Nittany Lions are an experienced roster, and this is the most talent Campbell’s ever worked with. They could win a game in the playoff.”
As Curt Cignetti proved with Indiana, experience goes a long way toward winning.
The fact that Penn State doesn’t have to play Cignetti— or Ohio State’s Ryan Day or Oregon’s Dan Lanning— is something people will point to when projecting this as a playoff team.
But the schedule could be a double-edged sword. Not playing the Big Ten’s “big three” is a plus in one way, but it also negates the opportunity for Penn State to get a signature win over one of those schools.
So a 10-2 season that would lead to a playoff berth with a stronger schedule might have Penn State sweating come selection day.
