Penn State Sunday situation: Early tests passed, Lions must continue climbing as Big Ten play begins

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State football entered the 2023 with high expectations. The Nittany Lions were a top 10 team in every media poll imaginable. They had multiple preseason All-Americans. Some pundits picked head coach James Franklin’s 10th team here to make the first College Football Playoff. And all saw the program as likely to eclipse its 9.5 win total set by Vegas oddsmakers.

Nothing over the first two weeks of the college football season has slowed the hype surrounding Penn State. The Lions blasted both West Virginia and Delaware to start the year. Each contest saw highly-regarded first-year starting and sophomore quarterback Drew Allar shine and show that the extremely high expectations set for him by those inside and outside of the program were valid. It turned out that struggling to find a third receiver throughout spring practice and preseason camp would not hinder the high-flying offense led by coordinator Mike Yurcich. Sophomore running backs Nicholas Singelton and Kaytron Allen are still studs who have not experienced a sophomore stall. The offensive line has backed up the considerable praise it received in the offseason.

Defensively, the Lions still have some things to figure out but have looked stout, albeit against an FCS opponent in one instance. Tackling improved between Weeks 1 and 2. The team forced its first two turnovers of the year in the win over Delaware. And, missed assignments were fewer in the year’s second game than in the first. All told, the defense will sometimes bend a little. Fans must accept that. It’s the cost of doing business with a style that is predicated on being fast and aggressive, which Diaz’s is.

More: Penn State head coach James Franklin: Delaware postgame press conference

Even special teams, which were shaky in the opener, took a step forward in Week 2. Alex Felkins seemingly has taken the placement kicking job for good from Sander Sahaydak, who missed a pair of field goals against West Virginia. The rest of coordinator Stacy Collins’ unit has been fine but unspectacular, and that’s OK: It just can’t make mistakes that cost the Lions possession and field position. It’s been so far, so good in that department. But, it’s still easily the biggest worry facing this team at this moment in time.

The Lions cannot reset on their laurels

The old saying about a team reading its press clippings (which, only mostly exists in magazines like this one in the truest sense of the phrase these days) and getting complacent or overconfident is an adage as old as time. But, it comes up endlessly, and for good reasons: Teams can start to let their preparation lack when they think they have it all figured out. Penn State’s coaching staff and the team’s player leaders must be diligent to ensure the stuff that happens Sunday through Friday does not dip in response to the strong start and outside accolades as Big Ten play begins with Illinois in Week 3 and then Iowa in Week 4. The good news? Despite entering the season with a leadership void due to graduations, there is no indication that this team lacks direction. That can only be seen as good thing with so many young players in marquee roles.

“We’re ready for Big Ten play,” tackle Caedan Wallace said. “And honestly, to get ready for the road. You just got to hone in and do our simple game plan, and practice being 1-0 every week. That’s really the best way to do it.”

Added running back Nicholas Singleton:

“We’re just playing physical you know. Like Coach Franklin always says, we just take one game at a time, have good practices, and so I feel like we’re ready [for the rest of the season.]”

The 2023 Penn State season will not be judged by these first two weeks. It will be, however, remembered for how the Lions fared in Big Ten play. Their first test features a road trip to Illinois. Iowa visits after for the White Out. And marquee matchups with Ohio State and Michigan in October and November, respectively, will help decide if this team can return to the College Football Playoff. The Lions are happy, and perhaps most importantly healthy, after two weeks of play. But, weekly tests start now. Penn State showed it can pass them with flying colors. Now, it must go out and continue to do so.

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