Article Written by Mac Young
Originally Published on October 27, 2023
Penn State’s clash in Columbus last week was anything but program-changing. It was more of the same as the Nittany Lions dropped their seventh straight to the Buckeyes.
The offense was nonexistent, going 1/16 on third down and scoring one measly touchdown in garbage time with less than 29 seconds remaining.
Former five-star quarterback Drew Allar looked lost. He fought tears in his postgame media availability saying, “I sucked.”
On the positive end, the Nittany Lion defense was flying around the field. It made stop after stop including an incredible goalline stand on fourth down to keep it a one-possession game in the second half.
Eventually, Penn State broke, falling by a final score of 20-12 in a miserable defeat.
This week Penn State faces off against a 2-5 Indiana team. The Nittany Lions are 32 point favorites.
They will need to cover that sort of outrageous spread if they want fans to invest any sliver of hope in their offense.
Allar will need to sling the ball around with vengeance after opting for check down after check down in Columbus.
This game is not just about winning or even sending a message. It’s about winning back a small piece of the massive hope-pie that was swiped away by the Buckeyes.
If Penn State still wishes to make its first College Football Playoff it will have to defeat Michigan on Nov. 11. Few would give the Nittany Lions any chance to win that game right now.
Against Indiana, Penn State will need to start rebuilding its confidence by dismantling teams like the Hoosiers.
Look for offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich to integrate a couple of deep shots in the gameplan to show some flair and excitement in the offense. More importantly, Allar should get the opportunity to make easy throws to rebuild his confidence.
This should in theory be an easy victory for the Nittany Lions, but it’s more imperative than ever that Penn State plays a strong and complete game.
The Hoosiers and Nittany Lions will kickoff at noon at Beaver Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Mac Young is a senior broadcast journalism major at Penn State.
To contact him email macyoung21@gmail.com.