There are plenty of storylines heading into the final game
at Beaver Stadium for the 2015 season. The Nittany Lions are 7-3 heading into
their matchup against Michigan but have had some questions throughout the
season. Here are just a few of those questions.
Is this the last game
for quarterback Christian Hackenberg? This has been the biggest question
mark for Penn State over the last two seasons. People have had their opinions
of the junior quarterback due to the LOFTY expectations he had coming out of
high school. Hackenberg committed to Bill O’Brien and Penn State in February of
2012, about a month after O’Brien was named head coach and almost a year before
he’d sign his National Letter of Intent. Many believed that the 6 foot 4,
pro-style quarterback would transfer after the NCAA handed down the infamous
sanctions in wake of the Jerry Sandusky Scandal. He didn’t. He has stuck around
longer than many believed he would. Most quarterbacks of his caliber who sign
to a program are asked to put up huge numbers, win games, and ultimately win championships.
Hackenberg on the other hand was asked to essentially save a program along with
O’Brien, and when O’Brien left for the NFL, it was on Hack’s shoulders. He
hasn’t had the numbers many hoped he’d have, Penn State hasn’t won any
championships, but for what he has done for Penn State as a whole, that’s
something most quarterbacks have never done. If it is indeed his last game at
Beaver Stadium we should all stand, wherever you are, and applaud when he walks
off the field at the end of the game because we all owe him a collective,
“thank you”.
What can we expect
from the offense after a bye week? It’s no secret that Penn State’s offense
has struggled this season. There hasn’t been a game where they’ve put it all
together for 60 minutes and if there was ever a game where they needed that,
it’s Saturday against a stingy Michigan defense. Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines rank
second in the country in total defense and are allowing just 100 yards a game
on the ground. If Penn State wants to have any shot at pulling the upset of the
#12 ranked Wolverines, they’re going to have to establish a running game.
Indiana last week ran up 307 yards on the defense, 238 of those yards coming
from Jordan Howard. Running back Saquon Barkley has had a week off to get as
close to 100% as he can and will hear his name called plenty of times if Penn
State is going to get the win. IF, and that’s a big IF, Barkley can get going
that should open up some sort of passing game.
Which defense will
show up? I mentioned Michigan having the 2nd ranked defense in
the country; Penn State isn’t far behind at number 13, but they’ve had games
where they struggle against both the pass and the run. Three weeks ago against
Illinois the Nittany Lions allowed just 167 yards in a 39-0 victory. The
following week they gave up 227 yards on the ground, 396 overall to
Northwestern in a 23-21 loss. It’s a defense that leads the nation in sacks
(42), second in tackles for loss (93), and tied for first in forced fumbles
(17). They also have arguably one of the best defensive players in the country
in Carl Nassib who leads the nation in both sacks and tackles for loss. In his
final home game at Penn State, Nassib will be called upon along with the rest
of the defense to bring the heat on Michigan’s offense.
Fans who are in attendance don’t have to worry about
watching Christian Hackenberg for the final time at Beaver Stadium. He’ll be
back. At the end of the day, Penn State comes away with the win over the maize
and blue. Saquon Barkley hits the 200-yard mark for the first time in his Penn
State career and Carl Nassib adds to his sack and total for loss total. The good
guys win, 24-20.
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