In 2016, Penn State was supposed to step aside and wait their turn as Michigan and Ohio State went to battle for the Big Ten East. By the first Sunday in December, Penn State won the east and the conference title. Although they didn’t reach the college football playoff, they showed that the James Franklin era of Penn State Football is alive and well in State College. Now, what is in the offing for an encore?
Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley return for the Nittany Lions along with young receivers and a young but improved defense. While they won’t be able to surprise anybody like they did a year ago, it’s clear that the Big Ten’s eastern division will be a three team battle. Unlike last season, it’s going to take a lot more than a blocked field goal and a tiebreaker to reach the Big Ten Title Game again.