Penn State Football Opponent Preview: Rutgers Looking To Build On First Season In Big Ten

The Blue White game is quickly fading from the rear view mirror and the Penn State football 2015 season is zooming into sight.

Training camp will start in a few short weeks.

So as July slowly turns into August it’s a good time to look ahead to the opponents the Nittany Lions will face this year.

Next up on our season preview list is Rutgers.

Offense: 

After putting together a fairly respectable season in the Scarlet Knight’s first year in the Big Ten there are plenty of question marks heading into the 2015 campaign. The biggest of those — who replaces quarterback Gary Nova under center?

With only three starters on offense returning to the fold the quarterback position is far from the only one open for a new face to fill. Losing wide receiver Leonte Carroo to the NFL Draft means a key target won’t be in place for whoever ends up throwing the passes this year.

Add in three new offensive linemen and things aren’t getting any easier. Losing offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen only adds another wrinkle to this story.

Defense: 

Much of Rutgers’ defensive front and linebacker group returns this season, but given how many points the Scarlet Knights gave up at times last year, it’s hard to know if that’s a good thing. Certainly, having experienced players on the field is always advised but this unit will need to make big strides.

It’s one thing to have an experienced offense to help offset a less than stout defense. It’s another to have struggling units on both sides of the ball. Last year Rutgers allowed 6.39 yards a play, 113th best/worst in college football. That’s not ideal.

Biggest Game:

Whatever Rutgers’ season turns out to look like, nothing will be bigger than hosting Ohio State in late October. A win at Penn State in week three would be huge for regional recruiting, but hosting a national champion deep into the year is a chance to play spoiler.

Biggest Storyline:

With offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels at the helm now for the Rutgers’ offense, how the Scarlet Knights are able to manage a post-Nova, post-Friedgen life will determine how the season goes. Rutgers plays five of its first seven games at home, but that might not be enough to ensure a repeat of last year’s success.

Prediction:

While this is a big game for both programs, Penn State has the tools, players and home field advantage. In many ways this game is more important for the Nittany Lions because the 2015 season could result in a pretty decent record if the chips fall correctly.

As such, for as much as Rutgers wants to beat Penn State, the Nittany Lions have a few bigger picture items in play, even so early in the season.

Rivalry games are never easy, but nothing about Rutgers should worry Penn State this season. Weirder things than a Rutgers win over the Nittany Lions have happened, but they probably won’t happen at night in Beaver Stadium.

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