This past weekend, the Penn State Nittany Lions took on the #1 team in the country and went blow for blow with them.
That they came up short in a 45-37 loss is a disappointment, yet I sit here more excited about the College Football Playoffs than I was even after an 11-1 regular season.
What I’d seen the last few years out of Penn State was an utterly stifling defense, and an offense that could move the ball and score some points, if not at an elite clip. That bore itself out in games against Michigan and Ohio State, the two preeminent teams in the B1G the last few years:
2024
Ohio State 20, Penn State 13
2023
Ohio State 20, Penn State 12
Michigan 24, Penn State 15
2022
Ohio State 44, Penn State 31
Michigan 41, Penn State 17
I could go on, but I’ll spare you.