There is a belief amongst certain coaches that how you perform in conference play is what essentially defines your season.
For No. 4 Penn State, this week will begin the long, slow grind of the Big Ten portion of its schedule.
The Nittany Lions will travel to No. 7 Minnesota for a showdown with the Golden Gophers on Wednesday, before heading to Columbus, Ohio for a meeting with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday.
Penn State finished its nonconference season with a record of 9-1, and a 1-1 record against ranked opponents. This is also the third week in a row that the Nittany Lions will be on the road after opening with five straight matches to open up the season.