Following back-to-back 11-win seasons, Penn State was tasked with replacing 13 starters, six of which were three-year senior starters. Notable names like DaeSean Hamilton, Jason Cabinda, and Marcus Allen were gone, but yet, Penn State was expected to still contend for a Big Ten championship — and for sound reason. The Nittany Lions had roster turnover for sure, but there was still a lot to like about Penn State. From an all-conference quarterback in Trace McSorley, to four-of-five starters on the offense live returning, to just an overall bump in talent across the roster, it was not unrealistic to envision a trip to Indianapolis for the first Saturday of December.
The Ebbs and Flows of Program Building in College Football
