Coach James Franklin spoke almost 7,000 words this week about the showdown.
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Penn State opened its season with a dominant 52-0 win over Akron last week. It is. At least this week. On Saturday Pitt certainly performed better than the Zips did a week ago, but there’s still something to be taken from Franklin’s comments.
Penn State vs Pittsburgh live stream, I really don’t want individuals to take what I’m saying the wrong way. The most important game in the universe to be sure, the coach said in the run-up to the 98th meeting between the two schools just 140 miles apart. “And when you ask for that play, you’ve gotta win your one-on-ones”, Barkley said.
That makes Narduzzi’s Panthers the team with everything to gain. Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley made the easy throw over the top. The Nittany Lions looked like a legitimate threat to repeat as Big Ten champions and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Pitt defeated Penn State in week 2 last season, but this year’s game will have some major differences.
The Panthers’ defense instead rendered the junior tailback with uncommon strength and speed virtually incidental, leaving National Football League scouts observing from the press box mighty curious about when last season’s Big Ten offensive player of the year would begin to get on track. Pitt blew a three-touchdown halftime lead and needed Jester Weah’s leaping grab to avoid the upset. No. 3 Clemson (2-0) allowed six early points before tightening up to stymie QB Jarrett Stidham in a 14-6 triumph over No. 13 Auburn (1-1) …
Although Penn State coach James Franklin doesn’t consider the Pitt game any more special than any other, Pitt players like it.
“With how a year ago (a 42-39 loss at Pitt) ended, that played a lot into it”. “We just played within the framework of our unit”. However, it certainly will be words that figure to be scrutinized, maybe for years, until the Nittany Lions meet up with the Panthers again.
“It just gives the offense confidence”, Barkley said.
Browne will remain the starter for now, though sophomore Ben DiNucci scored on a short touchdown run and led the Panthers downfield late with the Nittany Lions playing soft to protect their lead. He’s already off to a good start, putting up 246 all-purpose yards in last week’s romp over the Zips.
All week, the Nittany Lions knew Pitt’s biggest threat with the ball was Quadree Henderson. “That was our first experience just as an entire team being away”.
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Yet Wright played pretty well in Nelson’s place down the stretch last season, and there’s something to be said, in offensive line play, for getting five guys out there and having them gel together. “The first two touchdowns we had, the offense barely had to do anything”.
