Penn State’s afternoon started like an old man trying to get the blood circulating after waking up—slowly, deliberately, with a few creaks and groans along the way.

It ended ignominiously, with a touchdown surrendered in the final minute on a semi-busted coverage by a freshman safety.

And yet, once again, in the middle, the Nittany Lions did the things they needed to do against an opponent they needed to beat, headlocking a sloppy UCLA squad for a 27-11 win and staying on track for the games that will determine their season.

And although another slow start and that rare late score allowed by the defense will probably be enough on their own to keep some grumbling, isn’t it about time we start celebrating these Nittany Lions for what they are rather than gripe about what they are not?

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With the siren song of the 2024 Nittany Lions once again bewitching a tortured fan base, the bumpy road to past perfection reminds us that the pain of disappointment isn’t inevitable.

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“No question about it. I’m ready to get hurt again.”

-Michael Scott

It’s no, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” but this quote, often cited by sports fans of all stripes, probably captures the prevailing zeitgeist of Nittany Nation as we pass the season’s quarter post. An emboldened quarterback, an uptick in explosive plays, and a defense that smothers and stifles when it matters the most all have Penn State fans once again daring to believe. Yes, against our better judgement, we are once again ready. Are we going to get hurt?

If the internet is any indication (as dangerous a phrase as you’ll read in modern times), most college football fans think the answer is “yes.” This week, the X account for College Football Nerds (a fun podcast and good follow on social) put the question to their audience, “What do we think of Penn State?”

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On Saturday, Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki peeled back another layer of his funky onion by placing big faces in strange places.

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If you’ve spent the last 48 hours wondering why Penn State offensive coordinatory Andy Kotelnicki lined up the Nittany Lions’ offensive line every possible way other than the standard way, you’re in the right place.

To spare you another article about 44-Tyler Warren playing QB, we’re gonna spend this time analyzing a couple ways PSU used the OL alignment to create cheap yardage and baffle the defense.

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Thirty years ago, one of the greatest offenses in college football completed a legendary comeback as Penn State defeated Illinois.

Three years ago, one of the most forgettable offenses in Nittany Lion history showed its futility again … and again … and again, as Penn State lost to Illinois in nine overtimes, the longest game in college football history.

A group that bore much more resemblance to the 1994 Penn State team that was honored Saturday than the 2021 version needed another fourth-quarter score to put away another scrappy Illinois team, though this one got in its own way more than the Fighting Illini did.

The No. 9 Nittany Lions leaned on their two thoroughbred running backs, a bounce-back defense, and two savvy coordinators who directed those respective units in an uncomfortably comfortable 21-7 win over 19^th-ranked Illinois.

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