Scouting the Nittany Lions: 5 questions, prediction with a Penn State reporter

The Big Ten title game between No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CBS).

Penn State beat reporter Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9on X) of PennLive.com was contacted by The Oregonian/OregonLive to ask him five questions and receive a forecast.

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1) How, if at all, has winning the Big Ten Championship once more and definitely making the playoffs altered the perception of James Franklin and the program, despite the defeat to Ohio State?

McGonigal: Happy Valley is still hurting from the Ohio State defeat. Given Franklin’s record versus the Buckeyes and the fact that Tyler Warren, a Heisman candidate, failed to touch the ball during the pivotal goal-to-go sequence in the fourth quarter, how could it not? I’m not sure if winning the Big Ten and qualifying for the College Football Playoff has convinced Franklin’s critics. With some assistance from Michigan, Penn State, a team with CFP expectations going into the season, won the games it was predicted to win and backdoored its way into the conference championship game. Many people have evaluated Franklin and his Nittany Lions based on their performance in important games, whether correctly or incorrectly. To defeat the nation’s top squad would significantly alter the perception of him and his program on a local and national level.

2) In what ways has Drew Allar become more effective thanks to Andy Kotelnicki’s offense?

McGonigal: Kotelnicki’s actions both on and off the field provide the answer to that. Kotelnicki gave Allar more influence over the offense during the preseason, which allowed the typically quiet quarterback to take on a more leadership role. The offense was affected by the tight approach of former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, to put it mildly. For want of a better term, Kotelnicki’s vibes were a huge assistance.

In contrast to the mainly uninspiring system that led to Yurcich’s dismissal last fall, Kotelnicki’s plan has been innovative on the field. Defenses are on their heels as a result of the pre-snap shifts, gestures, and unbalanced looks. Allar has clearly benefited from the men’ increased openness as a result of it, particularly Tyler Warren.

No. 1 Oregon (12-0) vs. No. 3 Penn State (11-1) in the Big Ten championship

• 
  
  When:
  
  Saturday, Dec. 7
  
• 
  
  Time:
  
  5 p.m. PT
  
• 
  
  Where:
  
  Autzen Stadium, Eugene
  
• 
  
  TV channel:
  
  CBS
  
• 
  
  Stream:
  
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  watch this game live for FREE with Fubo

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3) If Tyler Warren can be limited, how have teams done it most successfully?

McGonigalI reflect on the Ohio State match. Warren finished with four receptions for 47 yards, 31 of which came on a one-on-one heave in the fourth quarter when Penn State was in a desperate situation. Warren didn’t have a grab until the third quarter. The Buckeyes’ disciplined zone effectively eliminated the flat and intermediate throws. Lathan Ransom, the safety, and linebacker Cody Simon were outstanding. The Buckeyes’ strategy has been tried and failed by other teams. The main reason for this is that Ohio State has the athletes to compete.

4) In what ways has Abdul Carter become a reliable threat thanks to Tom Allen?

McGonigal: Since switching from linebacker to defensive end in the winter, Abdul Carter has been incredibly effective. Since Week 1, his special blend of strength, quickness, and explosiveness has been on display. However, he has developed into a defensive end from a technical aspect, which is part of the reason he has racked up 10 tackles for loss in his last five games. He is much more refined. That is mostly due to defensive line coach Deion Barnes and Tom Allen. Additionally, Allen has employed Carter in a variety of ways. He is positioned on the right and left flanks. Similar to how former Penn State standout Micah Parsons has been employed in the NFL, he has also been deployed as a wild card on passing downs while standing up in the box.

5) What is your score prediction and how do you envision it unfolding?

McGonigal: The wide receiver room remained Penn State’s biggest uncertainty going into the season, just like it did the year before. Nobody has stepped up to become a legitimate No. 1 wideout for the Nittany Lions outside of Warren. Omari Evans, Julian Fleming, Liam Clifford, and Harrison Wallace III have all had their moments. However, following a close game, I could see myself writing about how the wide receiver’s talent gap made the difference. Penn State 27, Oregon 31.

–The Oregon Ducks and Big Ten are covered by James Crepea. Get the Ducks Roundup email or listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast.

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