Badger of Honor is working to do some Q&A with our friends from other Big Ten blogs in preparation for the 2017 college football season
Our fifth installment features a question-and-answer post on defending Big Ten champs Penn State with NAME from the Victory Bell Rings blog.
Badger of Honor very much appreciates NAME taking the time to respond to our questions. The intent is to give you a snapshot of where things stand for Penn State Football before the 2017 Big Ten football season begins.
The Nittany Lions are ranked #6 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and return plenty of talent on offense. Running back Saquon Barkley was 2nd in the Big Ten in rushing last year and is a Heisman favorite (non-QB division) this year. He led the Big Ten scoring in 2016 eclipsing a couple of kickers which is no small feat.
More from Badger of Honor
- Wisconsin Football flips 3-star defensive tackle from Northwestern
- Former Wisconsin Football stars to be featured on the next Wheaties box
- Believe it or not, Wisconsin Football has never played these FBS teams
- Four-star running back Darrion Dupree commits to Wisconsin Football
- Wisconsin Football wide receiver enters the transfer portal
Penn State also returns QB Trace McSorley who was the most efficient passer in the Big Ten in 2016. He also was best in the Big Ten with 29 TDs against just eight INTs.
As Badger fans well remember, Wisconsin looked to be rolling over Penn State in the Big Ten championship game in December. Wisconsin was up 28-7 and had the ball looking for a possible knockout blow. Instead, everything went wrong. The Nittany Lions responded with three TDs to tie the score. Penn State added a 4th quarter TD and FG for the only scoring of the final stanza.
So instead, Penn State went to Pasadena to take on USC in the Rose Bowl. An uncharacteristic 4th quarter collapse saw the Nittany Lions allow 17 unanswered to close the scoring and give the Trojans a 52-49 victory.
Penn State and Wisconsin don’t meet this season. The Nittany Lions face Nebraska, Iowa, and Northwestern from the Big Ten West division. So let our friends at Victory Bell Rings let you know what to watch for Penn State football this year.