It’s finally here. Pitt and Penn State play this weekend for the 100th time in history and fourth and final time in the renewed series. Pitt won the opener of this series while the Nittany Lions took the last two. What will happen on Saturday? Will a young Penn State team rise to the challenge of a big crowd with big expectations, or will it be a rock fight between two teams trying to find themselves early in the year?
Whatever the case might be, Saturday won’t lack for drama and the potential for big moments.
Here are five things to keep an eye on.
Are You There Yet?
This is a bit off the field, but Penn State’s new parking structure has come under fire from all sorts of people. This will be the first really big test of the year and the first time people will get really angry if it takes forever to get inside Beaver Stadium. What happens if it takes the whole first half to fill the stadium? What are the chances the new system is scrapped in the first year it exists? That seems unlikely, but if Michigan does in fact come to town for a noon kick, it’s safe to say people won’t be happy if they’re spending the first quarter in traffic, no matter how early they leave. In Penn State’s defense the road system around Beaver Stadium isn’t the best and there isn’t much that can change this. Even so, felt like people were mostly happy 12 months ago, and not so much now.
First Punch
Penn State scored the first touchdown in each of its last two games, but can it score twice in a row and put Pitt down 14-0 quickly? There’s nothing really wrong with close games, but this team would be well served to learn how to throw the first punch and a land a follow up, especially if it is going to need to wait until halftime to make major adjustments as needed. Pitt will be ready to play, so this will be a good test for a young team. Will this be a game like 2016 or a blowout like 2018? The first few possessions can help decide that answer.
Finishing Move
I don’t need to remind you of the games Penn State lost that it should have won. As important as the first punch is, the finishing blow is even more important. Pitt held on for most of the game in 2017 but the Nittany Lions found a way to put the Panthers away. If this iteration of the Nittany Lions can do the same, that’ll be an important lesson to learn. Closing out games is how you hang on to win tight contests, and the sooner this team can learn how to do that, the better off they will be. Then again, you have to be leading to close out, and who’s to say Pitt won’t have the lead.
Not Going Without A Fight
Pitt probably doesn’t get enough credit for how close last year’s game was to being a game. The Panthers drove the ball a few times in the first half but couldn’t finish drives. Say all you want about these programs and these teams, but Pitt showing up for the 100th game in this series ready to pull off an upset is a sure bet. Does that mean they will win? No, but don’t be surprised if this is a game. In fact, you should expect it. We’ll learn a lot about Penn State in the third quarter, and even more in the fourth if it comes down to it.
Big Stage
Sure there was the opener and the Nittany Lions had to earn the win against Buffalo under the lights, but now it’s time to see what this team does on the biggest stage it has seen so far. A good performance should have people feeling comfortable heading into the bye week with a bigger-than-most-expected trip to College Park to take on Maryland around the corner. An ugly win is still a win, but the Nittany Lions don’t want to go into the bye week with a weird taste in their mouth. Show up for the big moments and this team has the schedule to have a good year, look young and a little shaky when it counts and everyone might have to wait until 2020. One game early in the year doesn’t define a season, but this is the first real test. Will they pass it?
