Determining Penn State's worst-case scenario, which matchup could be a trap game

Penn State has already lost one of their key games of the season with their 20-12 loss at Ohio State. Even so, at least one, if not two, more could be coming the way of the Nittany Lions according to On3’s Andy Staples and JD PicKell.

Staples and PicKell addressed the worst-case scenarios for the Nittany Lions following their loss in Columbus on ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Sunday. In Staples’ opinion, 10-2 is the worst finish for Penn State. While most fans would take that, he knows those in University Park might not depending on how their matchup with the Wolverines on November 11th turns out.

“The worst case for Penn State probably is 10-2,” said Staples. “You’ve lost to Ohio State, you got killed by Michigan. That would be the worst part because there’s degrees of the Michigan game.”

“You can win it and then things are still in front of you. You can lose it in a competitive fashion and you go, ‘You know what? Okay, that’s fine. That’s something to build on’. But if you get blown out by Michigan at home and the offense still looks pedestrian? That’s when you go, ‘Are we ever going to get off this plateau?'” Staples explained. “Even if the playoff expands? Yeah, you’re going to get in but you’re probably going to get in, going on the road, and having to play somebody tough right away that you’re still not equipped to beat because you don’t have a dynamic offense.”

However, PicKell noted that it might actually be a game worse than 10-2 as he hinted at a 9-3 finish. That’s because, a week before they host Michigan, they go to play a quality squad in the Maryland Terrapins who could trip up Penn State if they’re not careful and give them their appropriate attention.

“I think the worst case for Penn State is 9-3,” stated PicKell. “I was pulling up the schedule and they play at Maryland, a classic look-ahead spot, right before Michigan. It’s tricky, it’s a tricky spot. I mean they’re scoring points. We saw what Drew Allar was on the road, maybe College Park gets into it just a little bit.”

“I mean, if we’re talking worst-case scenario? You get the look ahead. You see, maybe, the first, like, real turnover prone situation from Drew Allar which we haven’t seen yet – you wonder if that still is out there or it shows up in that game. That’s not the team you want to do it against,” PicKell said. “A lot of factors would play into that but I think 9-3? That’s probably the worst case for Penn State given the way the schedule shakes out.”

Staples then responded to that notion with his belief that a 9-3 finish for the Nittany Lions truly would be a catastrophe in the eyes of their fanbase.

“Their fans would consider that a complete disaster for this season with this roster, with this level of talent. It would be an incredibly frustrating situation,” Staples responded. “The Penn State fans? They’re on the ledge but the problem is the drop is one foot. It doesn’t do anything to you because you’re just sort of in the same place over and over and over again.”

There’s still a world where Penn State impresses everyone by at least splitting with Ohio State and Michigan. Even so, with one loss already, the scenario of losing to both the Buckeyes and Wolverines again, if not the Terrapins as well, is very much on the table.