On3 Roundtable: The games Penn State should circle on the calendar

The expectations are high for Penn State this season. With former five-star recruit Drew Allar to take the reigns at quarterback for a team with talent all over the field, the Nittany Lions have their eyes set on the College Football Playoff.

But Penn State’s calendar is not without challenges — and it’s not just Michigan and Ohio State either. As Blue White Illustrated’s Sean Fitz told On3’s J.D. PicKell, there are a few potential trap games on the schedule for Penn State.

“Penn State fans love finding the sneaky games,” Fitz said. “It’s usually Michigan State. It’s interesting because Michigan State is at the tail end of the schedule. It’s at Ford Field in a neutral location so that changes some things in terms of what the Spartans — it’s always a trap game for Penn State. It’s been a tough place to play and I can’t really stress enough how taking that game out of East Lansing really can benefit Penn State at the end of the season.”

One game Fitz thinks could be an early challenge for the team comes Week 3 versus Illinois.

The Fighting Illini have built some momentum over the last two seasons with Bret Bielema as the team’s head coach, and could be an early spoiler for on the calendar for Penn State.

“But the two that I look for is you’re playing a scenario at Illinois in the third week of the season,” Fitz said. “It’s on the road. It’s an 11 o’clock start. It’s an experienced coach who has had success against Penn State before in Bret Bielema. Maybe Illinois is not the most talented team you play on the schedule. But that scenario is gonna be interesting for Penn State to walk into. Drew Allar is gonna have his first road start. There’s just a lot of things that would make that a quintessential hand quotes trap game. I think that’s one that you look to.”

Another game he mention comes Nov. 4 at Maryland. The game is the week before the team’s looming match with the Wolverines, and Fitz thinks it could have trap game written all over it.

This is despite the recent success Michigan has had against the Terps.

“Then maybe Maryland because it’s the week before Michigan, maybe you get caught looking ahead,” Fitz said. “You go to college Park. Maryland’s supposed to be not too bad this year. The only thing there is the last three trips to Maryland for Penn State 66-3, 59-0, 31-14. So Penn State’s had some success even years when Maryland gives Ohio State and Michigan problems, Penn State’s done pretty well with that. Of course, Maryland beat them during the COVID season in 2020. So I think those are two when you look at that schedule that are potential trip up, trap type games for Penn State. But I, I also like the matchups that they have against those teams.”