Kirk Herbstreit: Stakes high for Penn State, Wisconsin in Week 1

Just one week away from Week One of the college football season, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has his eyes on Penn State at Wisconsin. The matchup is shaping up to be one of the biggest season opening matchups nationally.

In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Herbstreit has big expectations for both teams and thinks the Week One matchup could have massive implications for the Big Ten and the national college football scene.

“I think the winner actually of the Penn State-Wisconsin game, whoever wins that game I think, could bounce and have a legitimate shot to get up into the top 10 pretty quickly,” Herbstreit said.

Surprise, surprise

Herbstreit sees Wisconsin as a surprise team.

“Let’s say Wisconsin could maybe be a surprise team,” Herbstreit said. “They were a down team a year ago. They seem to be a team that could be on the bounce.”

In 2020, Wisconsin went 4-3, finishing third in the Big Ten West. The Badgers ended the year on a high note, defeating Wake Forest 42-28 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Heading into 2021, Wisconsin returns quarterback Graham Mertz, who was  named a top-10 breakout quarterback candidate for the season by Pro Football Focus. The Badgers will look to represent the Big Ten West in the Big Ten Championship.

Key offensive players for the Badgers expect to be wide receiver Kendric Pryor and running back Jalen Berger. Freshman running back Braelon Allen could provide a spark off the bench.

Defensively, Wisconsin returns key veterans like Collin Wilder and Jack Sanborn to a defense that ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed per game and tied for ninth in points allowed per game.

Nittany Lions riding high in 2021

Penn State had a nightmare start to the 2020 season, starting the year 0-5 before finishing the year on a 4-0 run.

Entering the 2021 season, the Nittany Lions will be led by quarterback Sean Clifford who looks to show more consistency in his fifth season of college football. Clifford will have wide receivers Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington returning. Penn State also boasts a running back rotation that will be headed by Noah Cain and John Lovett, who grad transferred in from Baylor this offseason.

Defensively, linebackers Brandon Smith and Curtis Jacobs look to live up to their lofty recruiting ranking. The strength for Penn State this season projects to be the secondary, which returns veteran experience at every position and adds impact freshman Kalen King to the cornerback depth.