Penn State-Purdue matchups: Who has the edge in this year's season opener?

Penn State takes the field for the first time in 2022 at Purdue on Thursday. The Nittany Lions are a field goal favorite for the opener at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Lions and Boilermakers last met in 2019. Penn State earned a 35-7 home victory. Now, they’ll try and recreate that winning magic on the road.

Who has the edge on each side of the ball? It’s time to break down the matchups.

When Penn State has the ball

Penn State should be able to move the ball at Purdue.

The Boilermakers’ defense no longer has star George Karlaftis along the defensive line, and standout linebacker Jaylen Alexander is gone, as well. But, there is some talent back. Kydran Jenkins is hoping to become the next standout defensive end, Branson Deen is an All-Big Ten defensive tackle, and Kieren Douglas is a hard-nosed middle linebacker. There is a new play caller, however. Co-defensive coordinator Ron English is now in charge of that.

Cam Allen is expected to lead a Purdue secondary that was beatable last fall. If the Boilermakers are to defeat the Lions, they will have to be better in the last line of defense than they were a year ago.

Here’s how Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford scouted his first opponent of the year:

“I think that they have a lot of weapons. They definitely hold it down. That they have a good D-line. I think they get after the passer. They play well in the run game. Kieren Douglas, the Mike linebacker, he kind of holds it down for the linebacking core. They have an experienced linebacking core this year with a bunch of guys returning, and then with some transfer defensive backs, I think that they have a lot of talent. Definitely a challenge, and really excited to get out there Thursday.”

This unit may take a step forward due to some of the transfers. Still, it’s still going to be a middle-of-the-pack unit, at best.

EDGE: Penn State

When the Lions are on defense

Penn State is not the only team in this matchup with a veteran quarterback. Aidan O’Connell is back for yet another season at Purdue. He is a savvy passer who fits perfectly in head coach Jeff Brohm’s pass-heavy attack.

“He does a good job of getting the ball off,” linebacker Jonathan Sutherland said, “he makes good decisions and knows where he wants to go with the ball.”

Expect the Boilermakers to chuck it around early, often, and throughout this game. The receiver corps, however, is quite different than it was a year ago. Here’s what we wrote earlier this summer:

“Leading receiver David Bell is off to the NFL. Milton Wright, the second-leading receiver, is no longer with the program due to academic issues. Jackson Anthrop, who also topped the 50-catch mark, has moved on, as well.

“It all leaves second-year Boilermaker Broc Thompson (who had 35 catches for 457 yards and four touchdowns in 2021) as the likely leading man as long as he’s healthy; Thompson missed spring practice due to surgery. Purdue also added two Iowa transfers in Tyrone Tracey and Charlie Jones, plus Auburn transfer Elijah Canion. Another player to know is TJ Sheffield. It’s hard to doubt Brohm’s ability to get pass catchers up to speed and ready in a hurry. But, he has a tall task here.”

Nothing has changed during camp to make us think that Purdue has another Bell waiting in the wings. O’Connell will do his best to bring that group along, but, the Boilers will be battling the best part of Penn State’s defense: its secondary. Of course, the pass rush will have to make O’Connell uncomfortable. If it doesn’t, then perhaps the secondary will be up against it, but we like this matchup from the Penn State perspective. The Lions will need to be mindful of the run, but ultimately, they will be asked to do what they are best suited to do: stop the pass. Brohm even admitted as much on Monday.

“Even when you look at the Arkansas game where they lost in the bowl game, Arkansas didn’t throw the ball on them,” Brohm said.

“That didn’t happen. The quarterback had to run around and make plays, which that’s not our strength right now. So we have to play to our strength. But that’s their strength as well.

EDGE: Penn State

Final Penn State-Purdue thoughts

We cannot wait for this one. The first game of the year always means there are key questions that are not yet answered. But, ultimately, Penn State is a deserving favorite, and we see advantages for it across the field.

The opener should be a winning day for the Lions on the road.