Penn State Football: 10 reasons Nittany Lions can win the Big Ten in 2021

8. Improved Offensive Line Play 

Before the start of last season, we wrote that the starting five upfront for the Indiana game in week 1 most likely won’t be the starting five at the end of the season.

That proved correct, as in week 4, Caedan Wallace entered at right tackle and Will Fries moved over to right guard. The line showed improvement after that move, then at the end of the season Juice Scruggs was playing more and more at left guard, and that looked like the most complete line Penn State Football had all season.

Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein was never really able to get hands on with those guys during an offseason hindered by Covid-19. The line is a tough position to coach over zoom, maybe more so than any other position.

He will have a more normal offseason to get a five that works for week 1, and expect the continued development of Wallace and Scruggs to pay major dividends.