New ‘way too early’ Top 25 is way wrong on Penn State Football

1. The Indiana Game

It is always tough to play out hypothetical situations and make broad judgements or declarations on what would have been or what could have been different.

However, after the Big Ten played games with their decision on whether or not to even play football in 2020, cancelling the season then reinstating it, The Nittany Lions had to wait until October 24th to kick off their season, almost 10 full months removed from a Cotton Bowl victory the season before.

Penn State Football could not have lost in a more heartbreaking fashion, needing to only knee the ball to close it out in regulation. Than losing in overtime on a controversial two point attempt by Indiana, where quarterback Michael Pennix, may or may not have successfully reached the pylon.

Regardless, it was a hut wrenching loss, which was followed up by a visit from Ohio State on national television the following week. They played the Buckeyes as tough as anyone all season, losing by 13 points and falling to a shocking 0-2.

As is the way the sport is in its current format, 0-2 is a death sentence. Their hopes of a college football playoff spot were dashed, and in a season with strict Covid-19 testing policies and players being quarantined in their dorms, this particular year 0-2 felt even heavier.

The following performances against Maryland and Nebraska the next two weeks were an indicator of where the psychee of the team was in that moment, as they eventually fell to 0-5 before getting it turned around.

Who knows what would have been different if Penn State Football pulls out that win in Bloomingotn in week 1, do they beat Ohio State in week 2? most likely not, but at 1-1 with hopes of still putting together a special season, it is tough to think the Maryland and Nebraska games would have gone the way they did.

It will always be a what could have been scenario for the Nittany Lions.