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A quick look at the Penn State Football 2022 non-conference schedule

By Christopher Mangum

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Jarquez Hunter #27 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: Jarquez Hunter #27 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Week 3: at Auburn

STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Tank Bigsby #4 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball as Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions defends during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Tank Bigsby #4 of the Auburn Tigers carries the ball as Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions defends during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

After a less-interesting first two weeks of the season, the Nittany Lions travel to Auburn, Alabama, to complete their home-and-home series with the Tigers. In 2021, No. 22 Auburn traveled to Happy Valley to face off against Penn State in the first of this two-game series.

Penn State defeated Auburn 28-20 in the whiteout en route to a 5-0 start to the 2021 season — the Tigers now look to return the favor.

In year two of Bryan Harsin, Auburn will be looking for far better results than their 2021 campaign. In Harsin’s first season at the helm, he led the Tigers to a scandal-ridden 6-7 season, including a postseason loss to Group of 5 opponent, Houston.

Despite Auburn’s poor record, the Tigers are still a formidable opponent and should be respected as a football team. Auburn nearly defeated the reigning SEC champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in the final week of last regular season.

Heading into 2022, Auburn looks to build back their once-revered program, and in doing so, they must knock off James Franklin’s Nittany Lions in week three. The downside for Penn State: the game is on the road in a grueling environment–Auburn is not an easy place to win a football game. The upside? Kickoff has been announced for 3:30 PM, a much less threatening environment than a night game, which could have led to PSU’s demise.

If Penn State can remain undefeated after their trip to Auburn, there is a good chance Franklin can have his team at 5-0 heading into Ann Arbor on October 15th. Aside from Purdue (Penn State’s week one opponent), Auburn will be the Nittany Lions’ only big test of September and will be indicative of the team’s hopes moving forward. Winning a big game on the road against an SEC opponent is a must for Franklin and PSU football.

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