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Penn State football: is there a clear-cut expectation for 2022?

By Christopher Mangum

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against Myles Slusher #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second quarter in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against Myles Slusher #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second quarter in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – DECEMBER 19: A general view of the snow covered stadium as Will Levis #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to put the ball in play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 19, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – DECEMBER 19: A general view of the snow covered stadium as Will Levis #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to put the ball in play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 19, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Penn State football: the decade turns

With the turn of the decade, Penn State saw its on-field success decline. After months of waiting for an official decision from the Big Ten office, it was decided that football would be played despite the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. In late October, Penn State kicked off its new season at Indiana in a game that would mark the return of a dark era.

Though Penn State started the season ranked in the top-10, the Nittany Lions fell from grace quickly. It seemed as if the months of waiting and lack of preparation destroyed Penn State football from the start–things went downhill fast.

The 2020 season started off with an 0-5 record, which was only cured by a win in Ann Arbor over the 2-4 Michigan Wolverines–another program that was struck by pandemic-related failure–and eventually led to a four-game winning streak to close out the season.

Though Penn State was not competitive in 2020, many blew it off as a pandemic season anyway and allowed the Nittany Lions to escape with some pride. In 2021, the standard was back in place: compete for a Big Ten title. This standard was not met.

The 2021 season opened up on the road at Wisconsin, both programs were ranked just outside of the top-10, and the game was expected to be a Big Ten classic–it was. Penn State opened up the season with a 16-10 win on the road that boosted them back into the national spotlight. This win would be the first of many, as the Nittany Lions then returned home to dismantle a few lesser opponents before taking on No. 22 Auburn in the white-out game.

After the first five games of the season, Penn State sat as one of the top-4 teams in the country with a 5-0 record heading into Iowa. A dominant start to the Iowa game appeared to be working well in Penn State’s favor; however, an injury to Sean Clifford spelled disaster for the Nittany Lions, which led to a 2-6 finish to the 2021 season.

Even after starting the season so well, Penn State’s injury-ridden season finished 7-6–just like Franklin’s first two seasons in Happy Valley. Now heading into 2022, Penn State must put the past two seasons behind them to get back to winning.

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