Penn State Football vs Purdue: keys to success for the Nittany Lions

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In two days, Penn State Football will open up the 2022 season on the road against a solid Purdue team.

This Boilermaker squad has a chance to be one of the best teams they’ve had at Purdue in a number of years and could even compete for a Big Ten West division title, so the Nittany Lions are certainly going to have to bring their A game.

Offensively, Penn State will need to avoid unforced mistakes, and on defense they’ll have to slow down Purdue’s one-dimensional offense.

Here are two keys to success on each side of the ball for Penn State Football on Thursday night in West Lafayette.

Key to success on offense #1 – avoid turnovers

STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

This is a key to success for any team in any game, but even more so for the Nittany Lions in their week one matchup.

Gifting Purdue the ball on multiple occasions is a recipe for disaster because it can give them all the momentum in front of their home fans, potentially allowing them to play with a lead.

Plus, not turning the ball over would mean no interceptions from Sean Clifford, which would mean he played well; and as we all know, the team can only go as far as he can take them, so if he plays well, they have a great chance to come out on top.

In Clifford’s career, the Nittany Lions are 13-4 in games he starts in which he does not throw an interception, but only 8-8 in games where he has thrown one.

Don’t turn it over, and you make it really difficult to be beat.

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