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Three reasons why October will be a massive month for Penn State Football

By Alec Whitaker

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads the team onto the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium on September 10, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball downfield for a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball downfield for a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

1. Toughest Three Game Stretch Ever?

After facing Northwestern on Oct. 1, the Nittany Lions will get their rest week.

That rest comes at a perfect time as the three-game stretch after that may be the toughest three game run in the country this season.

On Oct. 15, the Nittany Lions will head to Michigan to face the No. 4 Wolverines. Michigan is riding high after its Big Ten title last year and is currently 4-0. The Big House has not been kind to the Nittany Lions as the last time they won there with fans in attendance was 2009. Beating Michigan on the road would be the biggest win of Franklin’s tenure.

After that, Penn State will return home to face Minnesota in the White Out game. The Golden Gophers are currently 4-0 and ranked the No. 21 team in the country. They could easily be inside the top 15 by the time this game rolls around. Minnesota is the favorite to win the West division, and for good reason. Penn State is 4-1 in White Out games since 2016.

As if this wasn’t difficult enough, Penn State will then host Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the No. 3 team in the country and look like a juggernaut on offense. Facing two physical teams in Michigan and Minnesota in a row and then having to face the fast-paced Buckeyes is quite the challenge.

The Big Ten and any playoff hopes for Penn State will be won or lost in this stretch of games. With that said, going 2-1 in these three games would still be a big step forward.

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