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Penn State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

By David Glancy

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Journey Brown #4 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball as Damon Hayes #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Journey Brown #4 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball as Damon Hayes #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Nebraska’s Devine Ozigbo carries the ball against Penn State football (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

806. 20. 810. Prediction. 31

After a difficult month of October, the Penn State football season ends with a manageable November slate. The Nov. 7 matchup in Lincoln looks to be the Nittany Lions toughest remaining contest. Depth is still a concern for the Cornhuskers, but Scott Frost is continuing the rebuild of his alma mater and a late season matchup could feature a Nebraska team on the edge of a breakthrough.

With a healthy Adrian Martinez, Nebraska will look to contend in a now crowded Big Ten West for the shot to return to Indianapolis. While there is no clear favorite in the West, the Huskers lack of experience and depth looks to be the difference between these programs. The Cornhuskers still look to be a year out from being a legitimate threat in the Big Ten and while a trip to Lincoln will be a challenge, a reduced crowd size will play in the Nittany Lions favor.

Teams looking to defeat Penn State in 2020 will need to get to pressure on Sean Clifford and disrupt this pocket. Nebraska doesn’t look to have those playmakers yet.

Record: 7-2, 4-2

7. 805. 41. 806. Prediction

Michigan State’s hold over the Nittany Lions ended last fall when Penn State picked up their first win in East Lansing since 2009. James Franklin held a career 2-4 record against Mark Dantonio and the Penn State program had fallen victim in back-to-back seasons following one-point losses to the Buckeyes. The Lions finally shook off Dantonio and will face a Michigan State team in rebuild mode this fall.

After 13 years as the Michigan State head coach, Dantonio abruptly resigned last February, leaving the program in a state of disarray.

The Spartans scrambled to hire Colorado coach in mid-February putting the program in a difficult holding pattern with recruiting and building a staff. With a new regime and COVID-19 in place, the Spartans will take one step back before taking two steps forward in the East.

Michigan State is not devoid of talent but with a new staff, delay in implementation and turnover at key positions, the Spartans will have their struggles in 2020.

Record: 8-2, 5-2

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