Penn State Football: Game-by-game predictions for Nittany Lions in 2022
By Shane Lunnen
Penn State football is a combined 11-11 the last two seasons. Can the Nittany Lions improve and get back to their pre-2020 winning ways?
Penn State football is entering its ninth year with James Franklin at the helm. Nittany Lion fans know very well what the program was like before Covid struck the world and what it has been since.
It is past time for excuses. Quarterback Sean Clifford is entering his sixth and final season in Happy Valley. There are plenty of young, talented skill guys for Clifford to utilize and have success.
On the defensive side of the ball, Manny Diaz steps in as the new defensive coordinator after the departure of long-time Franklin assistant Brent Pry for Virginia Tech. While the defense lost several key players, there is enough talent still on the roster to not have much of a drop-off from last year’s team which finished sixth in the nation in scoring defense.
The time is now for Franklin and the Lions. With a fresh contract for Franklin, the fans want to see significant improvement this season. What does the future hold for Lions 2022 season?
Tough way to kick off the season. A conference game on a Thursday night in West Lafayette. A little trivia, this is the seventh consecutive season the Nittany Lions have opened conference play on the road.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell should lead a fierce Boilermaker attack even though he will have several new receivers. Purdue’s defense was decent last year but not great at stopping the run. If Penn State can get their run game going again, they should be able to do just enough and hold off the Boilermakers.
Prediction: Penn State wins 24-20 (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Ohio Bobcats. player. Scouting Report. University Park, Penn.. 2. 2247. Pick Analysis. Sept. 10
The last time Ohio visited Happy Valley was 10 years ago. The Bobcats stunned the home crowd in then-coach Bill O’Brien’s first game, beating Penn State 24-14.
There will be no such luck this time for the Bobcats. Confident and having a couple of extra days to prepare, the Nittany Lions come out on fire on both sides of the ball. This one should be over by the second half at the latest.
Prediction: Penn State wins 42-10 (2-0, 1-0)