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It’s difficult enough to take over any Big Ten power program, but the schedules certainly didn’t make it tougher on new Penn State Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell, who faces the best shot at making the College Football Playoff in his inaugural season as Penn State head coach of anyone in the conference.
While his competition prepares for weekly challenges, Penn State gets through its first year in the Campbell era without facing the gauntlet.
ESPN analyst Rece Davis is high on the Nittany Lions making a quick turnaround, with the possibility of a potential Indiana-like turnaround.
"If you are of the belief that maybe there is someone who will make an Indiana-like unexpected run. Certainly not a program that has been in the depths of despair for generations as Indiana had prior to Cignetti's arrival, but one who might follow the blueprint that Indiana established for a very quick turnaround," Davis said. "I submit to you: the Penn State Nittany Clones."
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The Nittany Lions are one of only two Big Ten teams not to face Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. Campbell gets an unusually generous margin for error by not facing those three teams because he doesn’t have to drop games against them before finding an identity.
This isn’t Iowa State, where Campbell had to mold two- and three-star players into championship form over the course of four years. Campbell comes to State College with four- and five-star talent on both sides of the ball.
Just beating middle-level Big Ten contests and splitting key games against Michigan and USC, and a 10-2 record is within reach.
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With 12 teams to make the CFP and this schedule, Campbell doesn’t need to re-invent miracles in Year 1; he just needs to stay out of trouble. If he can do that, stability in State College will be back to normal.
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