Well, it’s been a strange, yet so far satisfying season for Penn State football. It’s certainly been one few could’ve seen coming. Back in August, I threw out some bold predictions on how I thought this season would play out. With three (huge) games left, here’s a look at how I’m doing so far.

Rob Bolden will thrive as the starting quarterback this season.

Yeeeah…about that…

I predicted he would throw for 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Bolden has thrown just one touchdown pass this season to date, and does not appear on track to throw any more than that.

The defense will get its swagger back.

Even with the loss of Mike Mauti and, temporarily, D’Anton Lynn, this defense might be the best we’ve seen in Happy Valley in a long time. Devon Still has played at the level of a top fifteen draft pick the entire season, and Gerald Hodges has been nothing short of unstoppable the past two games.

As a whole, the defense ranks in the top ten in total defense, pass defense, and scoring defense heading into the last three games of the season. Their biggest test will come against Wisconsin, who boasts a top ten offense led by Russell Wilson and Montee Ball.

Penn State will show up against Alabama.

Hey, I said they would show up, and they did. They just didn’t stay very long. Still, Penn State may have been a bad spot away from a completely different football game than the 27-11 flop we saw on September 10 at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State will win (at least) two of their final three regular season games.

Well, here we are, folks. This is exactly what we need to do to win the Leaders Division. And, as I said back in August, all three appear to be winnable games.

The way Penn State has played this year, almost every game has fit the bill of a “defensive struggle”, which is what I predict(ed) the Nebraska game will be. I also said that Penn State would enter the Ohio State game with one loss and the chance to clinch a division title, a scenario that is still very much in play. As for Wisconsin, I wasn’t scared of them at the beginning of the year, and I’m still not, though I think that will be where Penn State stumbles.

Penn State will win the Leaders Division and play in the inagural Big Ten Championship Game.

We’re in a playoff scenario now, people. Win two of three, and we’re in.

Penn State will finish 12-2.

Okay, probably not. However, it’s still possible. And, if we don’t come anywhere close, you can make fun of me when I revisit these predictions again after the season.

I said the two losses would be to Alabama by a 20-10 score (not far off!) and to Wisconsin, 27-17. We’ll see what happens!

Joe Paterno will retire after this season.

I’m sticking by this one. Hellooo, Urban.

What do you think? How did you see this season playing out, and how do you see the last three games playing out?