After nine weeks of nonstop action, Penn State football’s season is finally over.

It was an ugly 0-5 start for James Franklin’s squad, but the Nittany Lions wrapped things up with four consecutive wins. After a bumpy and strange campaign, there’s plenty of hot takes surrounding this team. Naturally, we broke down some of the most popular thoughts on the Nittany Lions entering the offseason.

‘Sean Clifford Will Improve In 2021’

Sam Brungo: Sean Clifford will absolutely improve next year. Once he got benched, we saw a newer, better version of No. 14 than we had seen in the previous five games. He’ll continue to play like the Heisman candidate that he is.

Gabe Angieri: I think it’s fair to think Sean Clifford will improve in 2021. After a disastrous start to the season filled with turnovers, Clifford settled down during the Nittany Lions’ four-game winning streak and played much better. We saw during the 2019 season and toward the end of this season what he’s capable of. As long as he limits the turnovers, expect an improved Clifford when Penn State opens its 2021 season against Wisconsin.

Ryan Parsons: It’s really hard to tell, but all signs point to Clifford improving if he retains the job. He really settled down during the second leg of the season, however, he never quite looked like the 2019 version of himself. Perhaps he was dumbing down his game to limit the turnovers, but he never took that step forward many were hoping for. Next year, with hopefully a full offseason, developed receivers, and a full year with Kirk Ciarrocca under his belt, Clifford will continue to develop.

Will Pegler: It’s hard to say that Sean Clifford won’t improve next season. The young quarterback clearly has talent, it’s just a matter of consistently playing to the level that he knows he can. To open the season, Clifford struggled mightily with turnovers and missing open receivers. On Penn State’s winning streak, however, he clearly settled down in the pocket and hit guys like Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington with ease. If Dotson stays for another season in Happy Valley and Washington continues to flourish, I could see Clifford improving alongside them.

‘Penn State Should’ve Played In A Bowl Game’

SB: I, as a fan, would have loved to see Penn State play in a bowl game after the four-game winning streak. It would have been a great way to finish off a great comeback story for this team. That being said, I completely understand why the Nittany Lions chose to opt out considering the time away from family, coronavirus concerns, and overall mental and physical exhaustion.

GA: I think the decision the Nittany Lions made was the right one. James Franklin hasn’t seen his family in months, and I’m sure the same can be said for some of the other coaches and players. Playing in a low-tier bowl game surely isn’t worth it, as it proves virtually nothing. Coaches and players seeing their families is far more important than playing in a meaningless bowl game.

RP: It was Penn State’s choice to make, so it’s really not up to the fans and media to judge its decision. If the Nittany Lions are done this year, they’re done. Of course, one more game would have been fun, but you have to applaud Penn State for doing the “unpopular” thing and heading home for the holidays.

WP: I really don’t think it was worth it for the Nittany Lions to play in a bowl game. After such a grueling season, it feels like the Duke’s Mayo Bowl would just be an unnecessary extension. A 50-burger over Illinois at Beaver Stadium was a fine way to end this wild year.

‘The Young Offensive Talent Is Going To Be Fantastic In 2021’

SB: Penn State’s offense will be very exciting to watch with young talent in Parker Washington, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, the deep running back room, and the young tight ends that we saw throughout this year. If Jahan Dotson stays, this offense will be tough to stop and surely fun to watch.

GA: If you’re a Penn State football fan, you should be excited about the young offensive talent heading into 2021. Keyvone Lee led the team in rushing as a true freshman and he’s only going to get better. Don’t forget about Caziah Holmes, too, as he impressed with limited opportunities. At wideout, Parker Washington emerged as a star and finished second on the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. KeAndre Lambert-Smith should be ready to take on a larger role next year, especially if Jahan Dotson leaves for the NFL. Additionally, with Pat Freiermuth’s departure, Theo Johnson should get increased snaps.

RP: This absolutely can happen. Guys like Keyvone Lee, Caziah Holmes, Theo Johnson, and Parker Washington looked better and better each game. Even some of the incoming freshmen like Lonnie White Jr. and sophomores like Jaden Dottin may start to make an impact in the potential absence of Jahan Dotson. I, for one, am very excited to see what this team can do next year. The resilience Penn State showed at the end of the season showed what this group is made of.

WP: Keyvone Lee and Caziah Holmes both have great futures ahead of them, and these young weapons developing in the passing game seem to be shaping up to be large parts of Penn State’s offense. Especially if Jahan Dotson ends up leaving for the NFL, players such as Washington, Lambert-Smith, and Theo Johnson will have to carry the load in terms of offensive production. I’m excited to see what they can do.

‘Jayson Oweh Should’ve Stayed Another Year At Penn State’

SB: There is an argument for every player that declares early, especially after only two years of play, that they could stay in college and get a little more experience. However, I’d say it’s good for him. I hope he’s drafted early and gets paid.

GA: I think another year at Penn State could’ve solidified Oweh as a bonafide first-round pick. However, I don’t blame him for entering the 2020 NFL draft. Many projections have Oweh being drafted as high as the first round, which would make this decision look like a no brainer. The potential for Oweh is through the roof, but I just hope he didn’t leave one year too soon.

RP: It’s really hard to sit back and judge the decision Oweh made when there are obviously things we don’t know. It’s his decision to make. But after a seemingly disappointing 2020 campaign, Oweh is relying on his athleticism and build to land on an NFL team. Staying in college for another year to get breakout-level stats would have helped for sure.

WP: Oweh is clearly a beast coming off the edge. People are hung up on the fact that he didn’t record a sack this year, but James Franklin and several other members of the coaching staff seemed to be pleased with the disruption he caused as a pass rusher. If Oweh ends up going in the first or second round like he’s projected to, he shouldn’t have any regrets. I could see him flourishing as a pro.

‘If He Stays, Jahan Dotson Will Go Down As A Better Wideout Than KJ Hamler’

SB: I personally don’t consider KJ Hamler to be the best receiver in my lifetime of watching the Nittany Lions, considering Deon Butler, Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, and DaeSean Hamilton.

I would consider Jahan Dotson to currently be on a similar scale as Hamler, whether he leaves this year or not. I think if he stays for 2021, he has an opportunity to not only break a lot of Penn State receiving records but put his name in the conversation for the best Nittany Lion to play at his position.

GA: This is no knock on KJ Hamler at all, but I think Dotson may be the better wideout. If Penn State played a full schedule this year, Dotson would’ve shattered Hamler’s single-season highs he set during the 2019 season. Both are great receivers, but Dotson may have the edge, especially if he stays another year in Happy Valley.

RP: It’s certainly possible. Dotson doesn’t have the same barn-burning speed as Hamler, but he still is quite fast. He also seems to have better hands than Hamler and two inches on the former Penn State player as well. It’s hard to compare the two, but if Dotson pulls off another season like this last one, he seems like a more well-rounded wideout.

WP: Jahan Dotson is clearly a baller, and the Hamler comparisons have rightly started to pour in. If the Pennsylvania native elects to stay another year and continues to play like he did this fall, I’d put him ahead of Hamler and in the conversation with guys like Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin.