Penn State football opened up its season on the road in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Saturday, beating West Virginia 34-12.

Offseason questions were finally answered and fans got their first look at the team under new coordinators Andy Kotelnicki, Tom Allen, and Justin Lustig. As usual, fans took to Twitter with some interesting takes during the game over the weekend.

Andy Kotelnicki Is The Answer

CJ Doebler: Saturday was a refreshing look at the Penn State offense. Kotelnicki’s tape from Kansas created a lot of hype around the offensive side of the ball this season, and I think Saturday was only a glimpse of what the coordinator can do with the group.

After struggling to create big plays in the running and passing game last season, the Nittany Lions’ offense had four plays over 40 yards, and 10 plays over 15 yards during the victory. Runnig back Nick Singleton accounted for two 40-yard runs on Saturday, while wide receivers Omari Evans and Trey Wallace both caught passes over 50 yards. We’re only one game in, but this year’s offense looks like it could be dangerous.

Mitch Corcoran: So far, yes. However, let me remind you that very few people had a problem with Mike Yurcich’s offense after beating West Virginia last season.

The flaws of Yurcich’s offense didn’t arise until Penn State went on the road against Illinois and Northwestern where the offense had slow starts against inferior opponents. They were magnified even more so against more talented opponents like Ohio State and Michigan.

Andy Kotelnicki already proved his offense can play well on the road, but we’ll have to wait and see how consistent it will be over the course of the season and when Penn State eventually plays a tougher opponent.

Nolan Wick: If Saturday is an indication of anything, it’s that Andy Kotelnicki is the guy to lead Penn State’s offense.

It was very refreshing to watch Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, and Trey Wallace play with so much poise and creativity. It wasn’t the stale, same-old style last season – the offense looked noticeably different. Instead of slowly chipping away at the defense by running the ball and throwing check downs, Kotelnicki opened up the playbook and wasn’t afraid to aggressively move the ball. This is evident as there were 21 first downs compared to 11 third downs.

It’s still a small sample size, but so far, so good for the new offensive coordinator.

Joe Lister: I’m old enough to remember when Drew Allar completed a 72-yard pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith to kick off the 2023 season. I’m also old enough to remember Lambert-Smith peaking at that exact moment, suffering an intense decline, and moving to Auburn, Alabama.

Sure, Penn State’s offense looked good. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I want to see Penn State play a real team before we crown Kotelnicki as king of State College.

Drew Allar Is A Heisman Contender

CJ: This is another reaction that comes with a reminder that we’re only one game into a long season.

Drew Allar looked sharp on Saturday. His three touchdown passes on 11 completions and 216 yards was an impressive debut for his second season as the starter, and the quarterback seemed to carry himself differently than he had last season. However, Allar’s legacy in Happy Valley will be tied to the way he performs during the big games this year.

Mitch: Drew Allar will be in the Heisman conversation by the end of September. However, I can’t say if he will be in the conversation by the end of the season yet.

Penn State faced, most likely, its toughest competition in West Virginia until it plays USC in October. The Nittany Lions face Bowling Green, Kent State, and Illinois in September, and all those games will be played in Beaver Stadium. That is a very favorable stretch for a talented quarterback like Allar in a new offense.

If Allar played like he did on Saturday, expect a lot more big games from him this month. Who knows, maybe he will be in the Heisman conversation in December.

Nolan: This will all depend on how Allar does in big games. If Allar continues to impress and beats Ohio State, he’ll have a good case. Beating the Buckeyes, though, seems like a “must” given a competitive field that’s expected to include Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, to name a couple.

Joe: I know I just told everyone to hold their horses on Kotelnicki, but I’ve been all in on Allar from the start. The guy’s got what it takes. Allar playing with the attitude that he did against West Virginia is only more proof that he’s ready for the national conversation. Allar won’t win the Heisman, but I think he’ll at least catch the plane to New York City for the ceremony at the end of the season.

Abdul Carter Is A Better Linebacker Than A Defensive End

CJ: Besides three penalties, two for offsides, and one late hit call, Abdul Carter was only on the stat sheet with one tackle during Saturday’s contest. James Franklin, though, isn’t worried about the defensive end and said that Carter was still “disruptive” against the Mountaineers.

Mitch: In the long term, defensive end is the spot for Abdul Carter.

The stats may not have shown that Saturday, but Carter is an explosive player who has only gotten bigger and stronger since he stepped on campus as a freshman. It’s an adjustment to move from linebacker to defensive end, but Carter is talented enough to progress and grow at the position as the season goes on.

Look for Carter to be disruptive this week against Bowling Green.

Nolan: I’m willing to be patient on this one. Abdul Carter didn’t look great against West Virginia, but that doesn’t mean upcoming games against Bowling Green and Kent State won’t be great opportunities for him to continue getting used to playing defensive end. He’s proven himself as a linebacker, and I think he has the size and tools to do the same at defensive end.

Joe: I should make it clear that I watched the game from home. There may have been some moments that the cameras didn’t pick up where Abdul Carter shined. However, I just didn’t see a whole lot from No. 11.

Defensive end could be good in the long-term for Carter, and it definitely seems like this is something he wants to get good at. However, the jury’s still out.

Trey Wallace Is WR1

CJ: The wide receiver room needed someone to separate themselves from the rest of the room and take over the top spot this season. After Saturday, it looks like Trey Wallace can be that player. Wallace had five catches on nine targets against the Mountaineers for 117 yards and three touchdowns.

Wallace was one of only two receivers targeted during the game and finished first in receiving yards before Omari Evans, who finished with 55 yards.

Mitch: Considering nobody else on Penn State came close to seeing nine targets, over 100 receiving yards, and multiple touchdowns, it’s safe to say Trey Wallace is the No. 1 receiver.

Be careful, though. KeAndre Lambert-Smith put up similar numbers against West Virginia last season and he didn’t even eclipse 700 yards for the season.

Nolan: The only other wideout targeted was Omari Evans, which was only twice. Trey Wallace is by far the No. 1 receiver on this team, and he looked the part in his performance. However, health has been an issue for him in the past, and staying on the field will be crucial for the position room and Allar’s ability to make plays. If he can do that, Penn State’s offense will be a real problem for other teams.

Joe: Trey Wallace is going to be big for Penn State. He’s easily the Nittany Lions’ top option at wide receiver after the West Virginia game. If Wallace can stay healthy for 12 regular season games and the postseason, Penn State can be a dangerous team.

Penn State Could Go All The Way

CJ: This one’s for you, Pat McAfee.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the season is still very young. However, the Nittany Lions looked like a complete football team on Saturday. While the offense looked efficient, the defense also stepped up when needed, allowing only one touchdown and two field goals for 12 points. The secondary played a big part in the defense’s success as Jaylen Reed excelled in the new lion hybrid position, notching nine total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.

A decisive victory on the road to open the season is an important accomplishment, but it’s too early to really know what the 2024 squad is made of.

Mitch: This one is a stretch. A lot of things have to fall Penn State’s way, but this is probably the most talented roster Penn State has had in the past couple of years.

If everything clicks, then yes, Penn State can compete for a national championship, but that’s a big if. Even if this Penn State team plays at its full potential, there are still teams like Georgia and Ohio State who are more talented.

I don’t want to say a national championship isn’t probable, but a lot of things have to fall Penn State’s way between now and December. Just focus on making the playoff first.

Nolan: A notable West Virginia alum tweeted this on Saturday, and I’ll let you take a wild guess as to who it was.

Penn State certainly has a shot if it keeps playing as it did against the Mountaineers with improved ball security and penalty discipline. Even though the Mountaineers are in a major conference and won nine games last season, I never thought they would pose a serious threat to Penn State, which says something about Penn State’s talent.

As of right now, I don’t think Penn State is better than Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon. However, that could change if the Nittany Lions go undefeated and take down the Buckeyes on November 2 in Happy Valley.

Much of this will depend on how Drew Allar plays, but there are other critical moving parts. Will Trey Wallace stay healthy? Can Tony Rojas emerge as a true No. 1 linebacker? Just how big of an impact can the safeties have every game? Those are just a few of the questions that need answering before we know how much of a contender Penn State is.

Joe: If Pat McAfee said it, it’s probably stupid and wrong. Penn State may be a top-five program, but there’s a lot of space between Georgia, Ohio State, and the rest of us.