Last week, Penn State scraped by Temple for a 14-10 win in Philadelphia. This week, Eastern Michigan provides the Nittany Lions with one final test before the start of the Big Ten season. Penn State will look to build up some momentum against the Eagles before heading to Bloomington to take on Indiana next week.
In front of a bipartisan crowd in Philadelphia, Penn State narrowly escaped with a 14-10 victory thanks to a strong defensive effort and a fourth quarter touchdown drive. Poor special teams and numerous penalties hampered the Nittany Lions in the victory. Both quarterbacks received playing time, and the situation does not seem as if it will be resolved any time soon.
Penn State is looking to rebound from a 27-11 drubbing at the hands of Alabama against Temple on Saturday. The Nittany Lions head to Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles (and technically the home field of Temple), where they will be greeted with a majority Penn State crowd. As Onward State posted earlier this week, it has been a while since Penn State last lost to Temple.
At the beginning of the season, all 120 Football Bowl Series teams have a chance to go to the BCS Championship Game. For the second season in a row, Alabama showed Penn State fans what it looks like to actually have a team capable of making the championship game. After watching the game live from the press box and for a second time on the television, I have compiled a short list of observations about the game with a look ahead to Temple next week.
No. 3 Alabama came into Beaver Stadium and rolled to a comfortable 27-11 victory. The win came in front of an electric crowd of 107,846 that featured a boisterous student section and plenty of away support. Penn State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on its first drive, but Alabama dominated the rest of the game. Penn State will look to improve next week against Temple in Philadelphia.
Penn State is playing what is probably going to be its biggest game of the year, and it is only week two. Alabama's staunch defense will give the Nittany Lions trouble, but an electric atmosphere in Beaver Stadium could be a game changer. Penn State will need to play a near-perfect game in order to beat No. 2 Alabama.