Is the unbeaten Penn State football team ready to begin Big Ten play? [opinion]

Penn State accomplished almost everything it wanted in its glorified scrimmage against Kent State.

Eight players scored touchdowns in the 56-0 rout. Eight carried the ball. Ten made catches.

Eighty players saw action, including 14 true freshmen.

The Nittany Lions set school records for total yards and first downs.

They’re 3-0, but are they ready for their Big Ten opener against fellow unbeaten Illinois Saturday night at 7:30 at Beaver Stadium?

“Yeah, I would say we’re ready,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “Everyone knows Illinois is a tough team. We played them last year. I don’t know how many returners they have, but I’m sure it’s a fair amount. They’re going to be a test for us, for sure.”

It’s difficult to gauge anything against Kent State, which is likely the worst Division I-A football team in the country. But if one evaluates all three of Penn State’s non-conference games, there are more promising signs than worrisome ones.

Let’s start with Allar, who ranks second in the country in pass efficiency. He’s completing more than 70% of his passes with eight TD passes against one interception. Beyond the numbers, he’s playing with more freedom and ease. He’s in complete command of coordinator Andy Koteknicki’s offense.

“I would definitely say that my confidence is at an all-time high since I’ve been here,” Allar said. “Having that experience from last year was helpful. I learned a lot. It’s also a credit to Danny (QB coach Danny O’Brien), Coach K and Coach (James) Franklin for just letting me be me and showing my emotion when I want to.”

Kotelnicki promised to take advantage of the Lions’ strengths and he has. He’s put running back Nick Singleton in open space, which has resulted in him averaging 104.7 yards per game and 8.5 per carry. He’s also been a receiving threat.

“Everybody has confidence in Andy,” Singleton said. “He’s been great with what he calls. I just can’t wait to keep it going.”

Neither can tight end Tyler Warren, who carried once for 16 yards, caught a TD pass from Allar and threw a scoring pass to Singleton. He made a spectacular one-handed catch near the sideline, took a hard hit and barely flinched.

He leads Penn State with 16 receptions for 226 yards.

“Ty Warren is the best tight end in college football,” Franklin said. “The tight end position isn’t

supposed to be about receiving yards. It’s about complete players.”

Defensively, the Lions have been dominant with the exception of the first half against Bowling Green. The Falcons, by the way, gave Texas A&M all it could handle Saturday night before losing 26-20.

Several veteran Penn State defenders said the group took Bowling Green lightly.

“We’ve done really well,” defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton said. “We haven’t played our best football, but I’m confident in our defense and I’m confident in our team.”

The Lions, though, probably will be without one of the best safeties in the country for the rest of the season. KJ Winston sustained a leg injury in the first half against Bowling Green. His absence has caused defensive coordinator Tom Allen to make changes.

The hope is for freshman Dejuan Lane or senior Tyrece Mills to play well enough so that Jaylen Reed, who played Saturday in Winston’s spot, can return to the nickel, or Lion, position.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take,” Reed said. “It’s up to Dejuan and Tyrece so we can feel comfortable enough to start them and put them in a game early so I can get back to the Lion position. That’s what’s best for the team “

We’ll know a lot more about Penn State after its next three games against Illinois and UCLA at home and USC in Los Angeles. If the Lions remain unbeaten through that stretch, their Nov. 2 home game against nemesis Ohio State looms even larger.

But to this point, they’ve progressed as expected.

“We went on the road (at West Virginia) and won in a tough environment,” Franklin said. “We played well enough to win the last game (against Bowling Green) but probably not up to our standard. I thought this week we did what we needed to do.

“We have to take all three of those different experiences, learn from them and get better.”

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