Penn State Spring Game 2012: Date, Start Time, TV Info and More

New Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien gets his first taste of action with the team's spring game on Saturday afternoon. O'Brien comes to the Nittany Lions from the New England Patriots and will look to quickly turn around the storied program.

Penn State and its football team went through a lot of turmoil last season due to the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The Nittany Lions will attempt to put all of that behind them as they prepare for another season in the competitive Big Ten Conference.

The spring game will provide the coaching staff a first glimpse at how the team's shaping up for next fall. Although final decisions are rarely made after spring practices end, players who are impressive give themselves a leg up in position battles.

Here's a look all the important details for Saturday's marquee scrimmage.

Where: Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.

When: Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. ET

Watch: Big Ten Network (tape delay at 8 p.m. ET)

Listen: WQWK 1450 AM

Position Battle to Watch: Quarterback

Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden split time under center last season. McGloin was the more effective passer, but that's not saying much. He completed 54 percent of his passes and threw eight touchdowns. Bolden connected on a dreadful 39 percent of his attempts and had more interceptions than TDs.

While McGloin should enter the spring game with an advantage based on those numbers, it's still an open competition. The Nittany Lions rely heavily on their running game, but must receive more consistent play from their quarterback to keep pace with the conference's elite teams.

Another name to keep an eye on is Paul Jones. He has more potential than either McGloin or Bolden, so there's still a chance O'Brien will give him the starting job and hope he grows with experience. A strong performance on Saturday will help Jones' cause.

Area in Need of Most Improvement: Offensive Line

Penn State will have four new starters along the offensive line. Chemistry will always be the biggest concern anytime there's a significant turnover like that, so that's why these spring practices are crucial in preparation for next season.

Since the Nittany Lions are a run-first team, it's impossible to overstate the importance of a reliable offense line. If the front five can't open holes for Silas Redd and the other running backs, the team's offense will struggle mightily to put up points.

It's not a question of talent, there's no shortage of that, but the coaching staff understands it will take some time for everybody to find a comfort zone. So, the projected starters might get more time than you'd normally expect in a scrimmage to work out the kinks.

What to Expect in 2012

It would surprise nobody to say Penn State's season will depend on the effectiveness of its rushing attack and the strength of its defense. For a program with as much tradition as Penn State, it's no surprise the Nittany Lions still employ an old-school approach to the game.

The defense should once again be amongst the best in the Big Ten. New defensive coordinator Ted Roof will install his system, but the changes shouldn't be a large enough to cause any problems for the team's talented defenders and should lead to more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

They open with four winnable games before the start of conference play. That should allow the Nittany Lions to start hot while also giving time for the offensive line to gel. By the time they travel to face Illinois, they should be operating at full capacity.

Right now, a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten would be a fair projection. If one of the three quarterbacks step up to provide a more balanced attack, Penn State would become a contender.