Previewing the Indiana State Game

Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (0-0)

Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. Eastern

TV: Big Ten Network

The Penn State Nittany Lions are thinking big. Rather, they are thinking B1G championship. The run to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship officially gets underway Saturday, September 3, with a non-conference matchup with the Indiana State Sycamores.

Indiana State is not exactly on the same level of power FCS programs like Appalachian State, Villanova, Delaware or Montana, and Penn State should be able to take advantage of the favorable Week 1 matchups in order to determine a winner in the bidding for the starting quarterback's job. The bidders, of course, are Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin.

The rest of the offense appears to be set and ready to go, with sophomore stud Silas Redd taking over for Penn State's all-time leading rusher (Evan Royster). Derek Moye leads a trio of wide receivers, with Shawney Kersey ready to go deep and Justin Brown preparing to run the slot patterns. The offensive line is beefed up with experience to provide the necessary protection and should be able to know what holes still need plugging before Week 2's big game against Alabama.

The defense should be steady once again—supposing the defensive line can stay healthy. Like the offensive line, the defensive line has some good veteran leadership with upperclassmen in the trenches, and the linebackers and secondary should be capable of shutting down opposing offenses more often than not.

Series History: Penn State vs. Indiana State

Series History: First meeting

Penn State vs. FCS programs (in Big Ten Era): 4-0

Penn State vs. Missouri Valley Conference: First meeting

Indiana State vs. FBS programs: 7-48 

Penn State's Previous FCS Games:

2006, Youngstown State: PSU 37, YSU 3

Penn State's first game against an FCS program was played in 2006. To date, it is still the lowest offensive scoring production against an FCS opponent and is tied for the fewest points allowed to an FCS opponent.

2008, Coastal Carolina: PSU 66, CCU 10

Evan Royster rushed for two touchdowns in the first quarter, and Derrick Williams returned a kickoff 89 yards following Coastal Carolina's first score of the day. Penn State scored 52 straight points before Coastal Carolina managed to dent the scoreboard again. The Big Ten champions were off and running in the season opener.

2009, Eastern Illinois: PSU 52, EIU 3

Penn State got off to a fast start against Eastern Illinois, and NaVorro Bowman's 91-yard fumble return with five seconds left in the first half gave the Nittany Lions a 38-0 lead at the half after the extra point. Daryll Clark threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another in the first half as Penn State eased to victory.

2010, Youngstown State: PSU 44, YSU 14

Youngstown State took a first-quarter lead on an 80-yard touchdown and almost reached halftime with a lead, but Penn State scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the half to take a 16-7 lead in to the half. Chaz Powell's 100-yard kickoff return to open the second half gave Penn State the momentum for the rest of the game.

No FCS program has lost more games against FBS opponents than Indiana State. Their last win against an FBS school came in 2001 against Eastern Michigan. Northwestern State and Western Carolina are tied for second-most losses to FBS schools with 40 losses. Indiana State and Northwestern State are tied for the most games played against FBS programs, with 55 games each.

Source: SportsDelve.com

Quarterback Competition Takes Center Stage or 50-Yard Line

No decision has been made on the starting quarterback job for the season, and both Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin are expected to see a somewhat equal amount of playing time on Saturday. The performance of each could lead to a more permanent decision being made early next week prior to the game against Alabama.

Joe Paterno said multiple times on Tuesday that he feels he has two pretty good quarterbacks, each of whom seem capable of managing the offense on the field. But Paterno was reluctant to give any indication which way the coaching staff will ultimately go with the position.

Bolden was the starter at the beginning of the 2010 season despite being just a true freshman. McGloin later took over the starting job following Bolden's concussion suffered against Minnesota and being rocked during a game against Northwestern two weeks later with the offense struggling to score. McGloin held on to the starting job for the remainder of the season and quarterbacked the team in the Outback Bowl.

Should one player struggle to move the offense against Indiana State, the door should be wide open for the other candidate for the job. If they play evenly, might Penn State consider a dual-quarterback offense the following week against Alabama? The expectation is that the staff will announce one starter for Week 2 even if the performances in Week 1 are relatively even.

Get REDDy to Rumble

Penn State's Silas Redd is ready to take on a leading role with the Penn State offense.

"I have high expectations for myself," Redd said during a telephone interview with GreenwichTime.com. "I didn't think I was going to come in and start right away last year, but I was going to compete and I felt I could contribute."

Fans have high expectations, too.

Redd brings a physical and elusive approach to the offense every time he takes the field. He takes over the running game following the graduation of Penn State's all-time leading rusher, Evan Royster. Royster spoke highly of Redd last season, mentioning that the record might not last very long as Redd begins to see more snaps on the field.

The countdown is officially on.

Stephfon Green, who recently rejoined the team after dealing with a few off-field issues and conflicts, echoed those statements last season as well, telling media that Redd was a kid everybody would have to keep an eye out for. "I feel sorry for opposing defenses who have to get to him," Green said following a game early in 2010.

Redd is listed as the starting running back for Penn State, and he will be backed up by Brandon Beachum for what may be on the hottest backfields flying under the radar this season not just in the Big Ten, but throughout the nation.

Penn State Depth Chart: Offense

Starters in bold.

QB: Rob Bolden (So) OR Matt McGloin (Sr/Jr)

RB: Silas Redd (So), Brandon Beachum (Sr/Jr)

FB: Joe Suhey (Gr/Sr) OR Michael Zordich (Sr/Jr)

WR: Derek Moye (Sr), Brandon Moseby-Felder (Jr/So)

WR: Justin Brown (Jr), Devon Smith (Jr)

WR: Shawney Kersey (Jr/So), Ryan Scherer (Sr/Jr)

TE: Andrew Szczerba (Gr/Sr), Kevin Haplea (So)

LT: Quinn Barham (Gr/Sr), Nate Cadogan (Jr/So)

LG: DeOn'tae Pannell (Sr), Mark Arcidiacono (Jr/So)

C: Matt Stankiewitch (Sr/Jr), Ty Howle (Jr/So)

RG: John Urschel (Jr/So) OR Johnnie Troutman (Gr/Sr)

RT: Chima Okoli (Gr/Sr), Mike Farrell (Sr/Jr)

Penn State Depth Chart: Defense

Starters in bold.

LE: Eric Latimore (Gr/Sr), Kyle Baublitz (So/Fr)

LT: Jordan Hill (Jr), James Terry (Sr/Jr)

RT: Devon Still (Sr), DaQuan Jones (So)

RE: Jack Crawford (Sr), Sean Stanley (Jr)

OLB: Gerald Hodges (Jr), Mike Hull (So/Fr)

MLB: Glenn Carson (So), Khairi Fortt (So)

OLB: Michael Mauti (Sr/Jr), Nate Stupar (Gr/Sr)

CB: D'Anton Lynn (Sr), Mike Wallace (Jr/So)

FS: Nick Sukay (Gr/Sr), Malcolm Willis (Jr/So)

Hero: Drew Astorino (Sr), Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (Jr/So)

CB: Chaz Powell (Sr), Stephfon Morris (Jr)

Penn State Depth Chart: Special Teams

Starters in bold.

P: Alex Butterworth (So), Alex Fera (Jr/So)

K: Evan Lewis (Sr/Jr), Anthony Fera (Jr/So)

Holder: Ryan Keiser (So/Fr), Antony Fera (Jr/So)

Kick Snapper (PAT/FG): Ty Howle (Jr/So)

Long Snapper: Jon Rohrbaugh (Sr)

Kickoff Returners: Chaz Powell (Sr), Devon Smith (Jr)

Punt Returns: Justin Brown (Jr), Devon Smith (Jr)

Linebacker U Anchored by Sophomore Glenn Carson

Penn State's defense has a number of upperclassmen filling some key positions, including in the secondary and up front on the defensive line. The linebackers, though, will see a rising sophomore take over in the middle of the defense on Saturday with Glenn Carson taking the next step in his young career in State College.

Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges will flank the outside of the position, but Carson will be looked to as a vocal leader much earlier than many would have predicted. His work ethic has certainly paid off if the starting job at one of Penn State's signature positions, with some quality options available, is any indication. Carson taking the lead in the middle allows Penn State to keep Mauti in a comfortable position and instantly adds depth to the entire linebacker position with Nate Stupar and Khairi Fortt, along with Mike Hull, filling up the second-team defense.

No matter who is taking the field at the position, Penn State's linebackers will be the latest to follow in the footsteps of so many great units in the past. Nothing too flashy will be shown by the linebackers in State College, but they will find a way to see a play develop, find the ball carrier and track them down in order to wrap him up before too much damage is done.

The big question regarding Carson will be how well will he handle the pressure of being in the middle of a veteran defense at a key position on the field. The coaching staff would not put him in this situation if they did not feel he was capable of handling the job, but will Carson thrive and show he is not afraid of the challenge as well?

Joe Paterno and Season Openers in Big Ten Era

Penn State in Season Openers in Big Ten Era (1993-2010): 16-2 

Penn State was undefeated in season openers from 1993 through 1999. The first season-opening loss in Penn State's Big Ten era came in 2000 with a 29-5 loss to the USC Trojans in the Kickoff Classic in Giants Stadium.

The Trojans ended up going just 5-7 that season, matching Penn State's season record that season. Both teams entered the game ranked in the AP Top 25, but the loss dropped the Nittany Lions out of the Top 25 for the remainder of the season.

Penn State lost the following season opener (2001) in a prime-time home game against No. 2 Miami, a team that went on to win the national championship.

Penn State has won nine straight season openers. Wisconsin currently owns the longest season-opening win streak in the Big Ten during Penn State's conference membership, having won 13 consecutive season openers. The last loss for the Badgers on opening day came in the 1997 Kickoff Classic, a 34-0 loss to Syracuse. 

Ohio State has the second longest season-opening winning streak in the Big Ten, having won 11 straight season openers. Ohio State's last season-opening loss came in 1999 with a Kickoff Classic loss to Miami.

Iowa's season-opening win streak is at 10 games, with the last loss coming in the Eddie Robinson Classic in 2000 against Iowa State.

Nebraska has not lost a season-opening game since losing to Florida State in the 1985 season opener. That is 25 straight season-opening wins for the Huskers as they begin their own Big Ten era of football.

Predictions

Penn State 42, Indiana State 6

This one looks to be a pretty solid blowout for the Nittany Lions, and the competition at the quarterback position could lead to spirited play from Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin. Do not look for either to let their emotions get out of hand and lead to careless play, but look for the offense to have a fairly easy day from start to finish. 

McGloin gets the numbers, Bolden gets the nod

The announcement on a starting job is expected by many to be made next week, but don't judge everything solely on the numbers this weekend. Even if McGloin puts up the better passing numbers, there will be other things to look for in Bolden's performance this weekend. If he remains calm, throws some good passes and seems to have a grasp for moving the offense, he could ultimately be named the starting quarterback as the team moves to Week 2 against Alabama.

Brandon Beachum impresses

Silas Redd is the star in the running game, but Brandon Beachum will be expected to see some playing time this weekend, and he could have a field day. With Beachum back to full strength, he can be a valuable asset in the running game by being able to give Redd a rest from time to time without having the offense lose too much.

If Beachum has more rushing yards at the end of he day, don't be too surprised.

How to Follow the Progess of the Game

The game will be carried on Big Ten Network to those who receive it, but Bleacher Report will be providing a full in-game live blog from the press box of Beaver Stadium. Featured columnist Kevin McGuire will be providing live updates for the Penn State community and will also be tweeting live coverage throughout the afternoon with facts and stats from the press box and with updates from around the Big Ten and nation.

To follow updates on Twitter, follow @PSUExaminer and @BR_NittanyLions (and @BleacherReport).

Stay tuned for a link in the Penn State community when it becomes available.

Kevin McGuire is the national college football writer for Examiner.com. Follow his college football discussion on Google+ and Twitter. Become a fan of him on Facebook