Can the Mountaineers Upset Penn State In 2024 Opener?
MORGANTOWN,WV—When the West Virginia Mountaineers host the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday, August 31 in a noon game nationally televised on FOX, it will mark the first time PSU has made the trip south since October 24, 1992. In that contest PSU beat the Mountaineers, 40-26. The question is: “Can WVU play a near perfect game to beat PSU for the first time since Major Harris and Coach Don Nehlen did 51-30 back in 1988?”
Last season the Mountaineers fell 38-15 in front of a sellout crowd of 110,742 at Beaver Stadium. WVU quarterback Garrett Greene went 16-27 for 162 yards and 15 carries for 71 rushing yards. It was the 6th largest attendance in Nittany Lion history. In that game PSU head coach James Franklin ran up the score with seconds left in the game hurrying up to get in the end zone. WVU coach Neal Brown was asked if he had a problem with Franklin doing it. Brown responded, “I wouldn’t have done it , but it doesn’t bother me. Stuff like that, what comes around goes around. At some point, it’ll all come around. I don’t know when. It doesn’t bother me. I’m not upset about it.”
My gut tells me Coach Brown will use that to motivate the players for the revenge match in Morgantown.
Let’s face it, PSU has more talent on paper than WVU. The Nittany Lions have one of the best defenses in the nation again this season. It is elite! PSU also added a new offensive coordinator, Andy Kotelnicki, which could spell problems for the WVU secondary. PSU quarterback Drew Allar, considered one of the top QB’s in the nation will be a serious threat as well.Â
On a positive note, the Mountaineers averaged 230 yards per game on the ground last season which was fourth best in the country. The PSU defense will have to stop the Mountaineer running game. WVU has three 750 yard runners back from last year ready to roll. Experts are saying that WVU will not be able to run 300 yards against the PSU defense. If the Nittany Lions are successful at stopping the run then WVU will be one dimensional. The WVU offense will have to make explosive plays to win the game. WVU ran the football 62 per cent of the time for 5.2 yards per carry last season.
The Mountaineer fans will be a plus. It will be an electric environment. It will be an absolutely insane crowd for the Nittany Lions. Lets go shock the nation!