With Steve

Why Penn State Needs To Stop Whining About Big Ten Road Openers

Steve thinks it’s time for the complaining to stop. (Photo via GoPSUSports.com)

There is no more meaningless, whiny story for Penn State football to perpetuate than the continued, loud lament about opening Big Ten Conference play on the road. 

It’s just silliness. 

There are nine conference games to play each season and Penn State has played nine a season, five at home and four on the road, or vice versa, every season. No more or less than anyone else. 

Sure, it seems statistically unlikely that the Nittany Lions would’ve been on the road eight years in a row and 13 of the past 14, but so what? 

Maybe the big bad Big Ten Conference is out to get Penn State. It’s highly doubtful, but if that’s what it takes to make you feel better about supporting Penn State, go ahead and embrace that conspiracy theory.

Conversely, if you’re focused on 1-0 football, if you’re unrivaled, if you’re worried more about yourself than your opponent, then just shut up and play the games when they’re scheduled. Win and go home — whether it’s a plane back to the University Park Airport or a walk past the Bryce Jordan Center across campus.

In seven conference road openers since 2016, Penn State is 5-2. In its seven conference openers at Beaver Stadium during that same time, the team is also 5-2.

And the two road losses would likely come with big asterisks for some fans. One was against Michigan in 2016, when seemingly the entire linebacker corps was injured, and the other was the overtime Michael Penix Jr. goal line/pylon loss to Indiana in 2020. 

PSU’s B1G Openers
YearOpponentScore
2023@ Ill?
2022@ PurW, 63-7
2021@ WiscW, 16-10
2020@IndL, 36-35
2019@ MDW, 59-0
2018@ IllW, 63-24
2017@ IowaW, 21-19
2016@ MichL, 49-10

In 2016, Penn State was so hampered by opening on the road that it advanced to and won its only conference championship of the James Franklin Era. The team missed the College Football Playoff not because of the Michigan loss, but because it dropped a non-conference game at Pitt and because the CFP committee somehow found value in Washington’s flimsy non-conference schedule.

So, those two road losses to open conference play in the past eight years are anomalies, at best. Penn State usually just goes about its business and wins.

It’s just confounding that Penn State would continue to push the starting-on-the-road narrative. Clearly it does not cost the program in terms of W’s. Nor does it hamper attendance, or revenue. Plus, it might be an early season confidence builder and ensure the benefit of a home game being played later in the season. If anything, it’s a potential (albeit minor) distraction.

Still, coach James Franklin sloughs off discussions about injuries or rankings (“as long as we get better and take care of the things we can control we’ll be alright”) but continues to fan the starting-on-the-road flames. 

Athletic director Pat Kraft really embraces the topic, framing it as the ultimate disrespect, calling it “unacceptable” in 2022. Of course, that endears him to fans who think the Big Ten has been against Penn State since it was admitted to the conference, and it provides fiery quotes for media members who love the topic as well. 

When the 2023 schedule was released, Kraft offered this: “It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing Penn State will be starting our Big Ten football slate next year on the road for the eighth straight season and for the 13th time in the last 14 years. When I arrived on campus, I shared with the conference staff my concerns and repeatedly referenced their failure to address this issue in the past.” 

It’s just silly. There is no issue. Nor is there reason for frustration or disappointment. 

Nobody’s asking Penn State to play more games than other conference team. Nobody’s asking Penn State to field 10 players instead of 11 when the ball gets snapped. Those things would be unfair, and prompt honest concern.

All this open-on-the-road stuff adds up to much ado about nothing. It’s a game, an opportunity for growth and success. It’s also not something Penn State cannot control. 

Officiating, injuries and the weather have had more of an impact of the outcome of Penn State’s last seven conference openers, all on the road, than has the location. 

To me, the road assignments are a sign of respect — especially when Penn State was clearly the featured attraction for games at Illinois (2018) and Maryland (2019) as the conference offered games on Friday nights.

Instead of eschewing the scheduling situation, Penn State should sincerely embrace it. Start every season on the road with a W and build on it for more success.

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Steve Sampsell
Steve Sampsell is a graduate of Penn State and co-host of Stuff Somers Says with Steve. You can email Steve at steve@stuffsomerssays.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveSampsell.

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