It's no secret that the Nittany Lions have found equal footing both at home and on the road. Last year, they were 7-1 at Beaver Stadium, with their only loss coming at the hands of the national champion Buckeyes. And yet, that record may not have been as impressive as what they were able to achieve on the road.
Away from home, Penn State was a sterling 5-0, perhaps being the difference between participating in the Big Ten title game and missing out entirely. Not all wins were pretty, especially their overtime thriller at LA Memorial Coliseum against the Trojans, but needless to say, they were able to execute. Granted, they didn't have the toughest of road slates, but no game is a given in the Big Ten, and Penn State was able to hold firm. This year could be a completely different vibe.
Unlike last year, Penn State won't avoid some of its biggest rivals in Big Ten play. Luckily, most of those games will come at home. The fourth week of the season sees the Oregon Ducks roll into town with a revamped squad looking to maintain the levels of success they reached last year. They also get the pesky Indiana Hoosiers at home in Week 10. It's the road games on their slate this year, though, where Penn State fans will truly get to see this squad's evolution.
The reason for Penn State's gritty road mentality is its experience and understanding of the hostile Big Ten environments. So it should be no surprise when, in some of their toughest road matchups this year, they will find ways to excel. Their first road test of the season will be at Kinnick Stadium against a Hawkeyes team that will look much more rejuvenated with the addition of FCS superstar Mark Gronowski. If the Iowa offense catches up to their defense, this should be a physical test that Penn State will have to try and navigate. The advantage of Big Ten experience should help them in the end.
Two weeks later is their game of the season against the Buckeyes. While psychologically, there may still be hurdles to overcome, on paper, Penn State has the superior roster. If that shows up on the field as well, this will be an electrifying battle.
Overall, outside of those two games, Penn State's road slate is easy sledding. None of UCLA, Michigan State, or Rutgers should truly worry. And should they overcome the Ohio State demons and go toe to toe with one of the toughest defenses the Big Ten has to offer in Iowa, they could be looking at yet another unbeaten road record. This time around, it could mean even more than just a Big Ten title game appearance.