There isn’t any mushy launch of the 2022 faculty soccer season for Penn State or Purdue. The 2 Huge Ten packages will kick issues off Thursday evening in a convention conflict to open the season in a battle of two groups coming off completely different seasons in 2021.
Purdue was one of many Huge Ten’s nice surprises. After going 6-12 throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Boilermakers improved to 9-4 final season and went 6-3 within the Huge Ten, ending in a tie with Minnesota and Wisconsin for second within the Huge Ten West.
Penn State was not as profitable, going 7-6 (and solely 4-5 in convention play) after a 4-5 efficiency in 2020, with 4 losses towards ranked groups and an upset loss to Illinois in 9 overtimes. It was sufficient to get to a bowl sport, however merely reaching the postseason is rarely the purpose in State School, Pennsylvania. Not for a program that gained the Huge Ten East in 2019 when it went 11-2.
Thursday evening’s assembly would be the first between these colleges since 2019 when Penn State beat Purdue 35-7 at Beaver Stadium. Penn State has dominated the sequence, successful 15 of the 19 conferences.
Purdue vs. Penn State: Have to know
Purdue has loads to switch, however nonetheless has Aidan O’Connell: A part of the explanation Purdue was so profitable in 2021 was receiver David Bell (93 receptions., 1,286 yards, six touchdowns) and defensive finish George Karlaftis (41 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5 sacks, three fumbles compelled). Each will play their soccer on Sunday this season, and whereas neither shall be simple to switch, the Boilermakers take some solace in getting Aidan O’Connell again. O’Connell started 2021 in a battle for the beginning QB job, however as soon as he acquired maintain of it, he refused to let go. O’Connell completed the season with 3,708 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. He enters 2022 because the unquestioned starter, and a few marvel if he is perhaps the next-best QB within the league behind Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
Consistency at offensive coordinator for Sean Clifford: Perhaps that does not seem to be an enormous deal, however it’s. For instance, no one anticipated a lot from Northwestern’s Ryan Hilinski final weekend, however he was in the identical state of affairs as Clifford coming into 2022. Hilinski threw for 314 yards to assist lead the Wildcats to an upset win over Nebraska. Familiarity is big for a QB, and Clifford has it along with his playbook and play-caller for the primary time in his faculty profession. That, mixed along with his expertise, might result in his most prolific season at Penn State.
Be careful for Penn State freshman Nick Singleton: The primary-year participant may very well be as massive a lift to Clifford and the Penn State offense as anybody else. Penn State has struggled to run the ball successfully for the reason that days of Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders, and Singleton is essentially the most gifted again they’ve had since Barkley. That is to not say he’s Barkley or he’ll have an instantaneous impression, however he does give Penn State’s offense the form of game-breaking expertise it has lacked at operating again. He is a participant to maintain an eye fixed out for on Thursday evening — and all season lengthy.
How one can watch Purdue vs. Penn State stay
Date: Thursday, September 1 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium — West Lafayette, Indiana
TV: Fox | Reside stream: fuboTV (Attempt free of charge)
Purdue vs. Penn State prediction, picks
Featured Recreation | Purdue Boilermakers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
I’ve painted myself right into a little bit of a nook right here. I spent the offseason speaking about Penn State being the Huge Ten’s most underrated program primarily based on the final couple of seasons, whereas concurrently saying that Purdue was overrated after overperforming final season. Nicely, it appears like my two opinions will conflict head-on Thursday evening, and I see no motive to again down from them but. I’ve official issues about Purdue’s capacity to shortly change the important thing components it misplaced from final yr’s workforce, and Penn State ought to have the clear expertise benefit. There is a motive the Nittany Lions are favored on the highway coming off a mediocre season. Do not overthink it. Prediction: Penn State -3.5
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