Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
The Records: Kent State (Last year: 3-9, 2-6 MAC). Penn State (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten).
The Coaches: Kent State: Paul Haynes, fourth season, 9-26 overall record.
Penn State: James Franklin, third season, 38-27 overall, 14-12 at Penn State.
The Game: The Saturday match-up is the season opening game for both Kent State and Penn State. The Golden Flashes look to get back to winnings ways in head coach Paul Haynes fourth season at the helm while the Nittany Lions look to improve on trips to bowl games in back to back seasons.
For the Nittany Lions, this will be the team’s first game under a new offensive coordinator in Joe Moorhead and starting quarterback Trace McSorley. McSorley led the offense for a majority of the TaxSlayer Bowl in January when Christian Hackenberg injured his shoulder. Franklin’s Penn State squad is loaded with talent at the skill positions on offense with sophomore Saquon Barkley returning in hopes of eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground for the second season in a row, and a duo of wide receivers in Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton looking to do the same themselves.
The Golden Flashes return eight starters from last years defensive unit including leading tackler Nate Holley. Holley, a safety, led the team with a whopping 141 tackles in 2015. The offense for Kent State may have been abysmal, but the defense was solid last season and looks to be even better this year. It will provide a good early season test for McSorley and the offense on Saturday afternoon.
Defensively for the Nittany Lions, Garrett Sickels is the lone starter on the defensive line returning from last season after Carl Nassib, Austin Johnson and Anthony Zettel headed to the NFL. Joining Sickels on the line at end will be redshirt senior Evan Schwan and on the interior of the line will be redshirt freshman Kevin Givens and redshirt junior Parker Cothren. The remainder of the defense remains unchanged from last year aside from John Reid taking the starting position Trevor Williams vacated when he graduated last season.
For the Kent State offense, it will be true freshman Justin Agner’s first game under center at the collegiate level, but he will be protected by four starting linemen who’ve returned from last season. The returning linemen should give the new defensive linemen a good test early, but depth will take over late in the game.
Saturday will serve as Youth Football, Cheer and Dance Day; Scout Celebration day at Beaver Stadium with area youth organizations taking part in festivities throughout the afternoon.
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
TV/Radio: BTN/Penn State Radio Network
Prugar’s Prediction: Penn State 35-7.
