Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) - Ben Queen/USA TODAY Sports
Week one of the college football season is almost over and the 2024 Penn State offense is already looking more explosive. On Saturday, August 31st, the Nittany Lions defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers with a final score of 34-12. It took some time, but the Penn State offense hit some big plays. Here is a look at why the signs are pointing toward the 2024 Penn State offense being more explosive.
Penn State Vs. West Virginia Recap
The first weekend of the 2024 college football season involved the Nittany Lions heading to West Virginia. Leading up to the game some predicted it would be a close one. There were even predictions that the Mountaineers would pull off the upset. The Penn State defense stood their ground, but for now, the focus is on the Nittany Lions offense.
It took a couple of plays to get going, but this offense gained a ton of momentum. Not even the weather delay could stop them. This game included the usage of both running backs and both quarterbacks. Last season, Penn State fans continuously waited for quarterback Drew Allar to make big passes. Against the Mountaineers this past weekend, that was finally seen.
Passing Game
The key for Allar is to get comfortable early on in games. The first offensive drive for the Nittany Lions resulted in a fumble, with West Virginia recovering. There were no big plays on that drive, nothing more than seven yards. The next drive for Penn State ended up with a three-and-out. Allar threw an incompletion and not even the run game could get going. On the third drive of the game, the 2024 Penn State offense got it going. The third offensive drive involved a 50-yard touchdown reception to Harrison Wallace III. This is where the excitement for the season begins.
Run Game
Against West Virginia, Allar completed 11 passes out of 17 attempts for 216 yards and three touchdowns, according to ESPN. Even Beau Pribula attempted and completed one pass which went for a 19-yard touchdown. It is just one game, but even in just one game, this offense feels more explosive than last year. There were two receptions in the game that went for at least 50 yards. In addition to Wallace, wide receiver Omari Evans had a 55-yard reception. Five players had a reception against West Virginia.
Of course, explosive plays do not just mean throwing the ball. The team utilized both of their running backs in this game. Even Allar used his legs when under pressure for positive yards. He ended up with 44 total rushing yards. The leading rusher in this matchup was Singleton who had 13 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown. His longest run was for 40 yards. If the Nittany Lions continue with this momentum, it should be a fun, high-scoring offense.
2023’s Lack of Explosive Plays
In 2023, the Penn State offensive coordinator was Mike Yurcich. Following the loss to Michigan, the University relieved Yurcich of his duties. There was a lot of hype ahead of the 2023 season, which ended up being lackluster on the offense. Penn State still won all but two games, but they lacked explosive plays. In 2023, Singleton’s longest run was for 24 yards, according to ESPN. He has already surpassed that in one week.
Following the 2023 season, Penn State hired Andi Kotelnicki. In one game, Kotelnicki has shown aggressiveness in his play calls. Yurcich played it safe, and yes, Penn State won games, but Kotelnicki may bring out the potential of this Nittany Lions offense.
2024 Penn State Offense Outlook
One thing to watch for with the 2024 Penn State offense is the aggressiveness. With 32 seconds left in the first half, the old Penn State offense would have run the clock down. Instead, the offense took a shot. This is when Allar hit the 55-yard reception to Evans, followed by a touchdown pass to Wallace. This will be something to watch as the season progresses.
A lot is also on the players. Allar has to be confident on the field. He has shown he is smart, only throwing two interceptions in 2023. Now, he has to try to take the shots when he sees it. The running backs also have to do what they can to break tackles and the offensive line has to create the holes for the run. This is a team effort, but this 2024 Penn State offense is looking like it will have a more explosive season compared to the past.
