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Penn State is entering a week of somber introspection as the program searches for solutions to halt its downward spiral. Just a week ago, the team was riding high, but two agonizing defeats in a six-day span have sent the Nittany Lions into a tailspin. Any aspirations of a special season have vanished, and now the team must engage in some serious soul-searching to rescue what remains of the campaign.
Fortunately, Penn State returns to the friendly confines of Beaver Stadium, where it will have an opportunity to make a resounding statement against USC. As the Blue and White gear up for what is arguably the most critical week of the season, several key storylines are worth monitoring.
Key Analysis
Lost season? The Week 4 loss to Wisconsin was a humbling experience that exposed Penn State's distance from true contention. However, the manner in which the team fell to Northwestern raises serious doubts about its ability to regroup. The Nittany Lions face USC this Saturday before a showdown with Michigan the following week. If they continue to struggle, finding additional wins on the schedule will be a daunting task. While reaching a bowl game is typically not a high bar, even that is now in jeopardy.
White Out One of the few bright spots for this team is the return to a raucous home crowd. Regardless of the team's momentum, the fanbase always brings its best for a White Out game. Whether Penn State has the talent to match up with the Trojans remains uncertain, but the hope is that the fans will provide the extra energy needed to secure a victory. An upset this weekend would dramatically shift the narrative and reignite the fanbase.
Oh no, Rocco There was considerable optimism surrounding quarterback Rocco Becht at the start of the season, but he has recently failed to meet expectations. He is missing his top receiver and lacks optimal protection from the offensive line, yet his performance has been detrimental to the team for weeks. The plays are available to be made, and he must capitalize on them. Some college football teams can compensate for a subpar passing game with a dominant rushing attack, but that is not the case for the Nittany Lions. The offense has managed just 16 points in the last seven quarters, which is simply unacceptable.
Pride Whether or not this team can genuinely compete with USC, it must demonstrate immense pride on Saturday night. They have been outscored 58-16 over the last seven quarters and were thoroughly dominated by the Wildcats. While the goal of every game is to win, for the Blue and White, the focus should be on exerting maximum effort and avoiding another embarrassing defeat. This is a proud program that was ranked just over a week ago, so another blowout loss cannot happen—especially not in a White Out game.
Big Ten blues Painful as it is to admit, the critics of the Penn State Cyclones may have been correct. Matt Campbell assembled this Nittany Lions roster with a multitude of Iowa State transfers, and while it showed promise for a few weeks, it has recently been a disaster. They have been outplayed in the last couple of weeks, and the new Big Ten coach must find a solution. Few outside of Pennsylvania expected much from this team, but they also did not anticipate such thorough defeats at the hands of Wisconsin and Northwestern. Penn State believed Campbell was the right hire, and now he must remind everyone why he was selected.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State's season unraveling after back-to-back losses.
Originally reported by yahoo.