Five reasons for optimism for Penn State against Nevada

As Penn State head into a season full of expectations, their first game against Nevada shouldn't tell us much. After all, this first game open s a three game stretch in which Penn State will be heavily favored in all three and most importantly, won't see them leave the confines of Beaver Stadium. That does not mean however, that fans won't be looking for several positives from the Nittany Lions as they break in some new personnel and coaching staff. Nevada may not be a Big Ten powerhouse, but they could certainly be the toughest opponent in this three game stretch to open the year. This game could be very revealing as to how Penn State could look this season. Here are some reasons to be optimistic for Penn State fans as they head into their game against the Wolf Pack.

They return a highly experienced roster

Nevada have some players who they believe can worry Penn State especially on the offensive side of the football. They don't have the overall experience edge though. Penn State return their entire backfield and their offensive line, giving them some of the best continuity in the country. They also return a large backbone of their defense, including star D-linemen Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton. To top it all off, they had a very integral offseason in terms of bolstering holes in their roster by bringing three transfer receivers they believe can make an immediate impact and get them over the hump. This Nevada squad is one that is heavily in transition, with Jeff Choate only in his second year and a ton of transfers, including QB Chubba Purdy, with more questions than answers. The experience edge is safely in Penn State's favor.

Nevada's poor record against the Big Ten

This one is more so to do with the fact that Nevada haven't posed much of a threat to Big Ten teams than anything Penn State will do in this game. Already, Nevada's backs are up against it by taking on a Big Ten squad. They are heavily unfortunate that it happens to be Penn State on the road. The only No. 3 squad Nevada has faced is Boise State way back in 2010, and while it was a win, Boise State is no Big Ten juggernaut like the Nittany Lions. Ranked No. 3 in the US LBM coaches poll, this is by far Nevada's toughest Big Ten foe, and it's not like they've played any elite Big Ten squad. In their history, they are 2-6 against Big Ten squads, with neither of those wins coming on the road mind you. Their opponents have included Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue. Not exactly the cream of the crop. Alarm bells should be ringing for the Wolf Pack as they head to Beaver Stadium.

Jim Knowles brings in new defensive scheme with flair

The excitement that Jim Knowles brings to the Penn State defense cannot be overstated. The national championship winning DC inherits a strong defensive roster that is well equipped for his defensive mindset. Both his edge rushers and his secondary will almost certainly flourish. While Penn State was second in the nation in turnover margin, they could be gunning for first this year should Knowles continue to implement his three high safety looks in more important games. Look though, for his 4-2-5 formation to reign supreme with a "Jack" player being able to set the edge and drop into coverage. Dani Dennis-Sutton could be perfect for that role, evidenced by his performance in the CFP semifinal. The only question for Jim Knowles is how he'll start the season against the Wolf Pack. Expect the three-high safety early...but for the 4-2-5 to be Penn State's go-to throughout the year. It's this versatility that should assure Penn State fans no slip-ups will occur on their path to glory.

TE room deeper than last year

Last year, Penn State relied on one target and one target alone. Tyler Warren made history for Penn State with the most receptions and most career receiving yards for a tight end. The problem was, he was essentially Penn State's only option in the passing attack, thus allowing for little rotation within the room. This year, the tight end room will be more vital than ever, but this time, will have a little more depth at their disposal. Chances are that the Nittany Lions' new transfer receivers will not ease into life in Happy Valley so easily. Therefore, QB Drew Allar may be looking for some more reliable options, in which the TEs could come to the forefront. This time around, it won't just be Warren saving the day. All of Khalil Dinkins, Luke Reynolds, and Andrew Rappleyea can make a difference this season. It could all start on Saturday as they could be seeing the majority of Allar's targets early on.

Beaver Stadium will be rocking no matter the opponent

When you can continuously pack your home stadium no matter the opponent, you're doing something right. even in the midst of a 700 million dollar renovation, Penn State fans continue to support their squad. Against Nevada, they can do it to the tune of having it be the biggest road crowd in Nevada football history. Most importantly, that loyalty will grow larger as the season gets into crunchtime. Penn State were able to sell out every home game last season, which mightily contributed to their stellar home record. In order for Penn State to replicate that feat, the fans must support them in full voice, starting with the proverbial cupcake teams.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Five reasons for optimism for Penn State against Nevada