If you remember how last season started, with Clifford healthy and the defense playing decent against the run before Mustipher was lost for the season, PSU's offense was playing reasonably well scoring at key times against Wisky and Auburn, and heading towards a blowout of Iowa at Iowa.
That was with an OL that was pretty underachieving and a less than stellar running game. I believe we have reason to believe that PSU's offense will take at least some steps forward in the 2nd year with Yurcich as well as some young talent starting on the OL together with an influx of talented skill players. Purdue gave up 59 to oh-high-ya last season, a lot more than PSU even without Mustipher and a banged up Clifford.
And which teams running game should be expected to improve from last season? Does Purdue have a room full of 4 and 5 star RB's? From a recent article:
In 13 games this past year, the Nittany Lions failed to produce a 100-yard rusher. By the end of the season, Penn State ranked next to last in yards rushing per game with 107.8, with only Purdue (84.2 yards rushing per game) faring worse in the category.
It should be an interesting game. Likely a close game, which are the most fun games to win.