2008 record: 11-2, 7-1 (1st-tie in Big Ten)
2008 bowl: Lost to USC 38-24 in Rose
2008 final AP/coaches' ranking: 8/8
Coach: Joe Paterno (383-127-3, 44th year)
Offensive coordinator: Galen Hall (6th year)
Defensive coordinator: Tom Bradley (10th year)
Returning offensive starters: 5
Returning defensive starters: 4
Location: State College, Pa.
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (grass; 107,282)
Last league title: 2008
2009 schedule: [view]
2009 roster: [view]
2008 statistics: [view]

Offensive: At the highest-profile positions, Penn State is set. Senior quarterback Daryll Clark, who passed for 19 touchdowns and ran for 10 more, should be even better in his final collegiate season. Junior running back Evan Royster, an instinctive athlete who rushed for 1,263 yards (6.5-yard average) will be one of the Big Ten’s top ball-carriers. The receiving corps is largely inexperienced and only junior center Steven Wisniewski, a converted guard, is back on the offensive line, which lost three first-team All-Big Ten performers from 2008. 

Defensive: Only four starters return, but that doesn’t include senior linebacker Sean Lee, who missed all of 2008 with a torn ACL. Lee had All-Big Ten potential when he went down. Together with holdovers Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull, the Nittany Lions have the makings of a nationally prominent linebacker unit (so what’s new there?). Pass-rushing demon Aaron Maybin has gone to the NFL, but Penn State’s defensive line is in relatively good shape with returning tackles Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu. The secondary, just one season after starting four senior, is starting over. Sophomore strong safety Drew Astorino is a potential star.

Specialists: The strong points are senior punter Jeremy Boone (43 yards per attempt) and senior kickoff returner Chaz Powell (28.8-yard average). The rest is unknown. Junior place-kicker Collin Wagner attempted only field goal in 2008. Senior punter returner D’Anton Lynn is inexperienced.

Special feature A legend's journey Take a look back at legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno through the years. NBCSports.com

Coaching: A few seasons ago, reaching 400 career victories seemed like an impossibility for Joe Paterno. But here he is, at age 82, coming off an 11-victory season and a Rose Bowl bid. He stands at 383 career victories. Paterno has found his second wind and Penn State’s program has regained its consistency.

Heisman Hopefuls: Clark looks like a star at quarterback, but that position has a rather huge constellation in the Heisman watch. All-Big Ten would be a more realistic goal.

Game of the year Nov. 7 vs. Ohio State For the first time in school history, Penn State could get two straight wins against the Buckeyes. And that could be the difference in a second straight trip to the Rose Bowl.

Overview: There are question marks throughout the defense, but the offense could be potentially outstanding. Penn State must replace 13 starters, and that’s not something to gloss over. Still, the non-conference schedule includes no heavy lifting and the Nittany Lions appear well-armed to challenge Ohio State in the Big Ten.

Next up: No. 12 TCU

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