We'll learn a lot about both teams as they square off in Ireland.
We've survived the volcano and the Penn State-Central Florida game in Dublin, Ireland, is officially here. It's a game of questions for two programs that have been anything but ordinary over the past two years.
When the Knights and Nittany Lions met in Happy Valley last September, the Penn State program was in a much different position than it is now. Bill O'Brien was still the head coach, and after a solid first year, he was breaking in a new quarterback and dealing with NCAA sanctions that contributed to a mediocre season. Central Florida won that game on the back of future first round NFL quarterback Blake Bortles.
Now, O'Brien is gone and the PSU program has gotten a lot of offseason momentum due to new coach James Franklin's recruiting prowess. Meanwhile, UCF lost Bortles to the NFL and is out to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with beyond one magical year. There are a lot of unknowns ahead for both teams, and while the storyline of this game will undoubtedly be its location, we could learn a lot about where both teams stand, as well.
How to witness
TV: 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2
Radio:Penn State Network, UCF IMG Radio Network
Online streaming: Watch ESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Penn State finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten last year. UCF finished 12-1 overall with a win in the Fiesta Bowl and an 8-0 conference record. The Nittany Lions were picked by the media to finish fourth in the Big Ten East this year, while the Knights were picked to finish second in the AAC.
Vegas: Central Florida is a 1-point favorite with an over/under of 48.
Weather forecast: No ash cloud.
Three names to know
1. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State: Ever since he got to Penn State, Hackenberg has been the Nittany Lions' quarterback of the future. A former top recruit, he started as a true freshman last year and showed everyone why he had so much hype coming into college. This is supposed to be his breakout season, but he has a new staff to work with, which could cause some hiccups. This will be our first chance to see how he meshes with the new offense.
2. Pete DiNovo, QB, UCF: DiNovo beat out three others for the chance to replace Bortles as the Knights' starting quarterback and now is his chance to see how he can command the offense in Bortles' absence. He still has a lot of talent surrounding him, so he's set up to succeed, but this will be a big test for a redshirt freshman who has never played in a game before.
3. Michael Campbell, LT, UCF: The Knights are undergoing major changes on the offensive line, having lost their three best linemen from last year. Plus, left tackle Torrian Wilson is moving to guard. That means there's a hole to fill at left tackle, and it's up to Campbell to do that. The Knights are going to rely on their passing game a lot this year, meaning Campbell has to be good. This will be his first test.
Two things at stake
1. For UCF, this is a battle for respect. The Knights won the Fiesta Bowl and the AAC last year, but still aren't getting a lot of national respect, especially since many people (perhaps incorrectly) saw Bortles as the only reason UCF was any good. But as our own Bill Connelly explained, this is still a very good team, and it could very well be the best team in its conference once again. Beating Penn State and all of its national cachet in James Franklin's first game would be a big boost to the Knights' reputation.
2. Penn State is still being sanctioned by the NCAA, so they can't play in the Big Ten Championship Game, and in James Franklin's first year, the Nittany Lions aren't expected to be much of a factor in the division anyway. However, winning this game could build up even more momentum around the program and (somehow) build up Franklin's reputation even more than it already has been. A loss doesn't kill that momentum, but it certainly would give PSU a "few years off" reputation that the staff probably doesn't want.
Further reading
For more Penn State coverage, read Black Shoe Diaries. For more UCF coverage, read Underdog Dynasty.