MADISON, Wis. — The euphoria of Penn State's overtime victory two weeks ago at USC should have worn off by now, because the Nittany Lions have a difficult task ahead of them with a road game under the lights against Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium.
Some Nittany Lions fans who have traveled to Madison for the game are understandably nervous.
"It’s going to be a good game, rooting for the Lions obviously, but it’s going to be a close one," said Terry Kerested from Irwin, Pa. "The Badgers are a tough team.”
Other fans we talked with are concerned about the team not being sharp after a week off.
Adding to the angst is the team's propensity to start slow. PSU trailed USC 20-6 at halftime before rallying to win in overtime.
“It's something that we've been harping on," admits Penn State Senior Cornerback Jalen Kimber. "It's something that we're trying to improve each week. We just got to start fast, it's not on anybody but the players. We just got to come out and start fast and not be lackadaisical.”
The #3 ranked team in the country can't be concerned with the #4 team in the polls, Ohio State. Their showdown with their nemesis the Buckeyes is next week and Coach Franklin wants all of his players to keep their focus in Madison.
“That's on each side of the ball, that is by position," Franklin stressed. "That is by the individual. That's coaches. That's players. That's everybody. We really just focus on getting better every week and studying our opponent and giving it the necessary amount of respect.”
Penn State is about a touchdown favorite to win the game. It will probably involve a healthy dose of nail-biting for Lions fans but it doesn't matter how it happens, PSU just wants to escape Madison with a victory to improve to 7-0.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.