Let me tell you something about waiting until the last minute - it's a strategy that can either make you a legend or leave you completely empty-handed. I've seen it play out across different fields, from business negotiations to contract situations in sports, and it always fascinates me how timing can be everything. Just look at that situation with Minowa choosing to honor his contract with Akari, waiting until the very last minute only to get terminated on May 1, a day after his deadline passed. That's the kind of high-stakes timing game that separates the prepared from the unprepared in competitive environments.
Speaking of timing and preparation, we're approaching that exciting period where Penn State football fans start marking their calendars and planning their autumn weekends around the Nittany Lions' schedule. Having followed college football for over fifteen years, I can tell you that there's something special about the way a season unfolds - it's not just about the games themselves, but about how they're spaced, when the bye weeks fall, and which matchups come at the most crucial moments. The 2023 schedule presents some fascinating challenges and opportunities that could define James Franklin's tenure at Penn State.
The season kicks off on September 2 against West Virginia at Beaver Stadium, and honestly, I love this opening matchup. It's not one of those cupcake games that some programs schedule to pad their records. West Virginia brings a legitimate challenge with their explosive offense, and having watched them last season, I think they'll test Penn State's rebuilt secondary immediately. What makes this particularly interesting is that it's a prime-time game under the lights - there's no better atmosphere in college football than a night game in Happy Valley with 107,000 fans creating absolute chaos for opposing teams. I've attended enough of these season openers to know that how Penn State performs here will set the tone for the entire first month of the season.
What really catches my eye about this year's schedule is the brutal three-game stretch in October. They face Iowa on October 7, then have to travel to Ohio State on October 21, followed by Indiana on October 28. That Ohio State game in particular - it's the one every Penn State fan circles immediately when the schedule drops. Having witnessed this rivalry develop over the years, I can confidently say that this matchup has become one of the most consequential in college football. The last time Penn State won in Columbus was back in 2011, and if they're going to break that streak, the timing of this game within the schedule becomes critical. The week off before heading to Ohio State could be the difference-maker, giving the team extra time to prepare for what's always an emotionally and physically draining contest.
The Illinois game on September 16 is one that many might overlook, but I see it as a potential trap game. Sandwiched between Delaware and Iowa, with players possibly looking ahead to the bigger conference matchup, this has all the makings of one of those games that looks easier on paper than it plays on the field. I've seen too many ranked teams stumble in these situations, and Bret Bielema's teams always play with a physicality that can disrupt even the most talented opponents.
Michigan comes to Beaver Stadium on November 11, and this timing is absolutely perfect from a strategic standpoint. It's late enough in the season that both teams will have established their identities, but early enough that the outcome still heavily influences the Big Ten East division race. The weather in State College during November adds another layer of complexity - I've sat through games where the temperature dropped below freezing by halftime, and that kind of environment often favors the team that can establish the running game and play physically defensive football.
What I appreciate about this year's schedule is the balance between home and away games. Six true home games with challenging road tests at Northwestern, Ohio State, and Maryland create a rhythm that good teams can build upon. The November 18 game against Rutgers might not get the national attention that Ohio State or Michigan do, but having watched this program develop, I think they're becoming more competitive each year under Greg Schiano. It's exactly the kind of game that championship teams win convincingly rather than struggling through.
The regular season wraps up on November 25 at Michigan State, and if recent history tells us anything, this could very well be a game with significant implications for bowl positioning or even a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. The Spartans have played spoiler before, and their home field advantage in late November, combined with what's likely to be cold weather conditions, makes this anything but a guaranteed victory.
Looking at the entire schedule, I count at least eight games that should be competitive, with probably four that will genuinely test whether Penn State belongs in the national conversation. The timing of the bye weeks, the sequence of opponents, and the placement of the most challenging games all create a narrative that will unfold over the coming months. Unlike Minowa's situation with Akari, where waiting until the deadline ultimately cost him everything, Penn State has the opportunity to control their destiny throughout this schedule. They can't afford to wait until the last minute against opponents like Ohio State or Michigan - preparation needs to happen now, the groundwork needs to be laid during summer practices, and the attention to detail must be maintained through every single game, because in college football, one misstep can derail an entire season.
What I'm most curious to see is how the team manages expectations and handles the pressure in those key moments. Having followed this program through multiple coaching changes and different eras of success, I believe this schedule sets up nicely for a team with championship aspirations. The path is there - now it's about execution, staying healthy, and perhaps most importantly, understanding that in college football, timing isn't just about the clock, it's about peaking at the right moments and seizing opportunities when they present themselves.