Sorting through the blue and white mailbag:

Neil:

I was glued to the scoreboard to get results of No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State last week along with other Top-10 matchups involving ND, Clemson, LSU, Alabama and Florida State.

James Franklin is ahead of the curve with the three scrimmages before the White Out game — a real game.

If we lose to Oregon and for sure against OSU, we won’t make the big dance with the rest of the schedule.

Ed Hill

Altoona

Ed:

Your scenario would compromise PSU’s case. But even at 10-2, depending on how the rest of the Big Ten fares, it’s possible.

Neil:

A good first game with many positives, but there are some concerns.

They need to get TDs and not settle for FGs, although the kicker was solid.

Also, Allar missed a wide-open Hudson in the end zone for a sure TD.

In a big game, that could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Bill Obert

Bedford

Bill:

I was in Bedford last week.

A lot of old, stately homes.

Neil:

12-0? Not so fast my friend.

Dave Kule

Laporte

Dave:

Did Lee Corso get this saying from you?

Neil:

Thanks for the coverage, and I had breakfast with our mutual friend, Massimo Manca, this week.

As an old lineman, I ask you to write more articles about the best line in Franklin’s tenure.

Dan Wallace

Lansdale

Dan:

It may be the best of CJF era, but to this point, the position hasn’t exactly been a strength.

It also can’t be confused — yet — with the PSU lines of 1981, ’82 and ’94.

But I do think Phil Trautwein has done an excellent job.

Regards to Massimo. He’s a friend to the NitWits.

Neil:

With championship aspirations, how can you explain Singleton with only 19 yards rushing?

Will Walk

Spring, Texas

Will:

Despite a 35-point loss, I thought Nevada played hard and was well-coached.

Nevada obviously made up its mind to keep Singleton in check.

Good morning, Neil:

Big Game James focuses on explosive plays. But to win big games, you need to dominate the line of scrimmage and pound and ground.

They should have pounded Nevada into the turf, and they didn’t.

I still have no confidence they can win the big games until they dominate weak opponents.

Andy Goldberg

Greensburg

Andy:

Overreaction to Week 1.

Neil:

As I look forward to this coming season, some thoughts to share:

– Drew Allar — Can he play well throughout a big-time game? I have yet to see him do just that, although I remain hopeful.

– James Franklin: Can he game-day coach well throughout a big-time game? I have yet to see him do just that, although I remain hopeful.

I’ll save more for later, although I remain hopeful.

Mitchell Naimark

Severna Park, Md.

Mitchell:

Hopeful is a great characteristic.

Neil:

I’m really excited about the season. It really feels like something special could be in the works.

The past few years, I’ve felt like Debbie Downer, always seeing the dark side of what’s wrong with the Lions. This year, I’ve awoken to see the birds chirping and the sun shining.

There is a very talented team in State College. You can quibble about the depth and quality of the defensive tackles, but from top to bottom there are more top-notch players at every position than ever before.

Add to that, what seems to be, great coaching, and there is a recipe for a trip to the national championship game. If only CJF, in the words of Paul Finebaum, doesn’t find a way to screw things up.

There was a coach at Penn State who used to say, “It’s not the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmys and Joes.”

It feels like this is the year that there’s enough talent that even Franklin’s questionable game management and coaching decisions can be overcome.

So I’m saying, batten down the hatches and throw caution to the wind — 12-0 this year, a win in the Big Ten championship game, two wins in the playoffs and a winner-take-all game in the final.

This is the year.

Steve Abrams

Los Angeles

Steve:

The birds are chirping all right.

Neil Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on X@neilrudel.

Rudel vs. the oddsmakers

Line: Penn State is a 42.5-point favorite.

Inside the line: The teams have met once, in 2007, and PSU won, 59-0 … FIU was spotting 27.5 vs. Bethune Cookman last week and covered, 42-9 … Nits are 13-4 vs. spot in their last 17 September games … FIU is 5-1 vs. number in its last six games and 6-1 vs. spot in its last seven as an underdog … Over-under is 54.5 … Over has hit in five of Nits’ last six in Week 2 games. (Source: Odds Shark).

Prediction: Penn State 62, Florida International 3

Prediction record: 1-0

PSU record vs. spread: 0-1

Prediction record vs. spread: 1-0