QB situation among top storylines for Penn State-Rutgers game

For the first time in many weeks, the Penn State football program is staring at a breather in Big Ten play.

The Nittany Lions’ schedule has been rugged dating to the beginning of October, featuring dates with Purdue, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio State.

The fact PSU went 5-2 in that stretch says a great deal about the quality, and character, of James Franklin’s team. Now only a victory over Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. Saturday stands between the Lions (9-2, 6-2) and 10 regular-season wins. There should not be a lot of suspense on Senior Day at Beaver Stadium, with Penn State favored by 38 1/2.

Among the storylines:

• Penn State’s QB plan: What will Franklin do with his many quarterbacks in a game that should be decided by halftime? Starter Sean Clifford is dealing with an undisclosed injury that became magnified in the Ohio State game but has its roots in the last couple of games, per Franklin. The reality is, when your quarterback has 100-plus rushing attempts — Clifford has 103 — he likely is going to be sore and hampered by the 12th game. Franklin said Clifford could have returned against Ohio State in the second half but he stuck with a healthier Will Levis, who impressed as a runner and showed a strong arm. So do you let Clifford play a couple of series early, turn it over to Levis and take a look at true freshmen Michael Johnson Jr. and Ta’Quan Roberson in the second half? And what about Michael Shuster, a fourth-year junior walk-on who is a favorite of Franklin’s because of his selfless work on the practice field, in meetings and on game day?

• One final game at Beaver Stadium: This could get interesting. The Lions seniors are down to one more game at home, but what about some talented draft-eligible players who have eyes on the NFL in 2020? Penn State’s senior class includes linebackers Cam Brown and Jan Johnson, defensive tackle Robert Windsor, corner John Reid, safety Garrett Taylor, tight end Nick Bowers (Kittanning), guard Steven Gonzalez and punter Blake Gillikin. There are a few other players who may also be making their last appearance in State College. Defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos and Shaka Toney, wideout KJ Hamler, center Michal Menet and corner Tariq Castro-Fields are a few of the names who come to mind. And talented second-year tight end Pat Freiermuth, due to his prep background, said last week he is also draft-eligible.

• A first-year linebacker to watch: The stat sheet from the Ohio State credits true freshman Brandon Smith with one tackle in limited time, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the way the former five-star recruit moves and delivers a blow. That one tackle was a tackle for loss, and the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Smith is clearly a big part of Penn State’s future. He looks ready for extended duty.

• Parsons hunting for 100: Micah Parsons, the Lions’ uber-talented second-year linebacker, was at it again in the Horseshoe, producing 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He now has authored five games of 10 or more tackles and has 85 tackles, two more than in 2018. Parsons’ 10 tackles for loss in 2019 has doubled last season’s output. Can he get to 100 by the end of Saturday’s game, or will Parsons get there on a bigger stage in the postseason?