It was not a particularly encouraging game if you’re a fan of the Chippewas, especially given it was supposed to be a warm-up ahead of a bout with the suddenly-electric Penn State Nittany Lions, but at the end of the day, a 41-point shutout victory is still exactly that, and it cannot be taken for granted.
An unexpected loss to South Alabama really pinned the Chippewas in a strange spot, as what looked like a favorable pre-season slate suddenly is a scary one, with two fierce conference bouts after this week against Toledo and Ball State.
If they stumble out of the gates, it could be a long season for the Maroon and Gold, which is why marked improvements against a team such as Penn State are tantamount to their potential outlook.