Would have made no sense for McCarthy to come back, I was 99% sure he was done after I heard his post-game interview "This is the last time we'll all play together", people tried to say he meant because of the other guys, but the writing was on the wall.
I think people give McCarthy a bum rap because most of the games we've played the last two years there has been no need for a qb to have to win a game, the defense and offensive line were just to dominant.
McCarthy started 3 total games vs OSU and Alabama, these were the two best defenses (full of future NFL players) that he faced as a starter. In those games he went 3-0 and had 9 total TD's and 0 turnovers. This year vs Bama he drove down 80 yards against an SEC champion defense coached by Saban in a do or die situation in the closing minutes and he delivered his 3rd passing TD to force OT. Last year in Columbus in a top 5 matchup he had 4 total touchdowns and was the best player on the field for either team. He is a true junior in a sport that is now largely dominated by 5th and in some cases 6th year players. I think there is a lot of upside and potential in this guy. And he's just a winner and a culture changing player.
I can’t let you dismiss the fact Ohio State will have overcome the overwhelming atmosphere and conditions and mystique and the student section that is the Penn State White Out in Happy Valley.
Hey, it's to early for the Penn St. "It'll be different this year, I swear!" hype to start. It normally starts after spring practice, really ramps up in the early part of the year, and continues until the OSU game.
BTW, looking at the PSU schedule, they have to have one of the easiest conference schedules in the Big 10 next season. No Michigan, no Oregon and they get OSU in Happy Valley.
USC and Wisconsin could be tough road games or they could be road games vs. 7-5 or 8-4 teams.