Penn State’s preparations for its season-opening Big Ten contest Thursday at Purdue are more challenging than they might look.

James Franklin and his defensive coaches know they must slow Boilermakers veteran quarterback Aidan O’Connell, a sixth-year player like the Nittany Lions’ Sean Clifford.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound O’Connell, who joined the program in 2017 as a walk-on, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021, throwing for 3,712 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 72%t of his passes. And O’Connelly started only nine games.

But Franklin said earlier this week that it is hard to get a read on Jeff Brohm’s Boilermakers because of some significant offseason personnel changes.

“It’s a huge game,” Franklin said. “We’re, obviously, into it deep right now with how we practiced (Tuesday) … these are bonus Purdue practices for us.

“Obviously, we’re able to get somewhat ahead, but we’re also looking at a Purdue team that has hit the transfer portal pretty hard. It’s like back in the day, some of the programs were heavy junior college teams. They look very different than they did in the spring.”

Openers on road vs. Big Ten teams

The Lions opened their 2020 season on the road against Indiana in Bloomington, losing in overtime. Franklin team’s edged Wisconsin in Madison last season. The Purdue game at Ross-Ade Stadium is another big challenge early. The Boilermakers are a potential dark-horse contender in the Big Ten West after finishing 9-4 last season.

“I think, obviously, for the team, I think it really kinda sets the tone,” Franklin said of facing Purdue on the road in Week 1. “I do think it’s different. I also think going on the road also is a factor. We’ve had three pretty tough ones on the road to open the season. We’ve had a bunch of emotions and experiences in those first games.

“It will be important. It will be another great environment early in the season. … The first game will set the tone.”

Franklin’s ‘read’ on his team

Can this Penn State team compete with Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten East? Franklin is on record that he feels good about the Lions’ overall depth, particularly at wide receiver, tight end, cornerback and safety. And the Lions’ ninth-year coach will have a better idea of where his team fits after the season’s third week. After opening at Purdue, the Lions host Ohio and then must travel to Auburn.

“I would also say where you think you are in preseason and where you are in the middle point of the season, at the end of the season, can be very different,” Franklin said when asked about evaluating his team during the final days of August camp.

“You think about the Big Ten championship year (2016): preseason, beginning of the season, end of season. Very different. So I think you get a pretty good idea, but your team needs to continue to grow and evolve throughout the season. If you’re the same team in the middle of the season that you were at the beginning of the season, you’re going to have problems at the end of the season.”

The Lions went 2-2 to start the 2016 season, losing at Pitt (42-39) and Michigan (49-10) before winning nine consecutive games to win the Big Ten crown.

Brugler’s preseason top 50

Dane Brugler of The Athletic released his preseason top 50 players with an eye toward the NFL’s 2023 draft.

Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson is ranked No. 1 and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is No. 3. Former Penn State quarterback Will Levis, now starring at Kentucky, is No. 11 on the list and Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr. checks in at No. 32.

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