Sports

Time for Penn State, Syracuse to decide on starting QBs

The much-anticipated unveilings should be done by the end of the first quarter between Penn State and Syracuse.

The Nittany Lions and Orange will finally reveal their starting quarterbacks today at MetLife Stadium.

For Penn State, it’ll be either junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson or freshman Christian Hackenberg. Syracuse will trot out either Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen or sophomore Terrell Hunt.

Who starts might not be who finishes, and Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien and first-year Orange coach Scott Shafer have each suggested they could play both of their quarterbacks in Game 1.

But there will be no chance to ease in the newbies in a tough non-conference opener.

“It’s not just the quarterback position,” O’Brien said. “This is a big game. You’re playing a game in MetLife Stadium. You’ve been waiting for this game for a long time, both teams.”

O’Brien and the Nittany Lions are trying to follow-up an 8-4 season, the program’s first under heavy NCAA sanctions that include a four-year postseason ban and dramatic scholarship limitations.

Shafer also has a hard act to follow. He replaces Doug Marrone, who righted a listless program and guided Syracuse to bowl victories two of the past three seasons before shuffling off to Buffalo to coach the Bills. Shafer has some retooling to do, but the Orange begin their first season in the ACC with postseason hopes.

If the fans had a say, Penn State would probably start Hackenberg and Syracuse would go with Allen. While Ferguson and Hunt have good credentials, the scouting reports suggest Hackenberg and Allen have the higher ceilings.

After Penn State’s sanctions hit, there was concern Hackenberg would find another place to play. Getting him on board was one of O’Brien’s biggest victories.

Allen wanted a clearer path to playing time as a senior. So he left Norman, Okla., for a chance to replace the departed Ryan Nassib.

The Orange and Nittany Lions aren’t scheduled to play again until a home-and-home in 2020 and 2021.