If there is one thing that is for sure about the Penn State football program, it’s that nothing is for sure.

Media sessions with head coach James Franklin have been passionate to say the least this season after two more disappointing losses to Ohio State and Michigan. More news broke last week, following the loss to the Wolverines, when offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was relieved of his duties by Franklin after the offense sputtered against the Buckeyes and Wolverines and has certainly lacked consistency and explosiveness throughout the season.

Then in last week’s matchup with Rutgers, yet another story developed when PSU starting quarterback Drew Allar needed to exit the game due to an injury. The offense once again wasn’t explosive, struggled to move the football, and held just a 10-6 advantage when Allar left the game early in the third quarter.

Enter redshirt freshman dual-threat quarterback Beau Pribula. On his first play from scrimmage, Pribula ripped off a 39-yard rush and the Nittany Lions’ offense looked pretty solid the rest of the way against the Scarlet Knights in a 27-6 win. Pribula finished with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown, and his ability to run opened up some rushing lanes for running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. The Penn State offense finished with 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the day.

So, is there a quarterback controversy in State College?

According to Franklin, Allar looks to be back on track to play this week and his comment was that they should be “back to normal” for the Michigan State game. One would assume “normal” would mean Penn State’s usual starting lineup with Allar at the helm. But what Pribula did do was earn himself some more playing time.

The Nittany Lions’ rushing attack looked their most explosive with Pribula under center last week. It’s easy to see that Pribula’s skill set fits better with what PSU is trying to do on offense this season. It seems the question on who plays quarterback between Allar and Pribula in the future comes down to who Franklin hires as his next offensive coordinator, which by the way is his most important hire to-date as the head coach of the Nittany Lions.

Simply put, it’s hard to run a spread run-pass option offense where the threat of the quarterback running is key, and the quarterback who is running that offense isn’t a formidable runner.

I think you could still run a spread with Allar, especially with Allen and Singleton as your running backs, but you need playmakers at wide receiver, which everyone knows has been a weakness for the PSU offense this season. Without receivers on the outside that can create separation or take the top off the defense in order for Allar to be able to make up for his limitations running the football with his arm talent, then I believe the offense is going to struggle with Allar at quarterback in this current system. That is what we have seen at times this season as far as consistency and explosiveness goes, especially against the elite defenses Penn State has faced.

Allar is a very talented quarterback that seems to be more suited for a pro-style offense. That is especially the case with Penn State’s current personnel. So, again it depends on which system Franklin and his new OC want to go with and also if the Nittany Lions can develop their current wide receiver talent or bring in some additional talent through the transfer portal. Bottom line, if the offensive personnel is similar going into next season and the offensive scheme is still geared more towards an offense where the quarterback needs to be able to serve as a threat to run the football, then I don’t know how you don’t give Pribula a shot. Either way, it’s not a bad spot to be in with two talented signal callers to choose from.

Penn State (9-2) will look to get to double-digit wins later tonight in a special Friday night matchup on the road at Michigan State (NBC, 7:30 p.m.). Like last week, the Nittany Lions will be taking on a Big Ten opponent that has struggled on offense this season. The Spartans (4-7) rank 120th in total offense in the country, averaging 309.9 yards per game, and 125th in scoring offense (17.4 points per game).

The Nittany Lions continue to play championship-level defense week-in and week-out, and they continue to force turnovers. Penn State forced three turnovers against Rutgers, and it continues to lead the country in turnover differential (+17), while the Spartans rank 104th in the nation (-5).

Las Vegas has Penn State as a 21-point favorite.

Defense has served as the backbone to the Nittany Lions’ season, and even in the two games that they lost the defense surrendered an average of just 22 points per game. MSU has simply not been an efficient offense this season and in games against OSU and UM - defenses with similar talent to PSU - the Spartans scored a total of three points. Penn State’s pressure should also give Michigan State difficulties as the Nittany Lions lead the nation in sacks per game at 3.7.

Even with the uncertainty at quarterback right now for Penn State, the Nittany Lions’ defense has been so good that it still should be enough, even if the offensive struggles continue, to help them come away with their 10th win, especially against a Spartans’ offense that hasn’t been very good.

My pick is Penn State 31, Michigan State 14.