PSU's 2009 schedule is awful!

Call me crazy -- and yes, it's very early -- but I believe Penn State has a good chance to go undefeated during the regular season in 2009. If it happens, the Nittany Lions will not play in the national championship game.

The reason? That ridiculous schedule, which includes an unacceptably soft non-conference portion that is, to be frank, laughable.

Penn State should be embarrassed putting out a schedule that includes eight home games with four of them against Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois. That last game, occurring in week six, is the biggest head scratcher.

There has been speculation for months that Penn State has been trying to replace Eastern Illinois with a more respectable opponent, such as an ACC team like North Carolina. It didn't happen.

Or at least it hasn't happened yet. Hopefully it still does at some point, but the fact that PSU officially released its schedule Thursday isn't a good sign. It doesn't appear there will be an Arkansas State for Oregon State trade this year.

This terrible schedule will earn Penn State no respect around the country, regardless if the Lions go undefeated. The only chance for a really good win will be in week 10 against Ohio State, but there are no guarantees Terrelle Pryor and Co. will be a legit power after losing Beanie Wells, James Laurinaitis and other key players.

So, PSU could go 12-0 and be ranked no higher than fourth or fifth in the BCS standings. Pollsters will look at the schedule, see it for what it's worth and continue to disrespect the Big Ten. Lion fans, meanwhile, will be whining about being ignored in the national championship race.

If I were a Penn State season-ticket holder, I'd be calling the school demanding that for my hard-earned money I get to see better teams come to Beaver Stadium. Akron, Temple, Syracuse and Eastern Illinois are not worth the price of admission.

Here is the full schedule

Sept. 5 AKRON

Sept. 12 SYRACUSE

Sept. 19 TEMPLE

Sept. 26 IOWA

Oct. 3 at Illinois

Oct. 10 EASTERN ILLINOIS

Oct. 17 MINNESOTA

Oct. 24 at Michigan

Oct. 31 at Northwestern

Nov. 7 OHIO STATE

Nov. 14 INDIANA

Nov. 21 at Michigan State