Penn State has started the Big Ten schedule 0-2 five times (including this season) since it joined the conference for the 1993 campaign.
Three of the previous four times, the Nittany Lions finished with a final record below .500. Only once, in 1995, did they regroup to reach a bowl game and end the year nationally ranked.
With the 2007 version in an early 0-2 hole, here is a look at the circumstances surrounding every team that was in an identical situation, and the types of challenges they faced.
1995: 9-3, 5-3 (3rd)
In the wake of 1994's undefeated non-championship year, the Lions' began the season ranked No. 4 and won their first three games of the season, against Texas Tech, Temple and Rutgers.
But when the Big Ten slate started, Penn State was quickly brought down to earth by unranked Wisconsin and No. 5 Ohio State in back-to-back losses in Beaver Stadium.
Quarterback Wally Richardson, though, guided the team to a 6-1 record the rest of the way, the lone loss to Northwestern, which found its way to the Rose Bowl. The Lions season ended with an Outback Bowl win over Auburn.
2001: 5-6, 4-4 (t-4th)
Following a season-opening blow out loss at home to No. 2 Miami, the Lions had two weeks off until their next game, the conference opener against Wisconsin. They lost that contest and the next two, starting 0-3 in the Big Ten. The Penn State offense averaged bout 8 points per game in its first four games.
The rest of the season featured several high-scoring affairs with the Lions racking up 31 points a game during five wins and two losses.
Penn State was at .500 heading into the final game of its season helped by new quarterback Zack Mills, but the Lions' lost to Virginia and failed to qualify for the postseason.
2003: 3-9, 1-7 (t-9th)
The Lions dropped their first six conference games as a young offense tried to find its way.
Freshman tailbacks Austin Scott and Tony Hunt attempted to fill the void left by graduated stud tailback Larry Johnson. Slash-back Michael Robinson got significant time playing multiple positions, while Mills continued behind center.
Penn State narrowly missed an upset of No. 8 Ohio State in Columbus in November, but managed just one conference victory, its worst Big Ten season to date.
2004: 4-7, 2-6 (9th)
There are a few players still around from this team, which duplicated the '03 squads' six losses in their first six conference games.
The Penn State coaching staff attempted to use a creative combination of Mills, now a senior, and Robinson in the Lions' backfield. It worked early in the season against weak non-conference opponents but by mid-season, the offense was futile, the low point coming during a 6-4 homecoming loss to Iowa.
But the Lions' year ended somewhat positively by defeating Indiana and Michigan State. At the time, the win against the Hoosiers was thought of as a turning point for the program. The next year, Robinson led Penn State to the Orange Bowl.
2007: 3-2, 0-2 (??)
Following losses to Michigan and Illinois, what path will this team follow? The way of the last three examples or the unique journey of the 1995 team? Only time will tell.
