SEVENTH HEAVEN

The Lions are 7-0 after a 48-7 throttling of the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday night. More analysis is forthcoming, but Penn State fans can't help but be encouraged by the effort tonight in Madison. As mentioned before on The Floating Lion, tonight marked the first time that Penn State won back-to-back games on the road since 1999. The Lions did just about everything well in earning their seventh straight win to open the 2008 season and the strong performance couldn't have come at a better time.

The weekend was full of upsets as the numbers one, three and four teams all lost, leaving Penn State fans expecting a top-three ranking when the polls come out on Sunday. Here's a few early reactions to the big victory over the Badgers:

• Penn State, for the second straight week started slowly on the offensive side of the ball. Not including the Illinois game at Beaver Stadium, Penn State has totaled only three points in its last three first quarters. Those slow starts could have hurt the Lions if the defense hadn't played so well.
• Speaking of the defense, the Lions held Wisconsin running back PJ Hill to just 58 yards on 15 carries and chased starting quarterback Allan Evridge from the game after three quarters.
• Evan Royster had his least productive day as a Nittany Lion, gaining only 60 yards on 15 carries. Broadcaster Mike Patrick pointed out that the sophomore came off the field favoring his hand in the fourth quarter, but Royster was shown smiling on camera towards the end of the game.
• Aaron Maybin
• Aaron Maybin
• Aaron Maybin
• Did I mention Aaron Maybin?! He just continues to play with youthful exuberance and Maybinize everything in his path. It's getting to the point where you expect him to come up with the big play every time the defense needs one.
• Lydell Sargeant gathered two interceptions and led a secondary that held Wisconsin signal callers to just 11-of-27 for 165 passing on the night.
• The Lions' offense scored on four straight possessions spanning from the end of the first half into the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
• Jeremy Boone, for the first time this season, looked very much like the punter who won All Big Ten honors a year ago. The sophomore averaged 44.8 yards per punt and dropped three of his four kicks inside the 20 yard line.
• The Lions next take on Michigan at Beaver Stadium next week. We've said it before, but we'll say it again. If Penn State doesn't beat the Wolverines this year, it may never happen. RichRod's boys look as hapless as ever after losing at home to Toledo (remember 2000 anyone?).