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CHICAGO — Jordan Lucas is taking Penn State’s recent “unrivaled” slogan as literally as possible.

With plenty of talk about Rutgers and Maryland trying to establish a geographic rivalry with the Nittany Lions, Lucas shot down questions about any school appearing at the top of Penn State’s hit list.

“No. It’s us. Ourselves,” the senior safety said Friday during Big Ten media days. “The ‘82 team. The ‘86 team. Whatever team we had in the past. Those are our rivals. We don’t have any rival.”

Is that a good thing?

“That’s great. Because you don’t have to compare yourself to (another school). That’s a great thing for us. We’re not worried about what everyone else is talking about.”

Lucas may have been taking a cue from his head coach. James Franklin likewise wasn’t too interested in singling out any one opponent.

“If you look at Penn State historically, we have not really had a true rival per se in the Big Ten,” said Franklin, who hasn’t had to deal with manufactured trophy games against Michigan State and Minnesota. “We’re just focused on Penn State and building this program back to where everybody wants it to be.”

Of course in the Lions’ heyday as an independent, Pitt was undoubtedly their main nemesis. That series will pick back up again next season for a four-year stretch.

Beyond that?

New Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes and new coach Pat Narduzzi have both been vocal about their desire to play Penn State every year in perpetuity.

Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said it’s something to look into for the future.

Focus on the schedule

The Big Ten’s new scheduling rules will take effect next season with what the league is calling the “1910” format.

Those numbers stand for (at least) one non-league game against a power-five conference opponent, nine Big Ten games, one conference championship and zero matchups against FCS teams.

Independents such as Notre Dame and BYU would satisfy the power-five condition.

“I’d call it an athletic directors’ agreement,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. “Not sure there’s any penalties involved. … But it’s really a commitment to FBS. If someone had a contractual issue, we’d take a look at it. But that’s the template that everyone thinks is best going forward from a variety of perspectives.

“When we added a 12th game, it didn’t necessarily tantalize the fans, players, television or even rivals. … When you look at the (College Football Playoff selection criteria), strength of schedule is the second one listed.”

Franklin, for one, is in favor of the scheduling changes.

He was asked about comments made recently by Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who said he thought SEC teams were at a disadvantage because the league’s rigorous schedule from top to bottom would wear them down by the time they reached the Playoff.

“I think it’s an interesting argument,” said Franklin, who has coached in both leagues. “Eight games in the SEC and playing FCS or nine games in the Big Ten and not playing FCS. I have tremendous respect for the SEC, but I’ve also for the Big Ten. And I think you can make an argument we’re going through a similar situation.”

Many SEC squads, as a way to compensate for the brutal league slate, schedule a regional FCS team to play in November to serve as something of a breather. To name a few, Alabama will play Charleston Southern, Auburn faces Jacksonville State, LSU takes on McNeese State and both Texas A&M and Tennessee host Western Carolina this fall.

Because of previous agreements, eight Big Ten teams are currently scheduled to play FCS opponents in 2016, the first year of the new scheduling policy. Penn State is not one of them and will face Kent State, Pitt and Temple next year.

Har-buzz?

Friday’s main attraction was new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who attracted huge throngs of reporters at several stops throughout the day.

One of the highest-profile college football hires in the country in recent years, Harbaugh may already be the Big Ten’s most eccentric coach, alternating between energetic and aloof in interviews.

“I’m not striving to be creating any buzz, just striving to coach the football team,” Harbaugh said. “Anyone who is popular is bound to be disliked, so just coaching football.”

The former San Francisco 49ers and Stanford coach did, however, lighten up later, at one point pulling out a knock-off Mike Ditka jersey that he said he picked up when visiting his former Chicago Bears coach at his restaurant.

Regardless, Harbaugh gives another level of cache to the Big Ten coaching ranks, helping the league continue an impressive turnaround in national perception.

“There’s no doubt it was a head-turning hire,” Delany said. “He had a great career as a player and a college coach. Great success with the 49ers.

“Michigan had been probably the most consistent program in the country from 1984 until seven or eight years ago. It was important for them to make a great hire, and I think Jim’s a great hire.”

Penn State center Angelo Mangiro, left, cornerback Jordan Lucas, center, and defensive tackle Anthony Zettel pose for photos during Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_psu-media-days1.jpg.optimal.jpgPenn State center Angelo Mangiro, left, cornerback Jordan Lucas, center, and defensive tackle Anthony Zettel pose for photos during Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. Joe Hermitt | AP photo, PennLive.com

By Derek Levarse

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To see video of Penn State players at Big Ten media day, check out the online version of this story at timesleader.com

Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse

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