Speaking with the media via video conference on Wednesday evening, Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin previewed his program’s season-opener with the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday in Bloomington.

It is something that will take place before the game even kicks, however, that has him feeling most anxious about the day of the contest. The issue on Franklin’s mind is pre-game testing for COVID.

Onward Sports, a Penn State student-run publication, shared Franklin’s comments on Twitter.

Missing players as a result of positive COVID tests is an issue that all teams will likely have to deal with throughout the season. Hopefully the B1G is able to keep the number of players and teams impacted as low as possible.

Defeating the Memphis Tigers, 53-39, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the Nittany Lions went 11-2 (7-2 B1G) in 2019. Entering his seventh season at the helm, Franklin boasts a 56-23 (34-18 B1G) record during his State College tenure.

Penn State also announced some unfortunate news on October 19 when it was shared redshirt junior running back Journey Brown, the program’s leading rusher last fall, could be sidelined for the entire 2020 season with an undisclosed medical issue. The Nittany Lions will roll out Noah Cain as the starting running back in the season opener.

Saturday’s action at Memorial Stadium will kick at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.