STATE COLLEGE — Christian Hackenberg gets his first chance to show the home fans what they have in Penn State’s quarterback of the future.

Hackenberg put up gaudy numbers and notched the win in the Nittany Lions’ first game against Syracuse. Now, it’s time to see if he can do more of the same in Happy Valley when Penn State plays its home opener Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

Penn State coach Bill O’Brien, who lost the home opener last year to Ohio, has stood by his philosophy that he’s a one-quarterback coach. He meant it when he picked Hackenberg over junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson.

Hackenberg, a five-star recruit rated the top pocket passer in the nation, made his coach look like a genius with a fantastic opener en route to a 23-17 win at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Hackenberg was Penn State’s second true freshman quarterback to start a season opener since 1910. He was 22 of 31 for 278 yards, with a pair of 50-yard touchdown passes in the second half, and he led the Nittany Lions on five scoring drives.

His yards passing total was the third highest by a freshman in school history.

“We’re figuring each other out,” O’Brien said. “Now he knows what I’m like on game day.”