Penn State’s Nov. 7 matchup with Washington now has a kickoff time and TV home, and it won’t be the 4:15 slot some fans may have been hoping for.
Instead, the game is set for a 3:30 start, marking Penn State’s third 3:30 kickoff of the season. The Nittany Lions already played in that window in the season opener against Marshall at Beaver Stadium and again at Michigan on Oct. 10.
That means Penn State’s schedule has been all over the map this fall. The Lions have already had two noon games, at Temple on Sept. 12 and against Buffalo on Sept. 19, along with a 5:00 kickoff against Wisconsin on Sept.
- They also played a Friday night game at Northwestern on Oct. 2, then a Saturday night home game against USC on Oct.
What once looked like a ranked showdown has turned into a matchup between teams trying to steady themselves. Penn State entered the season at No. 18, while Washington was ranked No. 17, but both teams have gone through uneven stretches.
Penn State is 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten, with its only conference win coming this past Saturday against Purdue. The Nittany Lions beat the Boilermakers 31-17 in a game that was more lopsided than the final score suggested.
Washington comes in at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten after a 17-10 win over Nebraska. The Huskies have won two straight Big Ten games, both on the road at night, and there’s a chance they’re starting to find their footing. The same could be said for Penn State after its best performance of the year against Purdue.
In Other News...
Penn State Faces A Levi Haines Decision That Could Change Everything
Levi Haines is back in the Penn State wrestling conversation at exactly the right time, with the recent World Champion at 79 KG now waiting on eligibility approval under the new five-for-five rule. Cael Sanderson said Haines is attending classes and preparing to wrestle if he is cleared, which gives the Nittany Lions a potentially major boost as they get ready for the season.
Penn State opens against Bloomsburg at Rec Hall, and Haines status is one of the biggest early storylines around the program. A decision on whether he can compete this season would shape both the lineup and the ceiling for a team that already expects to be in the national title mix. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Showed A Different Response When This Big Ten Game Got Ugly
Penn States trip to Purdue had the feel of a game that could have slipped away early, especially after miscues and missed chances kept the pressure on. Rocco Becht helped steady things with a touchdown, and Carson Hansen added a rushing score as the offense found enough rhythm to keep the Nittany Lions moving in a Big Ten matchup that had its rough patches.
Purdue briefly grabbed momentum with a blocked punt that turned into a touchdown, but Penn States defense answered by tightening up and allowing only three points the rest of the way. Matt Campbell pointed to the penalties and the way his team responded, and the bigger takeaway for Penn State was simple: when the game got ugly, it found a way to settle in and finish. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Faced A Loyalty Test At Beaver Stadium
Penn States 31-17 win over Purdue came with an unusual backdrop at Beaver Stadium, where the crowd was thinner than usual and plenty of seats stayed empty. The timing on Halloween did not help, but the bigger picture was hard to miss: a fan base that has been frustrated by the season and, at least for one Saturday, was less inclined to show up in full force.
Even so, the people who did make it were noticed. Players and coach James Franklin made a point of acknowledging the supporters who were there, especially the ones who stayed engaged through the key moments of the game. It was a reminder that even in a season that has tested patience, the relationship between the team and its most loyal fans still matters, and it may be facing a few more tests before the year is done. [Read more 🡒]