On Saturday, August 30, Penn State will open the 2025 campaign at home against Nevada. Call this game what you want, alongside matchups against FIU and Villanova, but what’s important is that Penn State football is finally back after seven long months. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium in State College. Now let’s dive in and look at what to expect in this season-opening matchup for the Nittany Lions.

Nevada Offense vs. Penn State Defense

The Wolf Pack offense will be led by sixth-year quarterback Chubba Purdy, now in his second year with Nevada after previous stops at Florida State and Nebraska. In limited action during 2024, Purdy completed 18 of 25 passes for 239 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also has the mobility to be used on designed runs and can hurt defenses when escaping the pocket.

Running back Herschel Turner will look to become the primary ball carrier after averaging 5.1 yards per carry and recording 12 receptions as a rotational player last season.

Nevada must replace most of its top pass catchers and will rely heavily on Marcus Bellon, who caught 39 passes for 522 yards and four scores in 2024. Senior Jordan Brown, a transfer from Texas Tech, is also expected to play a key role.

The biggest question mark lies with the offensive line, which lost star tackle Isaiah World to Oregon. That could spell trouble against a Penn State defensive front featuring two All-American candidates: defensive tackle Zane Durant and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton. Penn State also returns defensive end Zurich Fisher and defensive tackle Alonzo Ford, both coming off injuries and poised for strong seasons. True freshman Chaz Coleman has generated plenty of buzz over the summer after earning unexpected first-team reps, and he could emerge as a future star at defensive end.

At linebacker, Tony Rojas and Dominic DeLuca return to anchor a unit that will look different under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who brings a fresh scheme to Happy Valley. Transfer Amare Campbell (from North Carolina) adds more depth and experience. Behind them, Anthony Soecca and Keon Wylie will look to earn rotation snaps. Altogether, Penn State’s defense looks more than capable of shutting down Nevada’s offense.

Penn State Offense vs. Nevada Defense

There is no mystery surrounding Penn State’s ground game. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen return for their fourth season as co-starters in the backfield, running behind a veteran offensive line loaded with NFL talent. They are among the best returning running back tandems in the nation, and Penn State will lean heavily on them again in 2025.

The passing game, however, is more of a question mark. Drew Allar enters his third season as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback and is one of the most experienced in the country. He’s coming off a season where he completed 66.5% of his passes for 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions. The main question: Who will he be throwing to?

The wide receiver room underwent a complete overhaul after two seasons of inconsistent production. The projected starters are all transfers: Devante Ross (Troy), Trebor Pena (Syracuse), and Kyron Hudson (USC). Ross, though recovering from injury, may see limited snaps early. Returning players Tyseer Denmark, Peter Gonzalez, and Liam Clifford will also be key contributors. Clifford, a returning starter, looks to rebound after disappearing from the passing game late last season. True freshman Koby Howard has impressed in camp and could make an immediate impact.

The tight ends remain an important part of the passing game despite the loss of All-American Tyler Warren to the NFL. Khalil Dinkins provides a reliable veteran presence, excelling as both a blocker and clutch pass catcher. Luke Reynolds, a former five-star recruit, showed flashes of playmaking ability as a freshman and is expected to take on a much larger role in 2025. Andrew Rappleyea also returns from injury and could be another valuable target.

On defense, Nevada is coming off a season where it ranked last nationally in third-down stops and struggled against both the run and the pass. The secondary has been rebuilt through the portal, with A.J. Odums (New Mexico) and Cooper Wilson expected to lead the way.

What to Expect

Ultimately, this matchup is unlikely to be close. Prediction: Penn State 52, Nevada 7.

Expect Penn State to dominate from the opening kickoff, scoring early and often. If the game becomes a blowout, head coach James Franklin will likely rest his starters midway through the third quarter, allowing the backups to gain experience. Even so, the Lions could still give up a late score that prevents a shutout.

All in all, fans should expect plenty of action at Beaver Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., as Penn State looks to start the 2025 season 1–0 in convincing fashion.