The 2025 Huge Ten on CBS schedule kicks off in Week 1 with No. 2 Penn State enjoying host to Nevada from the Mountain West on Saturday in Comfortable Valley. It is the season-opener for a Penn State crew thought-about by many to be one of many favorites to win not solely the Huge Ten, however maybe the college’s first nationwide title since 1986.
Penn State is coming off one in every of its finest seasons in current reminiscence with a mark of 13-3. The Nittany Lions reached the Huge Ten Championship Recreation the place they fell to Oregon 45-37 in a thriller, and received two School Soccer Playoff video games (at house in opposition to SMU and in opposition to Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl) earlier than falling to Notre Dame within the semifinal on the Orange Bowl. It was Penn State’s first School Soccer Playoff look as a program — however returning is an expectation, not a hope for 2025.
And for good purpose. The majority of the crew that reached the semis final yr returns, beginning with quarterback Drew Allar and two 1,000-yard rushers in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Penn State vs. Nevada: Must know
The Nittany Lions have a brand new defensive coordinator: It is a storyline that appeared to get misplaced in an offseason of huge headlines, but it surely’s one other yr, one other new defensive coordinator for Penn State. Final yr’s DC Tom Allen has moved on to Clemson. Penn State changed him with Jim Knowles. Sure, the identical Jim Knowles who ran Ohio State’s protection final season and helped the Buckeyes win a nationwide title. It was a severe get for James Franklin and the Penn State program, and but another excuse why so many predict huge issues from the Nittany Lions.
Penn State has received 21 straight video games in August and September: Penn State begins each season robust. Its 21 consecutive wins within the months of August and September is the longest energetic streak within the nation getting into 2025. The final time Penn State misplaced a sport in August or September was Sept. 29, 2018 when the Nittany Lions fell at house to Ohio State 27-26. Penn State has additionally received 28 straight nonconference house video games, which is the third-longest energetic streak. The final loss got here to UCF again in 2013. So, you see, Penn State would not lose fairly often this early within the season.
It is the second time in program historical past Penn State begins the season within the high two of the AP Ballot: Penn State completed solely 5 factors behind No. 1 Texas on this yr’s preseason AP Prime 25, the very best it has been ranked to begin any season since being ranked No. 1 in 1997. The Nittany Lions are hoping this season may have higher outcomes, because the 1997 Lions completed 9-3 and ranked No. 16 within the ballot.
The place to observe Penn State vs. Nevada stay
Date: Saturday, Aug. 30 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Beaver Stadium — College Park, Pennsylvania
TV: CBS | Stay stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Attempt It Free)
Penn State vs. Nevada prediction, picks
Maybe you’ve got seen I’ve written nearly completely about Penn State on this preview, and it is for good purpose. They’re 44.5-point favorites over a Nevada crew what went 3-10 final yr, however does have a well-known identify at QB in Chubba Purdy. Sure, he is the youthful brother of San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy. Nonetheless, Chubba doesn’t have the 49ers round him like his brother, and I do not count on this sport to be very aggressive.
SportsLine’s confirmed pc mannequin has simulated each Week 1 school soccer sport 10,000 instances. Go to SportsLine now to see all of the picks, all from the mannequin that went 27-16 final season on top-rated money-line and over/beneath picks.