The 2024 Penn State football schedule sets up well for an inaugural College Football Playoff run.
It features the right amount of stress tests, well-timed rest and an ever-important home game with its marquee opponent. It's not overburdened by the newly-expanded Big Ten.
Even the most difficult midseason stretch — road trips to USC and Wisconsin sandwiched between home games with UCLA, Ohio State and Washington — shouldn't be as taxing as it may seem. The Buckeyes are the only true Top 10 adversary, at the moment, with the others rebuilding or at least re-directing.
Plus, the Lions don't have to deal with daunting Oregon and Michigan this fall.
Here's their complete schedule breakdown:
Penn State at West Virginia, Aug. 31 (noon)
All eyes will be on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and a supposed revamped passing game. There's immediate pressure on the Nittany Lions to not just open with a victory as a double-digit favorite on the road but look good doing it under new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Lions would like to avoid a shootout against a talented offensive opponent — one that views this as a season-defining opportunity.
Bowling Green at Penn State, Sept. 7 (noon)
The Falcons, an expected upper-tier team from the Mid-American Conference, should provide a respected fight, particularly on offense. This will be an underrated but welcomed test in Week 2.
More:A Penn State football White Out in November? Here's what it means to 2024 schedule
Kent State at Penn State, Sept. 21
The back end of a two-week bye, in essence, with Kent in need of such major rebuilding. The Golden Flashes should be a five-touchdown underdog, at least.
Illinois at Penn State, Sept. 28
A well-timed gauge for Kotelnicki's offensive progress. The Fighting Illini's 2024 season looks like a potential black hole-kind-of-struggle at defending the run and the pass. There will be mounting concerns and pressure if Allar and his running backs and receivers do not strafe this opponent on homecoming.
UCLA at Penn State, Oct. 5
The initial Big Ten cross-country road trip could be rough for a UCLA team in regrouping mode. While the Bruins own a renewed energy and positivity with coaches DeShaun Foster and Eric Bieniemy, there just doesn't appear to be enough depth and ready-made talent on either side of scrimmage. A big day is expected for running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen in the Lions' final "warm-up" of the season.
Penn State at USC, Oct. 12
The cross-country trip provides the first national guidepost on where the Lions truly stand. Ideally, they will rely on their Top 10 defense here, especially early on. Are the Trojans, already tenderized from a wicked early schedule, tough enough at scrimmage to hold on in the second half?
Penn State at Wisconsin, Oct. 26
Again, the defense will be counted on to control the pace on the road. Wisconsin has big proving points in every capacity of offense after Luke Fickell's disappointing 7-6 coaching debut last year. The Lions would be wise to take advantage of their opportunities early to take the Camp Randall crowd out of it.
Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2
Huge playoff implications for an undefeated or one-loss Lions. They've been so close in this matchup in Beaver Stadium since 2017 but always ... They need to finally knock out knock out Ohio State's star-studded lineup to truly get where they want.
Washington at Penn State, Nov. 9
Washington gets the later-than-usual White Out treatment in its first-ever visit to Beaver Stadium. Who knows quite where either side will be mentally and emotionally here — the Lions dealing with the aftermath of Ohio State; the Huskies still retooling after losing so much of their College Football Playoff final roster from 2023. National Game-of-the-Week appeal if either team is running hot.
Penn State at Purdue, Nov. 16
The burden will be on PSU to avoid a letdown on the road. Then again, how much will it matter? The Boilermakers, while expecting marginal improvements from last year's 4-8 train wreck, are still predicted near the bottom of the 18-team Big Ten.
Penn State at Minnesota, Nov. 23
The Golden Gophers could use a bad-weather gift to neutralize this day with their numbing run game. It's a sneaky-difficult assignment for Penn State: handle a second-straight, late-season underdog who provides little motivational fire on the road. It will be a resolute test of consistency and attention to detail.
Maryland at Penn State, Nov. 30
A Senior Day finale with potential sky-high implications. This may matter most: James Franklin's Lions, for a multitude of reasons, regularly crush Maryland like no other opponent. They've outscored the Terps 313-49 (a 45-7 average) in their past six victories. No reason for this season to be much different.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him atfbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
