Nittany Lions Open Highly-Anticipated 2025 Campaign Against Visiting Wolfpack (Game Preview)

Nevada (3-10, 0-7 Mountain West in 2024) at No. 2 Penn State (13-3, 8-1 Big Ten in 2024)

Date: Saturday, August 30

Time (EST): 3:30 PM

Location: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)

• Average Home Attendance (2024): 108,083.13

• Highest Home Attendance (2024): 111,030 (November 2, vs. No. 4 Ohio State)

• Capacity: 106,572

Game Theme: 107K Family Reunion

Coverage

• TV: CBS (cable) & Paramount+ (streaming) [Brad Nessler & Gary Danielson & Jenny Dell]

• Radio (Broadcasters)

  • Neutral: CommRadio (Matthew Becker & Brennan Kirkpatrick)

  • Student-Run: The Lion 90.7 FM (Evan Smith & Nathan Johns)

  • Nevada: The Varsity Network (John Ramey & Mike Edwards)

  • Penn State: LionVision (Steve Jones & Jack Ham)

• Live Stats: ESPN GameCast (fan-focused) & StatBroadcast (enhanced)

Storylines

Tale of the Tape: Roster Turnover Keys Season Opener

The transfer portal played a crucial role in the formation of both Nevada and Penn State’s teams over the long offseason, as the Wolfpack brought in 19 transfers. The Nittany Lions additions were highlighted by three high-impact receivers in Syracuse’s Trebor Pena, USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross.

Game Control Looks Paramount for Wolfpack Captains

Starting quarterback Chubba Purdy weighed in on the importance of Nevada staying on its A game, stating that they have to “be on [their] Ps and Qs with every little thing, and that starts with controlling what [they] can control — flags and all that stuff.” Center Andrew Madrigal continues emphasizing its importance, asserting that as long as the Wolfpack “focus and play for each other, [they] can get out there and have a good time." (Source: Nevada Sports Net)

Grunkemeyer Announced as QB2 Ahead of Game

CommRadio insider Nolan Collery broke the news of redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer earning the role of the Nittany Lions’ backup to Drew Allar during Wednesday’s media session. Grunkemeyer beat out redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik–who sat out all of last season with an injury–for the job. (Source: X [formerly Twitter])

Nevada at No. 2 Penn State: By The Numbers (2024 Stats)

*Turnovers include failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

Nevada	Offense	No. 2 Penn State
23.1	Points Per Game	33.1
212.6	Pass Yards Per Game	227.9
163.5	Rush Yards Per Game	202.3
44.38%	3rd Down %	45.88%
29 (2.23)	Turnovers (per game)	22 (1.38)

*Takeaways include opponents’ failed 4th-down conversion attempts.

Nevada	Defense	No. 2 Penn State
28.8	Points Allowed PG	16.5
198.6	Pass Yards Allowed PG	192.9
192.8	Rush Yards Allowed PG	101.9
52.41%	Opponent 3rd Down %	37.16%
17 (1.31)	Takeaways (per game)	38 (2.38)

The Head-to-Head History of Nevada-Penn State (Source: Winsipedia)

Penn State is 0-0 against Nevada all-time.

Penn State is 6-0 against current Mountain West members all-time. The Nittany Lions’ last meeting with a current Mountain West member was on December 31, 2024, when Penn State beat Boise State 31-14 in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

Nevada is 4-23 against current Big Ten members all-time. The Wolfpack’s last meeting with a current Big Ten member was on September 14, 2024, when Nevada lost to Minnesota 27-0 in a road loss.

Players To Watch on Offense (2024 Splits)

Nevada (Multiple Offense)

• QB Chubba Purdy, 6th year

  • Overall (7 games)

    • Passing: 18-for-25, 239 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 13 car, 60 yds

  • Non-Conference (1 game)

    • Passing: 1-for-1, 18 yds

    • Rushing: 1 car, 18 yds

  • Away (3 games)

    • Passing: 14-for-19, 168 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 8 car, 41 yds

• RB Herschel Turner, So. (Utah State transfer)

  • Overall (11 games): 79 car, 405 yds, 4 TD

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 34 car, 199 yds, 1 TD

  • Away (7 games): 45 car, 216 yds, 1 TD

• WR Marcus Bellon, R-Sr.

  • Named to the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List.

  • Overall (13 games): 39 rec, 522 yds, 4 TD

  • Non-Conference (6 games): 18 rec, 211 yds, 2 TD

  • Away (7 games): 45 rec, 216 yds, 1 TD

No. 2 Penn State (Spread Offense)

• QB Drew Allar, Sr.

  • Overall (16 games)

    • Passing: 262-for-394, 3,327 yds, 24 TD, 8 INT

    • Rushing: 96 car, 302 yds, 6 TD

  • Non-Conference (3 games)

    • Passing: 41-for-58, 729 yds, 8 TD, 1 INT

    • Rushing: 18 car, 77 yds, 2 TD

  • Home (7 games)

    • Passing: 107-for-158, 1,312 yds, 7 TD, 2 INT

    • Rushing: 43 car, 124 yds, 3 TD

• RB Nick Singleton, Sr.

  • Overall (15 games): 172 car, 1,099 yds, 12 TD

  • Non-Conference (3 games): 37 car, 314 yds, 3 TD

  • Home (7 games): 80 car, 531 yds, 5 TD

• WR Trebor Pena, R-Sr.+ (Syracuse transfer)

  • Overall (13 games): 84 rec, 941 yds, 9 TD

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 20 rec, 201 yds, 4 TD

  • Home (7 games): 41 rec, 534 yds, 7 TD

Players To Watch on Defense

Nevada (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Dylan Labarbera, Jr.

  • Overall (11 games): 31 tot, 16 solo, 2 TFL

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 2 tot, 0 solo, 0 TFL

  • Away (5 games): 13 tot, 8 solo, 1 TFL

• LB Nahji Logan, 6th year (UMass/Indiana transfer, 2023 UMass stats below)

  • Overall and non-conference numbers are the same because UMass was an independent in 2023.

  • Overall (12 games): 59 tot, 3 TFL, 0.5 sacks

  • Away (6 games): 27 tot, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks

  • Career vs. Penn State (1 game): 8 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks

• SS Murvin Kenion III, 5th year (FCS Idaho/FCS Sacramento State transfer, 2024 Sacramento State stats below)

  • Overall (12 games): 51 tot, 2 INT, 7 PD

  • 2024 vs. FBS (2 games): 2 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD

  • Away (7 games): 26 tot, 2 INT, 5 PD

No. 2 Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

• DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

  • Overall (16 games): 42 tot, 13 TFL, 8.5 sacks

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 4 tot, 1 TFL, 1 sack

  • Home (7 games): 12 tot, 4.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks

• LB Amare Campbell, Jr. (North Carolina transfer)

  • Overall (13 games): 76 tot, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 25 tot, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks

  • Home (7 games): 49 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks

• FS Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.

  • Overall (16 games): 96 tot, 3 INT, 4 PD

  • Non-Conference (4 games): 11 tot, 1 INT, 2 PD

  • Home (7 games): 37 tot, 1 INT, 4 PD

Quick Picks: Expert Analysis

Bryan: Penn State looks to kickstart the title run of a lifetime against a Nevada team that has a lot to figure out still. This game should be over before halftime as the Nittany Lions cruise.

No. 2 Penn State 47, Nevada 3.