The Big Ten announced its new structure beginning in 2024. There were some interesting aspects of the Penn State opponents, specifically those who are not listed. Within the new structure, which can be read about here, there are two-play opponents and protected rivalries. While the Penn State opponents have been announced, there are some interesting takeaways for the Nittany Lions. Here is a look at who they are playing and, more notably, who they are not facing.
The Two-Play Penn State Opponents
The most important aspect of the new structure is the Two-Play opponents. These have been announced for 2024 and 2025. The teams who have a protected rivalry will also fall into this category. The full list of opponents was announced on the Big Ten’s Twitter. Penn State’s Two-Play opponents in the first two years of the structure are Michigan State, Rutgers, and USC.
Penn State Nittany Lions QB Sean Clifford throwing a pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes – Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Penn State will face each of these teams at home and also travel to face them for an away game. The key part of this is that it was discovered that no Penn State opponents are protected rivalries. There is no guarantee, come 2026, that the Nittany Lions will face any of the teams that fans would like. Penn State is the only school in the Big Ten that will not have any protected opponents. Most fanbases are very happy with the change of the structure, and it is an understandable change. Penn State fans may be feeling pretty different.
While it would not be smart for television ratings, there is a solid chance that one year Penn State will not face Michigan or Ohio State. There is never a guarantee on who Penn State will play, while there are schools such as Iowa, which have three opponents that are protected rivalries. It will be interesting to see if Penn State ends up getting a protected rivalry after the 2025 season, but for now, it feels as though the school lost some of the best parts of college football. As for now, the only teams they will face twice in 2024 and 2025 are Rutgers, Michigan State, and USC.
2024/2025 Penn State Opponents
Here is a look at all the Big Ten opponents that the Nittany Lions will face when the structure changes.
2024: (Away) Indiana; Purdue; Rutgers; Wisconsin; (Home) Michigan State; Nebraska; Northwestern; Ohio State; USC
2025: (Away) Iowa; Maryland; Michigan; Michigan State; USC; (Home) Illinois; Minnesota; Rutgers; UCLA
There is one aspect of this schedule that is the most notable. Penn State will not face Ohio State in 2025. This will definitely be a missed game by fans. In 2024, Michigan is not listed as an opponent for the Nittany Lions either. These are games that will be missed by the fans.
Michigan Wolverines RB Donovan Edwards (7) running from Penn State Nittany Lions CB Kalen King (4) and LB Curtis Jacobs (23) – Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
In 2024, the Penn State opponents at home are great for the Nittany Lions. The team will face Michigan State, Ohio State, and USC at home. This is a solid group to get to play against at home, making it easier on the Nittany Lions. 2025 will give Penn State a more difficult traveling year. The addition of USC and UCLA adds much more traveling than is used in the Big Ten.
In 2025, the Nittany Lions will have to play at Michigan and USC. Michigan is a hard stadium to play at, and traveling to USC could be hard on the players. Of course, this is normal in football, but still a discussion point on the opponents they will face.
Two fan-favorite Penn State opponents are Michigan and Ohio State. Not facing the two teams annually is both a blessing and a curse. There is no telling where these teams will be in two years, but Penn State is the team to watch in the College Football Playoff expansion. The Nittany Lions not facing both Ohio State and Michigan each year could help their record. Of course, it is possible Penn State could beat these teams, but it does provide an easier schedule.
The lack of top opponents can also hurt the school. When the playoff teams are announced, the opponent quality could possibly hurt Penn State. They may need to make sure their other games have a large enough score difference to rank higher. This can also affect the White Out. The Penn State opponents for the White Out are already limited based on when the school can get a primetime game. Now there is no guarantee that the school will have exciting matchups for the White Out each year.
There had to be a structural change in the Big Ten, and the conference did come up with a good plan. The Penn State Nittany Lions just received the downside of the changes being made. The Penn State opponents may not be who the fans want every year, and it will be something the fans will need to adjust to.
