Week one of the college football season is officially here. The Penn State Nittany Lions will be facing the West Virginia Mountaineers. The game will take place at Beaver Stadium at 7:30 PM Eastern. The Nittany Lions have a young team with a high ceiling and large expectations for the season. Here is everything there is to know about the Penn State Nittany Lions’ first game of the season.
What to Watch For
First up is the obvious: everyone will need to watch for the starting quarterback. While the fans and media all expect Drew Aller to be the starter, head coach James Franklin has yet to name him as such. Also on the roster is Beau Pribula. Allar may only be heading into his second season but has playing experience behind him. In the 2022 season, Franklin did put in the young quarterback when Penn State was up by a decent score. No matter who it is, though, it will be a new leader taking charge and will be something to watch for.
Penn State QB Drew Allar (15) – Barry Reeger/AP Photo
Beaver Stadium may have one of the best crowds in college football. It is always a tough place to play. It will also be a night game, making it even more energetic. The theme of the night is the helmet stripe. While it may seem silly, Franklin describes it as a “sneaky White Out.” It may not have the exact same feeling, but it will be extremely difficult for the Mountaineers to play there.
The Nittany Lions had a dominant defense in 2022. In the 2023 NFL Draft, they lost Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’Ayir Brown. Some people questioned if the defense can still be dominant, and they will. Under Manny Diaz, and with the return of other great players, this team will be just fine. What to watch for is how early the defense can step up. Penn State will want to stop West Virginia early; if they can force a three and out, or even a turnover, right away, that will set the momentum for the rest of the game.
With a new quarterback and still an overall young offense, how long will the team take to gain momentum? If they can score on the first drive, that would be beautiful for the Nittany Lions. It would be understandable if they did not. They would have to score on the second drive, though. The run game should be stronger than ever; it is the passing game specifically to watch for.
Not only should it be watched for if they score on their first two drives, but how many of those plays are explosive? If Nick Singleton can make a 40-yard run early, the offense’s energy will grow. If the quarterback can make a deep pass early, this could be an exciting game.
Penn State CB Karen King (4) – Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Penn State Players to Watch
Nicholas Singleton
Of course, second-year running back Nick Singleton will be a player to watch this weekend. Singleton, as a true freshman, put up great numbers last season. In year two, expect him to pick up right where he left off. He is going to be a big help for his new quarterback, along with Kaytron Allen, who will also have a big season. When it comes to those explosive plays for the Nittany Lions offense, Singleton will be the player to do it.
Kalen King
Some general college football fans wonder if Penn State’s secondary will be fine without Porter on the field this season. The answer to that is yes, and that is because of Kalen King. The cornerback will be a player to watch this weekend against West Virginia. King will set the tone for the secondary this weekend and potentially force an interception. King will be a big leader on this team, and watch for him to step up big time.
Abdul Carter
Linebacker Abdul Carter was another true freshman who shined in 2022. He will be the one to set the tone early in the game, putting pressure on West Virginia’s quarterback. He is going to be much more of a leader this season, and if he sets the tone early, Penn State could get a solid lead early on. Watch for him to get at least one sack Saturday night.
Penn State LB Abdul Carter (11) – Matthew OHaren/USA TODAY Sports
Game Predictions
If the game starts off wobbly, Penn State fans should not worry. There may be a tad ugly period in the game but by the second half, the Nittany Lions will create a solid lead. Score predictions? 24-10 Penn State, but do not be surprised if the Nittany Lions score is higher than that. This score prediction is the smallest point differential to expect.
The first game of the season will take place this Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. It’s time to see if the Penn State Nittany Lions can be as strong as they look.
