College football is back, and there's a buzz in Happy Valley you can feel from miles away. The Penn State Nittany Lions, a team with legitimate College Football Playoff dreams, are ready to open their home schedule at Beaver Stadium. But first, they have to deal with a team that knows a thing or two about pulling off an upset: the Florida International Panthers. This Week 2 matchup might seem like a foregone conclusion on paper, but in college football, nothing is guaranteed.
This week, a classic battle of the big cats is set to unfold. The No. 2 Nittany Lions, coming off a dominant season opener, are set to host a confident Panthers squad that also started its year with a convincing win. Will Penn State continue its winning ways and cover the massive spread, or will FIU bring some chaos to the national championship picture?
Let’s dive into a full breakdown of this nonconference clash.
Game Day Details
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Stream: Fubo
What to Know About the Matchup
This game marks only the second time these two programs have met, with the first encounter being a historic rout back in 2007 when Penn State shut out the Panthers, 59-0. That day, the Nittany Lions amassed a staggering 549 yards of total offense, while limiting FIU to a mere 114 yards. While this is a new year and a new team, history is certainly on Penn State's side.
FIU is coming off a surprising 42-9 victory over Bethune-Cookman, a game in which their offense was outgained in total yards but still managed to put up points in bunches. The most telling statistic from that game? All six of the Panthers' touchdowns came on the ground. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins, along with running backs Kejon Owens, Devonte Lyons, and Anthony Carrie, proved to be an unstoppable force near the goal line, tying a single-game program record for rushing touchdowns. This ground-and-pound identity is something Penn State's defense will need to respect.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions' offense is a sight to behold. Behind quarterback Drew Allar, Penn State boasts a truly dynamic rushing duo in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. They are just the second FBS team since 2009 to return a 3,000-yard passer and multiple 1,000-yard rushers from the previous season. Last week, Allen and Singleton combined for 62 yards and three touchdowns in a comfortable win, and they’ve now scored a touchdown in the same game 15 times, a Big Ten record for two teammates. This explosive combination makes Penn State's offense nearly impossible to contain.
Prediction and Betting Breakdown
History is on Penn State's side in more ways than one. The team has won 22 straight games in August and September, the longest active streak in the FBS. They also hold the third-longest active FBS streak for nonconference home game wins, with 29.
Despite their flawless record, Penn State's perfect streak of covering as a 40-point favorite was broken last week against Nevada. Now, they face another massive spread, listed as a 41.5-point favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook. While FIU is a respectable team, they have not covered the spread as a 40-point underdog in any of their three games since 2000. Penn State, under Coach Franklin, will be eager to get back on track and prove they are a team to be feared. Expect the Nittany Lions to put on a show for their home crowd.
Our Pick: Penn State -41.5