With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2025.
The second of Indiana’s two biggest games of the regular season comes on Nov. 8, in a road test at Penn State. James Franklin’s team made a deep postseason run in 2024, reaching the semifinals and coming up painfully short against Notre Dame. This will be Curt Cignetti’s first matchup against the Nittany Lions, and it looks like a potential matchup of two of the Big Ten’s best teams.
- Opponent: Penn State
- Date/Time/TV: Saturday, November 8, time TBD
- Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
- 2024 record/postseason result: 13-3, 8-1 Big Ten; 45-37 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game; 38-10 win over SMU in CFP first round; 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl (CFP quarterfinal); 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Returning production, offense: 76 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (10th in the country)
Offensive outlook: Penn State’s offense was one of the best in the country last season, ranking 26th in the country in total offense. The passing attack was middle of the pack, at 66th in the country and ninth in the Big Ten. But PSU’s running game was elite, with 202.3 yards per game (17th in the country, first in the conference). Bright offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki elevated the team’s offense in a big way.
The Nittany Lions should be just as dangerous on the ground this year. Both Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton return, forming one of the best running back tandems in the nation. They did lose quarterback Beau Pribula, who became an important weapon for PSU on the ground, to the portal; and tight end Tyler Warren, who handled some short-yardage and goal-line situations and scored four rushing touchdowns, to the NFL.
Senior Drew Allar is back at quarterback for Penn State with high expectations. He’s among the top 10 preseason Heisman candidates entering the season, after going 262 for 394 on pass attempts for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Penn State has a very strong group of transfer wide receivers that could form one of the better trios in the Big Ten. Trebor Peña is coming off a huge year at Syracuse, with 84 receptions (first in the ACC and tied for 13th in the country) for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. Devonte Ross also had a big season for Troy, with 1,043 yards on 76 receptions with 11 touchdowns. And USC transfer Kyren Hudson has a lot of big-play prowess, and posted 462 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans last year.
PSU’s offensive line was solid in run-blocking last year, but middle of the road in pass protection. But four starters are back up front for the Nittany Lions, including All-Big Ten second team guard Olaivavega Ioane.
Returning production, defense: 53 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (70th in the country)
Defensive outlook: PSU’s defense also ranked among the country’s best last year: seventh in total defense (294.8 yards per game allowed), 31st in passing defense, ninth in rushing defense. The Nittany Lions led the Big Ten with 26 takeaways, and finished fifth in the country in sacks (44) and opponent red-zone percentage (70.7).
Penn State lost defensive coordinator and former IU head coach Tom Allen to Clemson. But Franklin replaced him with a big name: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, whose Buckeyes finished 14th, third, and first in the country in total defense in his three seasons with the program.
PSU has six returning starters on defense. The squad did lose some key pieces in Abdul Carter and Kobe King, but Dani Dennis-Sutton (13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, nine QB hurries, two forced fumbles) is also very dangerous coming off the edge. Defensive tackle Zane Durant (11 TFLs, three sacks) is a force in the middle of the defensive front.
Franklin is relying mainly on returning defensive players, whether starters or backups stepping into larger roles. But the one main portal addition on that side looks good. Linebacker Amare Campbell finished second on North Carolina with 10.5 TFLs, and third on the team with 6.5 sacks.
PSU has some good pieces back in the secondary as well. Cornerback A.J. Harris (one interception, five passes broken up, four TFLs) earned third-team all-conference honors last year, and Zion Tracy (two interceptions, one pick six, one PBU, two TFLs) has a lot of potential. Safety Zakee Wheatley (three interceptions, four PBUs, 2.5 TFLs, one forced fumble) is another key playmaker in the back.
Special teams outlook: Sophomore kicker Ryan Barker will look to build on his freshman year in Happy Valley, when he went 15 for 18 on field goals and 48 for 49 on extra points. Senior Riley Thompson also returns at punter, after averaging 42.8 yards per punt. Singleton has handled kick returns the last two years and averaged 23.6 yards per return in 2024. PSU didn’t get much out of the punt return game last season, but watch out for Ross to take over that job. He averaged 17 yards per return at Troy with one touchdown.
Overall Outlook: This is one of the best teams in the Big Ten and one of the best teams in the country. Penn State lost some key pieces from last year, but between its high-level returnees and strong newcomers to plug holes, this team is loaded. Franklin has had some trouble getting over the hump in the biggest games, but after reaching the CFP semifinals last season, perhaps these Nittany Lions will be the ones to finish the job. Indiana will have its hands full in November.
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