The Penn State Nittany Lions are set to face the Indiana Hoosiers in a crucial matchup this Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The game starts at noon and will be televised on FOX. This marks Penn State”s first home game since their loss to Northwestern on October 11, which preceded the firing of head coach James Franklin. As they strive to find positives in a challenging 2025 season, the Lions are heavy underdogs, with a 14.5-point deficit predicted.
Indiana enters the contest unbeaten at 8-0 and ranked second nationally. Under the guidance of second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers are eager to maintain their perfect record and potentially secure a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Historically, Penn State has dominated the series, winning 25 of 27 encounters with Indiana, and the Hoosiers have never emerged victorious at Beaver Stadium.
The Hoosiers, led by Heisman candidate quarterback Fernando Mendoza, have been impressive this season, completing 72.3% of his passes for 25 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Additionally, their rushing attack, spearheaded by Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, has been formidable, complemented by threats in the passing game like Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarrat. Indiana”s defense has also been exceptional, allowing only 10.8 points per game, which ranks third in the nation.
Penn State”s offense is under pressure to generate explosive plays, particularly through redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. However, achieving this against Indiana”s robust defense will be a significant challenge. Our staff at Penn State shares their insights on how the game might unfold.
Max Ralph, a reporter for PennLive, emphasizes the importance of freshman Koby Howard. According to him, “Any chance of a PSU upset will need Howard to make a splash play or two.” He anticipates that Indiana could accumulate nearly 500 yards of offense, given their average of 259.2 passing yards and 245.67 rushing yards per game. With Penn State”s defense still recovering from tough games against Iowa and Ohio State, the Hoosiers are expected to maintain their aggressive approach.
Bob Flounders, another PennLive reporter, points out the need for Penn State”s cornerbacks to perform well. He warns that if the Lions” defensive backs fail to contain Indiana”s receivers, they could face a significant defeat. He predicts Indiana will win 40-16.
Johnny McGonigal also weighs in, highlighting the necessity for defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant to step up against Indiana”s high-scoring offense, which ranks first in the FBS. He predicts Indiana will prevail with a score of 35-23, reflecting a similar performance to their previous matchups.
Photojournalist Joe Hermitt notes that Penn State”s strategy will revolve around stopping either the prolific passing game or the potent rushing attack of Indiana. He expresses concern that if the Lions cannot contain Indiana”s offensive threats, they may find themselves overwhelmed, predicting a score of 41-17 in favor of the Hoosiers.
As the Nittany Lions look to snap their five-game losing streak, the stakes are high. The atmosphere in Beaver Stadium is expected to be electric, as fans hope for a turnaround against a formidable opponent.
