The Nevada Wolf Pack (0-0) kick off their new campaign with a daunting trip to Happy Valley, where the third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0) await at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
For Jeff Choate, this is only year two in charge, but he’s already tasked with trying to spark a turnaround after a bumpy 3-10 debut season. The Wolf Pack's record may look bleak on paper, but it doesn't tell the full story—six of those defeats came by a single score. Close, but not quite close enough. If Nevada can flip even half of those narrow heartbreaks into wins, a bowl berth in 2025 isn't out of the question. That said, opening against one of the nation’s heavyweights is hardly the softest landing spot.
James Franklin's Nittany Lions enter the year with a chip on their shoulder, after last season’s playoff run ended one step shy of the national title game. Penn State went 13-3, bowing out to eventual runner-up Notre Dame in the quarterfinals, but the core of that team returns, and expectations are sky-high. Ranked No. 3 to start the season, PSU has its eyes firmly fixed on a playoff return and perhaps their first national crown since 1986.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Penn State vs Nevada NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Penn State vs Nevada: Date and kick-off time
The Nittany Lions will take on the Wolf Pack in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 3:30 pm ET or 12:30 pm PT, at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| Date | Saturday, August 30, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 3:30 pm ET or 12:30 pm PT |
| Venue | West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
How to watch Penn State vs Nevada on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: CBS
- Streaming service: Fubo
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Penn State vs Nevada team news & key players
Penn State Nittany Lions team news
At the heart of it all is veteran quarterback Drew Allar, now in his fourth season. He pilots an offense that ranked 23rd nationally a year ago, though the aerial attack lagged behind at 59th. Wide receiver depth is the biggest question mark—both starters left via transfer, leaving Liam Clifford as the lone familiar face. To offset the losses, Franklin raided the portal, landing Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross, and Trebor Pena.
At tight end, PSU must move on from All-American Tyler Warren, though Khalil Dinkins and Luke Reynolds are poised to fill the void. If the passing game sputters, the Lions can always fall back on their bread and butter: the run game. Nicholas Singleton and Kayton Allen form one of the nation’s most feared backfield tandems, and they’ll be running behind an experienced offensive line anchored by All-Big Ten guard Olaivavega Ioane.
Defensively, Penn State remains loaded. Last year, they finished top five in total defense and seventh against the run. Zane Duran leads a defensive front that should once again stonewall opposing rushing attacks. While edge terror Abdul Carter has moved on to the NFL, Dani Dennis-Sutton looks more than ready to step into the spotlight after an 8.5-sack season. At linebacker, senior Dom DeLuca provides stability, while the secondary remains strong with lockdown corner A.J. Harris headlining. Safety is the only area with some inexperience, but the talent pipeline is deep.
Injury-wise, PSU could be without tight end Andrew Rappleyea (questionable), while wideout Kaden Saunders has been ruled out.
Nevada Wolf Pack team news
As for Nevada, the offense will be steered by Chubby Purdy, who's bounced around from Florida State to Nebraska before finally landing in Reno. Now, the Wolf Pack is his team to lead. He’ll have fresh weapons at his disposal, including Texas Tech transfer Jordan Brown and speedster Nate Burleson II, while Utah State import Herschel Turner takes over lead back duties after averaging over five yards a carry last season.
The offensive line has been rebuilt through the portal, with Andrew Madrigal the lone returning mainstay. Statistically, Nevada's attack was middle-of-the-pack last year—85th nationally in total offense—but the signs of progress were there. Another step forward, and Choate’s group could be far more dangerous.
Defensively, the Wolf Pack has plenty to fix. They finished 83rd overall in 2024, ranking a lowly 108th against the run but an impressive 37th against the pass. The lack of a consistent pass rush didn’t help, but returnees Dylan Labarbera and Jonathan Moldanado are back to crank up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Linebacker Stone Combs, fourth on the team in tackles last season, will be key to shoring up the run defense. The secondary will look different after an influx of transfer talent, but last year’s form offers some optimism.
Injury news is clear for Nevada: no reported absences.