Despite a perfect record and a shutout victory last week, Penn State coach James Franklin wants more from his second-ranked Nittany Lions before their schedule intensifies.
Penn State (2-0) hosts Villanova (1-0) on Saturday in their final tune-up before a highly anticipated Sept. 27 rematch with No. 4 Oregon of last year’s Big Ten championship game.
The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1. Fans looking to watch this college football game can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial, or FuboTV, which also offers a free trial as well as up to $25 off your first month. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available for streaming the game.
“We’ve left a lot of meat on the bone,” Franklin said following Penn State’s 34-0 win over FIU.
The coach pointed to an offense operating at just 10.9% explosiveness and converting only 3 of 12 third downs against the Panthers. These inefficiencies allowed FIU to control the ball for more than 34 minutes.
“They’ll come organically just by doing the things we should be doing,” Franklin said of explosive plays. “Breaking tackles, making people miss as receivers, and running backs, maximizing the opportunities that we get, hitting a few more of the throws, straining in protection a little bit longer, all those things.”
Drops, penalties, missed blocks and inaccurate throws have hampered the Nittany Lions, though they’ve still dominated non-conference opponents Nevada and FIU.
Defensively, Penn State posted its fifth shutout in five seasons — making them the only FBS team with that distinction. However, FIU managed to mount six drives into Penn State territory as players continue adapting to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ system.
“I do think we can be more of a suffocating style defense,” Franklin said. “I still think our defense is thinking and not playing as fast as maybe we have in the past.”
The defensive front received a boost with the return of end Zuriah Fisher, who hadn’t played since the 2023 Peach Bowl. He joins standout Dani Dennis-Sutton, who already has 4½ tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defended this season.
For Villanova, Saturday’s contest represents more than just competition. Coach Mark Ferrante values these “guarantee games” against FBS opponents for the financial support they provide his program.
“These games mean a lot,” Ferrante said. “Who knew four years later they’d be No. 2 in the country. But I always say, if we’re going to play a money game or a guarantee game, then I prefer it to be a bus trip, because as soon as you have to take a charter, it’s going to eat up some of that money you’re trying to put back in the program.”
The 179-mile journey to Penn State marks Villanova’s third bus trip to an FBS stadium in four years. The teams last met in 2021, with Penn State winning 38-17.
Who: Penn State vs. Villanova
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Sept. 13
Where: Beaver Stadium
Stream: DirecTV (free trial); FuboTV (free trial); Paramount+ (free trial);SlingTV;ESPN+; Peacock; Max
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Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by the source. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive
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