Penn State Football’s 2021 schedule: Ranking Nittany Lions’ toughest games
After the Big Ten announced the schedule for every team Friday, Penn State Football has a final 2021 slate, will open the season with a visit to Wisconsin.
On paper, Penn State Football’s 2021 schedule appears to be one of the toughest in recent memory and potentially the toughest in coach James Franklin’s time in Happy Valley.
The Nittany Lions will play three teams who finished ranked inside the top 25 of the final Follege Football Playoff rankings from this past season; Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana, two of which will be on the road.
Maybe the biggest difference from 2021 to past seasons, is the addition of a marquee non-conference opponent.
The Auburn Tigers will travel to State College in week 3 in one of the bigger non-conference games of the season in college football, potentially even drawing ‘white out’ conditions at Beaver Stadium if fans are permitted.
The Nittany Lions were scheduled for a trip to Blacksburg in 2020 to take on Virginia Tech, however that was canceled due to Covid-19 when the Big Ten and ACC decided to play conference only schedules.
Another unique aspect of the schedule will be opening with a Big Ten opponent. It seems to be a trend the Big Ten is running with as a few other conference games will be played week 1 as well, presumably trying to set up marquee games for the conference to market along with the return of college football on Labor Day weekend.
It is only February, and we have roughly 241 days until Penn State will take the field against the Badgers, but let’s rank the team’s toughest games in 2021.
12. Villanova
This game figures to be similar to the 2019 home opener against Idaho, who was also a FCS opponent. Penn State Football won that one 79-7, as Idaho was thoroughly overmatched in every aspect of the game.
Villanova has become one of the better FCS programs, however, and even though they did not play last season due to Covid-19, they capped off the 2019 campaign ranked No. 17 with a 9-4 record.
This game comes at a good time for the Nittany Lions in week 4, and could be a chance for Franklin to get some guys a bit of a rest in the second half after a brutal three game stretch to open the season. This game is sandwiched between Auburn and a clash with two ranked teams in Indiana and then a trip to Kinnick Stadium and a date with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
For the fans, at least the weather figures to be nice and could offer an excuse to do a little tailgating and enjoy a Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium and watch the home team secure a win.
Penn State Football will name their score in this one.