After a chaotic week for Penn State football, it's back to business on the field as the Nittany Lions (3-0, 3-3 Big Ten) take on Iowa on the road in Week 8. The blue and white seek its first Big Ten win of the season and an end to its three-game losing streak sustained since Week 5.
Interim head coach Terry Smith said that his focus is on getting the locker room back in the mindset to go out and win games, but there are many faulty pieces to do so. Losing former head coach James Franklin midseason is a tumultuous event regardless of its necessity. Player focus is disrupted and staff alignment is as well.
Even with Smith's best efforts to regroup, including in his potential success in doing so, there's another barrier in his way. Quarterback Drew Allar is officially out for the season, meaning backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will take his place under center for the remainder of 2025-26. His first career start comes at a huge moment. The Hawkeyes kickoff a tough three-week schedule followed by No. 1 Ohio State in Week 10 and No. 3 Indiana in Week 11.
Line: Penn State +2.5
Money Line: Penn State +132, Iowa -156
Over/Under: 40.5
Here are our team's predictions for how Saturday's Nittany Lions v. Hawkeyes contest plays out:
Sydney Ciano - Penn State 20, Iowa 24
If the aftermath from Week 7 wasn't a wakeup call for Penn State, I don't know what is. Big Ten play so far this season proved anyone can outcompete the blue and white, and the rest of the season is time for the Nittany Lions to prove there's more to them than disappointment. Unfortunately, the first game to do so is against Iowa. On top of that, they have to face the Hawkeyes on the road. Iowa's advantage in terms of stability is going to show against Penn State.
All signs are pointing to yet another loss for the Nittany Lions. Beating the Hawkeyes at home was already a difficult task, and that was when Penn State was still ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.
What's keeping the Nittany Lions in the game is the fact that the entire team didn't disappear. They still have running back Kaytron Allen who got the right number of snaps in Week 7 to complement his performance so far in 2025. They still have their defensive stars in Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and Zakee Wheatley. Dominic DeLuca is adjusted to Tony Rojas' linebacker role. These elements are intact, but sustaining a solid, win-worthy game for four quarters is difficult with a quarterback who still needs to develop in-game chemistry with wide receiver and overall confidence.
fiThe Nittany Lions will have a lot of determination and grit to perform well for those who are no longer on the field for them, Allar and James Franklin. It's just an unfortunately short amount of time to bounce back from the hectic week while also managing playing on the road.
If Saturday is anything for Penn State, it will be a moral victory, one for the locker room. For the first time in 2025, it's the Nittany Lions' opponent's game to lose.
Asher Fair - Penn State 21, Iowa 26