No. 7 Penn State football takes the road for the first time in 2025, heading to UCLA for its second Big Ten contest of the fall. The Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) lost in double overtime in the at-home White Out against Oregon that took the No. 2 spot on the AP Top 25 Poll as a result of the Week 5 outcome.
Facing the Bruins (0-4, 0-1 Big Ten) who have yet to record a win is a chance to redirect the season for head coach James Franklin away from the inconsistency that plagued the first four games of the season. UCLA is currently dealing with coaching issues after firing DeShaun Foster and bringing Tim Skipper up as interim head coach for the time being. Under Skipper's leadership, the Bruins lost one game, 17-14 to Northwestern in Week 5. That means both UCLA and Penn State are seeking their first conference win of the season. Though the Bruins have the advantage of being at home, it's easier for East Coast teams to head west than vice versa.
Both are off to shaky starts in one way or another. A win for the Nittany Lions is a shift to get back on track while a win for UCLA is a statement victory.
Line: Penn State -24.5
Money Line: Penn State -4000 / UCLA +1500
Over/Under: 48.5
Here are our team's predictions for how Saturday's Nittany Lions v. Bruins contest plays out:
Sydney Ciano: Penn State 30, UCLA 10
Penn State needs to use this game as a confidence builder after falling to Oregon in Week 5. Hitting the halfway mark of the season, now, the Nittany Lions need to eliminate the sloppiness and go into each game on the gas. That has yet to be seen since Week 1 against Nevada. The offense lagged the past three games with the running back room's inefficiency, quarterback Drew Allar's inconsistency, the tight end room's invisibility, and the wide receiver room's in inauspiciousness. If all of those pieces can turn around, whether that's a 180 flip or even a 45-degree step in the right direction, Penn State can move forward confidently towards a real challenge upcoming on the schedule (e.g. Iowa, Ohio State, or Indiana).
While the defense is a consistent strength for the blue and white, UCLA won't get shutout entirely. Defensive depth is also something head coach James Franklin and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles discussed since the preseason. There are multiple players that can fill in at different positions, and Week 6 is the time for that depth to show. With star linebacker Tony Rojas out for a substantial amount of time due to a long-term injury, it's Dominic DeLuca's time to step back into the spotlight he isn't unfamiliar with. The defense will continue warding off the Bruins, but UCLA won't battle for nothing. Enough progress will be made for the Bruins to get up on the board, but at the end of the day, it's the Nittany Lions' game to lose (and they won't).
Asher Fair: Penn State 31, UCLA 13
Myles Hannak: Penn State 35, UCLA 14
Scott Mitchell: Penn State 42, UCLA 10