Penn State football has an easy three weeks to open the 2025-26 season (or a "cupcake" non-conference slate, as Paul Finebaum would say) followed by its first bye week. But the Nittany Lions won't be smooth sailing the rest of the way.
CBS Sports' Brad Crawford compiled a list of all Big Ten schools' predicted first loss of the season. Considering Penn State's first testing matchup is Week 5 against Oregon, he has the Nittany Lions going pretty far down the schedule before their first downfall.
CBS Sports' Brad Crawford says Penn State will lose its first game in Week 10 at Ohio State
Penn State at Ohio State is one of the biggest Big Ten games of 2025, and it might be the biggest game of the entire college football season overall. Crawford doesn't have the Nittany Lions coming out of it with a win, though.
"The Buckeyes are [head coach] James Franklin's Kryptonite. Something about those uniforms seems to rattle him, leading to poor execution and questionable decisions. Ohio State has won eight straight in the series and should make it nine," Crawford wrote. "This might not be the only time the two meet this fall."
Kickoff at Ohio Stadium and live streaming has yet to be announced.
CBS Sports' Brad Crawford says Penn State will be Oregon's first loss in Week 5
The Nittany Lions are currently favored to win their 2025 rendition of the White Out game. Crawford agrees with the favoritism and thinks Week 5 against Oregon will also be the first game of the season the Ducks lose.
"A [White Out] date with the Nittany Lions should provide one of the most intimidating environments in the country this fall. Oregon beat Penn State in last year's Big Ten Championship, but now must go into hostile territory in primetime," Crawford wrote. "The good news? It's Oregon's only game against a preseason top-25 opponent."
Kickoff at Beaver Stadium against Oregon is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be watched on NBC or Peacock.
Crawford's full list of predicted losses here: