It’s not yet official when Penn State will play West Virginia Week 1.
But it’s guaranteed to be an anticipated matchup.
PSU— by coach James Franklin’s admission— doesn’t go out of its way to play Power Four schools in the non-conference season, so when Penn State does play one, it’s noteworthy.
Although Penn State’s “rivalry” with West Virginia has been quite one sided (49-9-2 in favor of Penn State), it’s still a regional contest that brings college football fans of a certain age back to a different world. This season, Penn State goes to Morgantown for the first time since 1992, and at least one college football analyst feels it’s one of the country’s top non-conference games.
According to Brad Crawford of 247 Sports, the season opening battle between the Mountaineers and Nittany Lions is one of the 10 must-watch non-conference games of the season.
Regardless of when the game takes place, Penn State will need to fight through a rowdy West Virginia crowd to beat WVU for the second year in a row.
The game being in Morgantown isn’t enough for DraftKings to give West Virginia much of a chance to beat PSU. While Penn State isn’t as big a favorite as it was last season— an 38-15 win under the Beaver Stadium lights— the early line has PSU favored by 12.5.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.There’s also intrigue and some storyline carryover from the 2023 edition. In addition to the 2023 game marking the first the time two historic programs faced off in decades, the night ended with some controversy.
Despite being up by two scores, Franklin decided to try to get another touchdown rather than take a knee, and PSU succeeded, scoring with six seconds left. Brown didn’t like that too much.
“I wouldn’t have done it,” Brown said in his postgame presser. ”But it doesn’t bother me. Stuff like that comes back around.”
After a 9-4 (6-3) season and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, West Virginia is hungry to start the 2024 season getting revenge on Penn State.
You can find West Virginia coverage at our partner West Virginia Sports Now.
