This year’s Blue-White Game is upon us, and here are some things Penn State fans need to know.
The biggest difference between 2025’s game compared to what fans have grown used to is that it won’t be on TV.
A big reason it won’t be on TV is because of Beaver Stadium itself.
The stadium is currently in the midst of a multi-year renovation process, and therefore, there will be no seating on the west side yet. It’s also quite possible that Penn State wants to keep players off TV because of the transfer portal. After all, if other programs aren’t watching Penn State on TV, it will be hard for them to scout talent.
For those who will be either at the spring game or listening to it, here are some things to keep an eye/ear on.
THE FORMAT
In coach James Franklin’s last pre-Blue-White media availability, he explained what the format will be.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.- The first period will consist of THUD tackling, where nobody will go to the ground
- The rest of the game will be more traditional tackle football
- Quarters will be shorter
- Halftime will either be abbreviated or nonexistent
NEW BLOOD
It’s no secret that Penn State needed help at receiver this offseason. The team got help in the transfer portal with Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devontae Ross (Troy) coming to Happy Valley. Hudson has five seasons of Power Four experience. Ross went for 1,000 yards in the Sun Belt last year. We probably won’t learn too much— good or bad— about the new blood Saturday. But it will be the first time we get to see them in anything resembling a football game at Penn State, and that’s noteworthy. It’s also noteworthy that Penn State could well add Syracuse transfer WR Trebor Pena, an All-ACC performer in 2024.
COOP DE’VILLE
Many key players won’t get a ton of playing time in the Blue-White Game. Fans expecting to see guys like Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Dani Dennis-Sutton ball out will probably be disappointed in their limited workload. But for younger players like sophomore Cooper Cousins, this is a big opportunity. Cousins— who has drawn comparisons to the Pouncy brothers— will be, in Franklin’s words, “hard to keep off the field.” If Cousins is to start this season, it will probably he at right guard, a position vacant due to Sal Wormley being out of eligibility. The only way Cousins doesn’t start is if PSU moves either Nolan Rucci or Anthony Donkoh to guard to the other can start at tackle. Otherwise, the job will likely be his, and he can give fans a preview Saturday.
WHO’S NO. 2?
Everybody knows Drew Allar is Penn State’s starter. The battle for No. 2 is less certain. Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer was the team’s backup by the end of last season, so he has an advantage over redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik, who was hurt throughout last year. But Franklin spoke glowingly of Smolik earlier this spring and said the backup QB battle won’t be settled for a while.
Could we find out more Saturday?
THE WEATHER?
So what’s the weather going to be like Saturday? Per The Weather Channel, it will be 65 degrees and sunny when the game begins at 2 and will be 60 by four, when the game will be winding down.
