University Park, PA – Penn State (3-0; 0-0; No. 2 AP/No.2 Coaches) completed its nonconference schedule for the 2025 season with a 52-6 win over Villanova Wildcats.
The Nittany Lions received the opening kickoff, proceeded to drive the ball the length of the field where senior running back Nick Singleton capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
The touchdown for Singleton improves his consecutive scoring streak to 10-games, the longest by a Nittany Lion non-quarterback since Saquon Barkley in 2016-17 at 15 games.
Penn State would go up 10-0 early in the second quarter off of Ryan Barker 45 yard field goal. .
Midway through the second quarter, after consecutive first down runs by running backs Singleton and Kaytron Allen, quarterback Drew Allar found tight end Luke Reynolds for a 22-yard reception that set up a second field goal by Barker from 28-yards out to go up 13-0.
Late in the first half, after a 47-yard miss by Villanova kicker Jack Barnum, Penn State executed their two-minute drill as Allar completed four of five passes locating wide receiver Trebor Pena for a 23-yard touchdown.
Following Pena’s first touchdown of the season, Allar connected again with the former Syracuse wide receiver for a two point conversion to give Penn State a 21-0 lead to end the first half.
On Penn State’s first possession of the second half, the Nittany Lions drove to the Villanova 25 yard line where Barker hit his third field goal of the day from 42 yards out to go up 24-0.
On the ensuing Villanova possession, Wildcat quarterback Pat McQuaide was intercepted by Penn State defensive back Elliott Washington II – the first by a Nittany Lion defensive back of the 2025 season.
Penn State was not able to score off the turnover as Allar committed his first turnover of the season when Wildcat linebacker Omari Bursey intercepted a pass intended for Allen at the Wildcat 17-yard line.
After the Penn State defense forced a Villanova punt, Allar connected with tight ends Reynolds and Andrew Rappleyea to set up Singleton’s second rushing touchdown of the day to go up 31-0.
Penn State’s first possession of the fourth quarter featured Allen who rushed for 52 yards on the drive capped by an 18-yard touchdown run to go up 38-0.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.A 34-yard punt return by Devonte Ross set up a short field for the Penn State offense and head coach James Franklin began emptying his bench.
Backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in for Drew Allar, completed his first touchdown pass of the season on an 19-yard connection with redshirt sophomore tight end Joey Schlaffer to go up 45-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Nittany Lion defense got its first defensive touchdown of the season from true freshman cornerback Jahmir Joseph to extend the Penn State lead to 52-0.
Villanova scored a touchdown as time expired to prevent Penn State from having consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1996.
The win improved Penn State to 7-3-1 against Villanova all-time. The last time Villanova defeated Penn State was in a contest played in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1951, by the score of 20-14.
There was an announced 109,516 in paid attendance.
Penn State will have its first bye week of the season next week.
The Nittany Lions next foe will be No. 4 Oregon Ducks on September 27 for the annual White Out in its first Big Ten conference game of the 2025 season
No. 4 Oregon opened its conference schedule today by defeating Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Illinois by the score of 34-14.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 PM (Eastern) in Beaver Stadium, broadcast on NBC and streaming available on Peacock.
