After opening Big Ten Conference play against the lowly Northwestern Wildcats, the UCLA will get a true test in its second conference matchup. The Bruins will host the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Penn State is an elite program, coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame last season to end a 13-3 season. Head coach James Franklin remains in place for Penn State, as does quarterback Drew Allar. Penn State hopes to build upon an impressive 2024 campaign. Running back Nicholas Singleton is also back for Penn State after rushing for over 1,000 yards last season.
Allar threw for 3,327 yards last year, tossing 24 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. He figures to have an improved receiving core in 2025. Nittany Lions Wire writer Joel Haas previewed Allar’s 2025 season earlier this year.
“Quarterback Drew Allar returns for his fourth and likely final season as a Nittany Lion, looking to avenge last season’s heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals. With a revamped wide receiver corps via a trio of transfers, Allar has arguably the best cast of pass-catchers he’s had since arriving on campus. Allar committed to Penn State as a rising 4-star recruit. The local Ohio State made a late push for Allar after his commitment, but the quarterback never wavered and became Penn State’s highest ranked quarterback commitment since Christian Hackenberg in 2013,” Haas wrote.
Penn State’s offense posted 33.1 points per game, which was good for fourth-best in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions had the best rushing attack in the conference, averaging 202.3 rushing yards per game.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Penn State’s offense will be supremely tough challenge for Ikaika Malloe’s UCLA defense
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
