Feeling stressed yet, folks?

After narrowly missing its first-ever National Championship game appearance, Penn State enters 2025 with a bigger target on its back compared to previous years. Several powerful Big Ten opponents stand in the Nittany Lions’ way as they try and reach the promised land, including the reigning national champion.

We took a look at which games are most likely to give Penn State fans a heart attack in 2025.

No. 12: September 13 vs. Villanova

Despite its strong season last year, Villanova is an FCS program and a Pennsylvania school heading to Happy Valley for Penn State’s final tune-up before Big Ten play. I just can’t see how this will end happily for the Wildcats.

No. 11: August 30 vs. Nevada

Nevada went 3-10 overall and 0-7 in Mountain West Play last year despite some close affairs with teams like San Jose State and a win over Oregon State. However, there’s a reason Penn State is paying Nevada upwards of $1 million for this game – it should be a surefire win to open up the season.

No. 10: September 6 vs. FIU

Penn State’s first noon matchup of the season will see the Nittany Lions face Conference USA’s FIU in the middle of this season’s non-conference slate. The Panthers finished 4-8 last season with the 133rd-ranked strength of schedule. Penn State should be able to clip the Panthers’ claws easily in Week 2.

No. 9: October 11 vs. Northwestern

It’s no secret that Northwestern has been a bottom-feeder in the Big Ten in recent seasons. The Wildcats took a major step down from their 8-5 year in 2023 last season, finishing 4-8 with a 2-7 conference record. Despite landing SMU quarterback Preston Stone and South Dakota State wide receiver Griffin Wilde in the transfer portal, Northwestern still looks like easy pickings for Penn State in the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming and Stripe Out game.

No. 8: November 15 At Michigan State

Michigan State’s main issues in 2024 stemmed from a shaky offensive line and inconsistent play from now-junior quarterback Aidan Chiles, who finished last season with 11 interceptions, most in the Big Ten.

Despite bringing in four transfer wide receivers, Penn State should be able to comfortably overcome Jonathan Smith’s team in East Lansing as the Spartans continue to revamp their program.

No. 7: October 4 At UCLA

UCLA’s second season in the Big Ten sees another battle with Penn State, this time on the West Coast at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Last season, the Nittany Lions bested the Bruins 27-11 in Beaver Stadium behind a dominant defensive showing.

However, UCLA looks a little different in 2025, mostly due to the whirlwind offseason transfer acquisition of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Bruins also overhauled most of their defensive unit, especially in the secondary.

Overall, the storylines following UCLA into the season at the quarterback position provide an extra frame of mind to navigate for second-year head coach DeShaun Foster. The Bruins will put up a fight, but Penn State will sail smoothly in the second half, just like last season, to secure the cross-country win in the Nittany Lions’ first away trip of 2025.

No. 6: November 29 At Rutgers

Coming off of back-to-back 7-6 seasons, Rutgers is poised to make a leap within the Big Ten standings in 2025. The Scarlet Knights retained most of their stout offensive unit from a season ago and defeated solid competition like Washington and Minnesota last year. The program’s season ended with a nail-biting 44-41 Rate Bowl loss to Kansas State, and the tools are in place for another Scarlet Knights bowl appearance.

Penn State’s regular season finale in Piscataway will be a closer affair than most think if Penn State is able to clinch a spot in the Big Ten title game sooner rather than later, as opposed to last season. If that happens, expect some backups to get some in-game experience as the Scarlet Knights give the Nittany Lions a solid run for their money in the first half.

No. 5: November 22 vs. Nebraska

Penn State’s Senior Day sees the Nittany Lions pitted against the Cornhuskers for the first time since 2020 and first time at Beaver Stadium since 2017. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola was a prominent name in college football last season for his combination of indisputable arm talent and turbulent decision-making, but big additions on the offensive, like Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler from the transfer porta,l can revolutionize Matt Rhule’s offense.

The Cornhuskers also made their first bowl game in seven years last season, and a deeper roster for Rhule to play around with in 2025 could see Nebraska contend in the top half of the conference. While Penn State should be able to come out with a solid win, this matchup is a solid one to close out Beaver Stadium’s regular season slate.

No. 4: November 8 vs. Indiana

We’re now entering the tough ones, folks.

Indiana is fresh off of arguably its greatest season ever. The Hoosiers stormed the college football world out of nowhere, finishing the year with an 11-2 record, a No. 10 ranking in the final AP Poll, and a College Football Playoff appearance.

Head coach Curt Cignetti’s team scored 72 touchdowns in 2024, and the offense looks to get even more explosive with the addition of Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza in place of Kurtis Rourke. The defensive unit also finished last season as No. 2 in total defense and No. 6 in scoring defense with little turnover in the roster.

Penn State’s Helmet Stripe game should make for one of college football’s premier contests of the weekend as the Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium after almost a month away from home.

No. 3: October 18 At Iowa

While Iowa may not be as well-rounded as a team on paper as Indiana and possibly even Nebraska, the Hawkeyes are just such a tough out for Penn State in recent years. Iowa has taken two of the last three battles against the Nittany Lions, and 2025’s matchup is shaping up to be as close as ever.

Iowa’s biggest offseason splash was securing South Dakota State transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has four years of FCS play under his belt, along with two FCS national titles. The offensive and defensive lines remain sturdy with returning players across the board. Despite the loss of Big Ten leading rusher Kaleb Johnson, Iowa has a myriad of weapons like running back Kamari Moulton in position to showcase a new side of explosiveness to the Hawkeyes’ offense.

There’s no doubt that Kinnick Stadium will be absolutely bumping on October 18. But the real question is: Will Penn State be up for the challenge?

No. 2: September 27 vs. Oregon

The Nittany Lions and the Ducks meet for the first time in the Big Ten regular season in the greatest show in college sports: the Penn State White Out.

The teams clashed in last season’s explosive Big Ten Championship, with Oregon ultimately claiming the conference title with a 45-37 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Ducks finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record in Big Ten play, but ultimately lost out on national title hopes with a bad Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State.

Despite how the season ended for both programs, the Big Ten title game paved the way for this star-studded White Out matchup. Oregon secured arguably the best transfer running back in Tulane’s Makhi Hughes despite losing big names like quarterback Dillon Gabriel and wide receiver Tez Johnson to the NFL draft. Head coach Dan Lanning will have the Ducks locked and loaded for a completely off-the-rails night at Beaver Stadium.

It’s also important to note that this matchup serves as Penn State’s first Big Ten game of the season, coming directly after the post-non-conference slate bye week. If the Nittany Lions want to paint themselves as a serious contender early on, this is an absolute must-win affair.

No. 1: November 1 At Ohio State

Ohio State, Ohio State, Ohio State.

Penn State will travel to Columbus to start the back half of the season against the reigning national champions. The Buckeyes handled the Nittany Lions last season in Beaver Stadium, 20-13, extending their series win streak to eight. Penn State has not beaten Ohio State since 2016, which was James Franklin’s third year with the program.

This matchup is Penn State’s chance to silence the doubters of the college football world, and this is where the season must be made. Ohio State lost so much in the offseason, but Ryan Day won’t let his team falter. Fans can’t forget that the Buckeyes are still loaded with incredible talent like quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Carnell Tate, despite the massive NFL exodus.

The Nittany Lions will have to play a near-perfect game in a blacked-out Ohio Stadium to solidify themselves as 2025’s face of the Big Ten.