Penn State football opened its season against Nevada on Saturday, collecting a 46-11 win at home in Beaver Stadium.

As the season gears up to be one of the most anticipated in years, some offseason questions were finally answered when fans got their first look at the team since January. Between the offseason chatter, tight end uncertainty, new transfers, and national championship aspirations, fans took to X with some interesting takes during the game over the weekend.

Andrew Rappleyea Is The Next Great Penn State Tight End

Collin Ward: I think we should slow our role on this a bit. While he showed out in the No. 87 on Saturday, looking offly familiar to Penn State fans, there is not enough game film on him to know how good he will be.

Does he have the potential to be the receiving tight end by the end of the season? Sure, but a packed tight end room with Luke Reynolds and Kahlil Dinkins will make it hard for him to stand out coming off his injury.

Oscar Orellana: I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but the tools are definitely there for Rappleyea to make a name for himself this season. The tight end room, while deep, doesn’t have a clear-cut TE1. Sure, Khalil Dinkins and Luke Reynolds started against Nevada, but Rappleyea squeezed out the most production in his short time on the field with Ethan Grunkemeyer in the fourth quarter.

This might not even be a conversation if Rappleyea got to play beyond week one last year, but injuries happen. However, I do think Rappleyea will have the TE1 spot locked up if given more opportunities with the starting unit further down the line in 2025. “Next great Penn State tight end” might have to wait a little, though.

Cooper Cazares: Slow down! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Andrew Rappleyea isn’t even considered TE1 yet. Despite this, he has the intangibles, but so does his competition. Khalil Dinkins and Luke Reynolds are also 6’4″ and around 250 pounds, making them equal in this regard.

Thus far in his career, Rappleyea is still an unknown in college football competition. After only appearing in three games in 2023 and then getting hurt for the season in 2024 in the season opener against West Virginia, no one knows who this tight end could be. With that being said, he saw the most action on Saturday, securing three balls for 33 yards compared to the other tight ends combining for two receptions. Only time will tell who will emerge as the top target at the position, but it’s definitely too early to be calling him the “next great Penn State tight end.”

Amare Campbell Will Be The Best Linebacker This Season

Collin Ward: I am a Tony Rojas truther and will be until the day that I die. I think that the split time between Dom Deluca and Campbell will limit the star power of either of those two backers, and the speed of Rojas is too much to look past.

While I do think Campbell was a great find for the Nittany Lions in the transfer portal and the green dot will be vital for them this season, the two-linebacker sets Jim Knowles runs will make it hard for him to really stand out amongst the rest.

Oscar Orellana: Amare Campbell’s Penn State debut saw him lead the team in total tackles in three-quarters of play. Franklin announced that Campbell will serve as the defense’s “green dot” leading up the season opener, which means for time on the field for him compared to Tony Rojas and Dom DeLuca.

While Campbell did have a better day on the stat sheet against the Wolf Pack, it’s way too early to call if he’ll be Penn State’s “best” linebacker of the season. Rojas and DeLuca are two veteran Penn Staters who are extremely hungry for a deep run. Not that Campbell isn’t hungry as well, but I just can’t rule out the pair, especially Rojas, when it comes to ranking the talented group.

Cooper Cazares: There is a lot to like about the new addition to “Linebacker U,” but to come in and immediately become the best in the position could prove to be tough when splitting reps with veteran Dom Deleca. Both Campbell and Deluca are the designated mike linebackers and both were given “green dot” status, meaning they are trusted to communicate directly with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles when on the field.

There are plenty of people calling this season a “prove-it year” for Tony Rojas. The Nittany Lion was playing with an injury last year, but still managed to carve out a significant role at the linebacker position. After the first week of competition and offseason chatter, it would seem that Rojas will own the will linebacker position this season.

Between Rojas dominating the will linebacker spot and splitting time at mike, I don’t see Campbell becoming the best in the position for the Nittany Lions; however, his skillset and motor, which were on full display against the Wolf Pack on Saturday, marked an impressive start to his Penn State career.

Early Season ‘Cupcake’ Games Are Valuable

Collin Ward: I fully agree, while Penn State opening the season against teams like Nevada and FIU may not be in the country’s best interest, it helps the Nittany Lions out a ton. First off, it limits the potential of injuries in the first few games as starters can come out in the third quarter, but it also helps Franklin figure out what he has in the young guys.

In Saturday’s games against Nevada, 73 different Penn State players touched the field, a number that would be way lower had the Nittany Lions opened the year at Oregon. This is huge for the development of guys like Ethan Grunkemeyer and Chaz Coleman.

Oscar Orellana: A resounding yes. Penn State had so much roster and coaching turnover in the offseason. The team needs a couple of games to mesh and get up to speed together before playing the Oregons and Ohio States of the world. “Cupcake” games are a staple of college football and literally help everybody involved. Big programs can test different ideas out and figure out their depth chart, while smaller programs get a nice lump sum of cash and play on a bigger stage that most of their players have only ever dreamt of.

Cooper Cazares: This is a great take. The “cupcake” games may not be as exciting for the fans, but they are of the utmost importance for both programs involved.

For Penn State, it gives the Nittany Lions to find their identity before playing a “real” opponent. There is a lot more room for error with the obvious talent difference, allowing for starters to begin working on their in-game chemistry. Not only are starters involved, but the younger reserve players get valuable reps that can show the coaching staff what they could bring to the team later on.

For smaller schools, the experience of playing on the national stage makes for great exposure. On top of that, smaller programs are often given a nice lump sum of money from the larger program.

Dani Dennis-Sutton Will Have A Better Year Than Abdul Carter’s Final Season

Collin Ward: This one I genuinely could see happening. Whereas Carter was an unfinished product that relied on instinct and speed to make a difference in the game, Dennis-Sutton is a pure-bred defensive tackle. Carter finished the 2024 season with 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, numbers that Dennis-Sutton should be able to surpass if he stays healthy.

I also think the team will rely more on Dennis-Sutton due to defensive line depth, and he has a chance to go further, which helps. If Dennis-Sutton ends the 2025 season with either a Big Ten Championship or a national championship and similar numbers to Carter, there’s no doubt I would consider it a better season.

Oscar Orellana: If Saturday was an accurate indication of how 2025 will go for Dani Dennis-Sutton, this isn’t an outrageous thing to say. Dennis-Sutton already matched his season totals from previous years in some statistical categories, like his two forced fumbles against the Wolf Pack.

While I don’t think Dennis-Sutton will statistically best Abdul Carter in overall tackles, he can definitely lead the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss and maybe even sacks when it’s all said and done. If he carves himself out as the premier Big Ten edge rusher and makes some big plays in big games down the road, I think he’ll get just as much hype as Carter come draft time.

Cooper Cazares: This is a sneaky good take. With Dani Dennis-Sutton putting on a defensive end masterclass on Saturday, it isn’t unreasonable to start comparing him to the newly drafted Penn State great. As Collin stated above, Dennis-Sutton is a pure-bred defensive end with a ton of experience at the position, while Carter only had one season to adjust.

Dennis-Sutton was on a tear in the College Football Playoff last season and seemingly got better this offseason. He has set goals for himself to be the best defensive end in college football, and the motor that James Franklin considered endless could land him amongst the greats in Penn State’s program.

Penn State Will Go All The Way

Collin Ward: I believed this was possible before the season, and the Nevada game really didn’t change my opinion on this; it’s just really early.

If anything, the game on Saturday gave me more confidence in the two groups that there might have been question marks around, wide receiver and defensive line. Both Kyron Hudson and Dennis-Sutton look like absolute studs that could lead this team deep into the playoffs.

I am interested to see how Zuriah Fisher and Devonte Ross continue to develop through their injuries, but Penn State no doubt has the roster to end the season at the top of college football.

Oscar Orellana: Yes. I believed when the Nittany Lions signed Trebor Peña, and I am going to continue to believe, barring absolutely extraordinary circumstances. This squad is deep, talented, well-coached, and vastly experienced. In my eyes, 2025 will end with blue and white confetti angels in Miami.

Cooper Cazares: I know it’s early, and usually I’m pessimistic about Penn State’s chances to win the big one, but this year feels different. From the fans to the quality of play, there’s a different level of confidence oozing from State College. Penn State went out and got some missing pieces this offseason, signing names such as Kyron Hudson, Trebor Peña, and Amare Campbell, who all made a difference in the game on Saturday. If not this year, when?