Paws Up Preview – FIU Football @ Penn State

---

DATE – Saturday, September 6th

TIME – Noon EST

OPPONENT – Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)

VENUE – Beaver Stadium (State College, Pennsylvania)

HOW TO WATCH – Big Ten Network

ODDS – Penn State -41.5

The 2025 FIU Football season started with a bang. Head Coach Willie Simmons earned his first win as the head coach of an FBS team in dominant fashion, taking down Bethune-Cookman. As it was Week One, some jitters and errors can and should be corrected.

To the FIU faithful who weathered the rain, lightning, and hour-long delay, thank you. 🫶

Pitbull Stadium is BUMPING! 😼#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/q5YhgnkwCY

— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) August 30, 2025

However, this upcoming opponent is a different animal altogether, literally. The Penn State Nittany Lions are the #2 team in the nation according to the latest AP Poll. They have aspirations to win the College Football National Championship, and might have the right coach and roster for the job.

Basically, this is a tune-up game for Penn State in their eyes. Between their season opener against Nevada, this game, and their upcoming matchup against Villanova (FCS), they’re gearing themselves up for the big-time showdown against Oregon on September 27th.

Taking Care Of Business, For Real

How good does it feel to wallop an FCS opponent again?

For Coach Simmons, it was business as usual. They made some mistakes that are expected in the first game of the season, but are unacceptable nonetheless. Between penalties, a botched punt return, and the occasional big-play from B-CU, these are things FIU wants to address before facing off against a team that won’t hold any punches.

“We want to be the type of team that we’re capable of being,” said Coach Simmons. “But again, I think the guys in the room took it to heart when we talked about it on Sunday and had two excellent days of preparation so far in that phase.”

“We’ll need it this week, because obviously, we play a game like this where we’re heavy underdogs, you need some things to go your way, and special teams are those individual plays that can give you those huge chunks of yardage, those field position flips, game momentum, or take back momentum.”

Here's a closer look at how Kejon Owens got his SECOND TUDDY of the night! 🙀

📸 – @RickScores #FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/edXAKYSNjI

— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) August 30, 2025

One of the biggest takeaways of the game was FIU’s efficiency in the red zone, going 6-6 on the ground. They also spread the ball out through the air, as 13 different playmakers caught passes from both Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky.

Overall, this was a feel-good win against an opponent that the Panthers were clearly better than.

Taking On A Natty Favorite

Here comes the Penn State Nittany Lions, a member of the Big Ten Conference. They fell to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl last season at Hard Rock Stadium and are looking to make it further in the CFP in 2025.

They certainly have the roster to do so, with a wide array of returning players, including quarterback Drew Allar. He had a remarkable 2024 campaign, with 3,327 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with an additional 302 yards and six scores on the ground.

Sunday Morning Highlights: Episode 01 📼 pic.twitter.com/H2EvF1Iu85

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 31, 2025

In addition, their running game also features the dynamic duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who combined for over 2,200 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

Receiving-wise, they lost their star tight end, Tyler Warren, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts. However, they loaded up with new talent for their receivers, with USC-transfer Kyron Hudson looking like a potential WR1.

On defense, they limited Nevada to 11 points, with only 125 passing yards and 78 rushing yards. They also forced three turnovers by the Wolf Pack, with two lost fumbles. UNC-transfer Amare Campbell led the way with six total tackles, while Zane Durant recorded his first interception of the season.

Who Will Win – FIU or Penn State?

Penn State, of course. Hey, nobody thought NIU could knock off Notre Dame last season until it actually happened.

But don’t think the Panthers are coming here to get whacked and collect a paycheck. This might be a warm-up game for the Nittany Lions, but it will also be an opportunity for FIU to experiment. Every position group will have a chance to see where they stack up against one of the best teams in the nation.

Any positives should prove exciting for the Shula Bowl next week alongside the upcoming CUSA slate. And if they somehow pull it off and knock off Penn State?

Get that Willie Simmons statue ready at Pitbull Stadium.

PENN STATE – 45

FIU – 17

About Post Author