Penn State Hosts FIU in Season’s Second Game Following Schedule Announcement

Penn State faced Florida International University at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, marking the Nittany Lions’ second contest of the 2025 season after the Big Ten released their conference slate in December. The noon kickoff on BTN continued Penn State’s non-conference schedule build-up toward key Big Ten dates later this fall.

The Big Ten’s December announcement outlined a seven-game home schedule for Penn State, highlighted by marquee matchups against Oregon (Sept. 27), Northwestern (Oct. 11) and Nebraska (Nov. 22). The league slate opens Sept. 27 against Oregon, while conference road tests include trips to UCLA (Oct. 4), Iowa (Oct. 18), Ohio State (Nov. 1), Michigan State (Nov. 15) and Rutgers (Nov. 29).

By design, Penn State’s 2025 schedule features a manageable non-conference start-Nevada (Aug. 30), FIU (Sept. 6) and Villanova (Sept. 13)-before Big Ten play ramps up. Two bye weeks bookend the marquee home dates, providing rest ahead of matchups with Oregon and Ohio State.

Today’s FIU game served as a continuation of coach James Franklin’s strategy to pace the season’s opening stretch, setting the stage for the annual White Out against Oregon and a critical West Coast test at UCLA. The balanced spread between high-profile contests and tune-ups aims to maximize Penn State’s College Football Playoff résumé.

Pending results from today’s matchup, Penn State will return to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 13 for Villanova before shifting focus entirely to conference play. The season then moves into its decisive phase, with a core stretch of games against Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana defining the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten title aspirations.