Penn State Flexes Muscle in 46–11 Romp Over Nevada

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The No. 2-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions opened their 2025 football season in dominant fashion on Saturday with a 46–11 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack at Beaver Stadium. From the opening whistle, Penn State controlled all phases of the game, relying on a balanced offense and a stifling defense to secure the win. Running back Nicholas Singleton scored two touchdowns on the ground, including a one-yard score to start the game and another in the third quarter. Fellow tailback Kaytron Allen added a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, capping off a strong day for the Nittany Lions’ backfield. On the defensive side, Penn State forced three turnovers, including a fumble recovery by AJ Harris and a first-quarter interception by Zane Durant, who stepped in front of a screen pass. “I knew it was a screen,” Durant said. “My initial reaction was I didn’t want to fumble the ball and let my teammates down.” Penn State head coach James Franklin praised his team’s discipline and execution in the opener. “You see a ton of sloppy football early in the season,” Franklin said. “I didn’t see any of that. We didn’t have stupid penalties. We didn’t put the ball on the ground. We didn’t turn it over.” Quarterback Drew Allar was efficient in his 2025 debut, completing 22 of 26 passes for 217 yards and a 31-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kyron Hudson, who finished the day with six receptions for 89 yards. Fellow receiver Trebor Peña added seven catches for 74 yards.

Special teams also contributed, as kicker Ryan Barker made four field goals to help extend the lead. Penn State led 27–3 at halftime and never looked back. Nevada’s only touchdown came in the final minute of the game when backup quarterback AJ Bianco connected with Marcus Bellon for a nine-yard score. The Wolf Pack struggled offensively throughout the game, gaining only 203 total yards, including just 78 rushing yards—50 of which came on their final possession. Penn State’s defensive standout was Dani Dennis-Sutton, who forced two fumbles, notched a sack, and broke up a pass. Nevada head coach Jeff Choate acknowledged his impact, saying, “That No. 33 is as advertised.” Though the win came against a Nevada team with a 7–29 record over the past three seasons, Penn State looked every bit like a national title contender. The Nittany Lions will face tougher tests ahead, including a marquee matchup against No. 3 Ohio State, who opened their season with a win over top-ranked Texas.