Purdue Opponent Preview: Penn State

Purdue enters Year Two of the Ryan Walters era looking for growth following a 4-8 debut campaign. The Boilermakers will again face one of the nation’s most demanding schedules, a daunting proposition as they hope to return to postseason play.

Throughout the summer, GoldandBlack.com will preview each of Purdue’s 2024 opponents. Today, we take a look at the Penn State Nittany Lions with the help of Nate Bauer from Blue-White Illustrated.

The overview

Though Purdue and Penn State have met just 20 times on the gridiron, the results don’t look pretty. Purdue will look to improve its 3-16-1 record against the Nittany Lions when they come to town in November. Penn State enters on a 10-game win streak against Purdue, who last won in 2004 in Happy Valley. The last meeting between the two came in the 2022 season opener, when Penn State found the end zone late to edge Purdue in a Thursday night heartbreaker. This year’s contest will serve as Senior Day for the Boilermakers.

Name to know: offense

The usual suspects are pretty straightforward to the Nittany Lions’ opportunities for offensive success this season. Drew Allar at quarterback, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton at running back, and Tyler Warren at tight end. None will swing Penn State’s season more with their performance than receiver Trey Wallace, though. Desperate for a game-changing threat at the position, he’s the only option in the room and has the ability to do it. The issue? The same was expected of last year’s injury-riddled season. 

Name to know: defense

Abdul Carter’s shift from linebacker to end made, and deserved, headlines all offseason. His impact will again be massive for new defensive coordinator Tom Allen as it opens the door to splash plays and negative-yardage opportunities on that side of the ball. He’s already considered a likely first round NFL Draft pick after the 2024 season.

Biggest question:

Can this team get over the hump? 

The reality for Penn State is that it has been a very good program over the past two seasons, without much opportunity on the schedule to demonstrate it. Clearly below Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten pecking order, the Nittany Lions have also been clearly ahead of virtually everyone else in the conference. This year, the Wolverines are off the docket, but the schedule takes a new shape with relatively unfamiliar opponents like Southern Cal, Washington, UCLA, Wisconsin, Purdue, West Virginia, and Minnesota on deck. No longer needing 11 or 12 regular season wins to reach the playoff, Penn State’s task is at once easier and more difficult than either of the past couple of campaigns. How it handles it could shape the program’s immediate and long-term future in many ways.

Key newcomer

Cornerback AJ Harris didn’t stick at Georgia, but the former No. 39-ranked prospect in the Class of 2023 has an opportunity to immediately make a splash on the back end of the Nittany Lions’ defense. Receiver Julian Fleming and offensive lineman Nolan Rucci will both have an opportunity to compete for starting jobs in preseason camp, but Harris’ performance will be a critical ingredient to the program’s success this season.

Early outlook on Purdue vs. Penn State

The series history doesn’t favor Purdue, nor does the early outlook on the 2024 season. Penn State enters as a consensus College Football Playoff contender with Big Ten title aspirations, while Purdue hopes to return to the postseason and reach the six-win mark. But a limited offense can hold the Nittany Lions back at times. If Purdue can show enough prowess on the offensive end to hang in this one late, it can force the Nittany Lions to win on the offensive end rather than dominate on defense.

2024 expectations

This is a make-or-break year for Penn State, and everyone seems to know it. The highly touted Class of 2022 had its breakout as freshmen but had some wobbly moments last year. Now, they’re going to be called upon to deliver the success that has proven elusive to the program for the past two seasons. Does it mean James Franklin is in danger of being fired, or that there won’t be an opportunity to reach the expanded playoff next year? Of course not. But, if college football is a momentum sport in ways large and small, this is the moment where Penn State either stalls out as a program that can’t quite get over the hump or finally is unencumbered by the dissolution of the stacked Big Ten East division and makes waves. The expectations are for this team to have enough firepower to take the next step.

2024 Purdue schedule

Date	Opponent
Aug. 31	Indiana State, Noon ET, BTN
Sept. 7	OFF
Sept. 14	Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Sept. 21	at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. ET, CW
Sept. 28	Nebraska
Oct. 5	at Wisconsin
Oct. 12	at Illinois
Oct. 18	Oregon, 8 p.m. ET, FOX (Friday)
Oct. 26	OFF
Nov. 2	Northwestern
Nov. 9	at Ohio State
Nov. 16	Penn State
Nov. 22	at Michigan State, 8 p.m. ET, FOX (Friday)
Nov. 30	at Indiana

Previous previews: Indiana State | Notre Dame | Oregon State | Nebraska | Wisconsin | Illinois | Oregon | Northwestern | Ohio State