The 2025 Penn State soccer schedule is about to be launched quickly, and followers are eagerly awaiting the announcement. The Nittany Lions are coming off a profitable 2024 season, through which they completed 11-2 and gained the Rose Bowl. Expectations are excessive for the 2025 season, and the schedule will play a giant function in figuring out whether or not the Nittany Lions can meet these expectations.
Penn State will open the 2025 season at residence towards the West Virginia Mountaineers. This would be the first assembly between the 2 faculties since 2016. The Mountaineers are coming off a 6-7 season in 2024, however they’ve a gifted roster and could possibly be a tricky opponent for the Nittany Lions.
After the opener towards West Virginia, Penn State will journey to face the Auburn Tigers. This would be the first assembly between the 2 faculties since 2012. The Tigers are coming off a disappointing 5-7 season in 2024, however they’ve a whole lot of expertise and could possibly be a tricky opponent for the Nittany Lions. Penn State will then have a bye week earlier than internet hosting the Maryland Terrapins. The Terrapins are coming off a 7-6 season in 2024, and so they could possibly be a tricky opponent for the Nittany Lions. Penn State will then journey to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes are coming off a 12-1 season in 2024, and they’re one of many favorites to win the nationwide championship in 2025. This will likely be a tricky check for the Nittany Lions, however it should even be an amazing alternative for them to show themselves towards the most effective groups within the nation.
Nittany Lions Face Difficult Slate in 2025
Returning Residence for a Rematch
The Nittany Lions could have an opportunity to avenge final yr’s robust loss to the Maryland Terrapins after they host the Large Ten East rival at residence. Maryland has been a thorn within the aspect of Penn State in recent times, posting a powerful 3-2 report towards the Nittany Lions since 2014. With the Terrapins’ high-powered offense, led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Penn State’s protection will likely be examined as soon as once more.
Looking forward to the remainder of the schedule, Penn State will face a frightening job with three highway video games towards top-10 opponents: Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The Ohio State matchup holds specific significance, as it should mark the one hundredth anniversary of the first-ever assembly between the 2 faculties. Penn State may even host two different Large Ten East opponents, Indiana and Michigan State, at Beaver Stadium.
Along with the convention schedule, Penn State will face 4 non-conference opponents: Ball State, St. Francis, West Virginia, and Pitt. The sport towards Pitt will function the ultimate sport of the common season and will likely be performed at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 30 | Ball State | Beaver Stadium |
| September 6 | St. Francis | Beaver Stadium |
| September 13 | Maryland | Beaver Stadium |
| September 20 | West Virginia | Beaver Stadium |
| September 27 | at Ohio State | Ohio Stadium |
| October 4 | Indiana | Beaver Stadium |
| October 11 | at Michigan | Michigan Stadium |
| October 18 | BYE | |
| October 25 | at Wisconsin | Camp Randall Stadium |
| November 1 | Michigan State | Beaver Stadium |
| November 8 | BYE | |
| November 15 | Rutgers | SHI Stadium |
| November 22 | at Pitt | Acrisure Stadium |
Key Matchups within the Penn State Soccer Schedule
Highlighting Key Conferences Conflict
Inside the Large Ten Convention, Penn State has a number of essential video games that may form their season. The annual rivalry sport towards Ohio State on October twenty fifth at residence will likely be a pivotal matchup. The Buckeyes have been a constant contender for the Faculty Soccer Playoff, and the Nittany Lions might want to play their greatest to tug off an upset.
The Michigan sport on November fifteenth in Ann Arbor may even be a serious check. The Wolverines are coming off a Faculty Soccer Playoff look and can pose a formidable problem for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions may even face robust highway video games towards Wisconsin on October 18th and Purdue on November eighth. Each groups have been aggressive in recent times and can pose challenges for Penn State on the highway.
Early Season Assessments
Penn State’s non-conference schedule options some intriguing matchups that might present early season exams. The Nittany Lions open the season at residence towards West Virginia on September sixth. The Mountaineers are a conventional rival and can present a strong check for Penn State’s protection.
Penn State may even journey to Auburn on September thirteenth in a battle of two Energy 5 packages. The Tigers are anticipated to be a aggressive workforce in 2025, and this sport will likely be an early alternative for the Nittany Lions to show their value.
The Nittany Lions will then host Ball State on September twentieth of their remaining non-conference sport. Ball State is a mid-major program, however they’ve upset main convention groups previously.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 6 | West Virginia | Beaver Stadium |
| September 13 | Auburn | Jordan-Hare Stadium |
| September 20 | Ball State | Beaver Stadium |
Penn State’s Residence and Away Matchups Revealed
The Nittany Lions will open the 2025 season at residence towards Fresno State on Aug. 30. They’ll then face Military at residence on Sept. 6 earlier than hitting the highway for a matchup with West Virginia on Sept. 13.
Penn State will return residence to face Ball State on Sept. 20 earlier than touring to Michigan on Sept. 27. The Nittany Lions will then host Ohio State on Oct. 4 earlier than going through Indiana on the highway on Oct. 11.
Penn State could have a bye week on Oct. 18 earlier than going through Maryland at residence on Oct. 25. The Nittany Lions will then journey to Rutgers on Nov. 1 earlier than internet hosting Michigan State on Nov. 8.
Penn State will face Minnesota on the highway on Nov. 15 earlier than internet hosting Purdue on Nov. 22. The Nittany Lions will shut out the common season at Michigan State on Nov. 29.
Here’s a detailed have a look at Penn State’s 2025 schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | Fresno State | Beaver Stadium |
| Sept. 6 | Military | Beaver Stadium |
| Sept. 13 | West Virginia | Milan Puskar Stadium |
| Sept. 20 | Ball State | Beaver Stadium |
| Sept. 27 | Michigan | Michigan Stadium |
| Oct. 4 | Ohio State | Beaver Stadium |
| Oct. 11 | Indiana | Memorial Stadium |
| Oct. 18 | Bye | |
| Oct. 25 | Maryland | Beaver Stadium |
| Nov. 1 | Rutgers | SHU Stadium |
| Nov. 8 | Michigan State | Beaver Stadium |
| Nov. 15 | Minnesota | Huntington Financial institution Stadium |
| Nov. 22 | Purdue | Beaver Stadium |
| Nov. 29 | Michigan State | Spartan Stadium |
Affect of New Convention Partnerships on Schedule
The Penn State Nittany Lions soccer workforce will compete within the Large Ten Convention in 2025, as the varsity is about to hitch the convention that yr. The transfer to the Large Ten could have a big influence on the Nittany Lions’ schedule, as they may now face a brand new set of opponents every year.
New Opponents
With the transfer to the Large Ten, Penn State will face plenty of new opponents frequently. These opponents embrace:
| Faculty | Location |
|---|---|
| Illinois | Champaign, IL |
| Indiana | Bloomington, IN |
| Maryland | Faculty Park, MD |
| Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Michigan State | East Lansing, MI |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN |
| Nebraska | Lincoln, NE |
| Northwestern | Evanston, IL |
| Ohio State | Columbus, OH |
| Purdue | West Lafayette, IN |
| Rutgers | Piscataway, NJ |
| Wisconsin | Madison, WI |
Along with these new common season opponents, Penn State may even face a brand new set of opponents within the Large Ten Championship Recreation. The Large Ten Championship Recreation is performed between the winners of the Large Ten East and West divisions, and Penn State will now be eligible to compete on this sport.
Scheduling Challenges
The transfer to the Large Ten may even current some scheduling challenges for Penn State. The Nittany Lions will now should play 9 convention video games every year, which can depart much less room for non-conference video games. Moreover, Penn State will now should journey to plenty of new places, which can add to the workforce’s journey prices.
General Affect
The transfer to the Large Ten could have a big influence on the Penn State soccer schedule. The Nittany Lions will now face a brand new set of opponents every year, and so they should journey to plenty of new places. Moreover, Penn State will now be eligible to compete within the Large Ten Championship Recreation. Whereas the transfer to the Large Ten will current some scheduling challenges, it should additionally give Penn State the chance to compete towards among the greatest groups within the nation.
Energy of Opponent Evaluation for Penn State’s 2025 Season
General Energy of Schedule
Penn State’s 2025 schedule is a difficult one, with 5 Energy 5 opponents and three Group of 5 groups. The Nittany Lions are ranked twenty sixth in ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index (FPI) for the 2025 season, which places them in the course of the pack amongst Energy 5 groups.
Energy of Non-Convention Opponents
Penn State’s non-conference schedule options video games towards West Virginia, Temple, and UMass. West Virginia is a perennial contender within the Large 12, and they are going to be a tricky check for the Nittany Lions. Temple is a Group of 5 workforce, however they’re a well-coached program that has been aggressive in recent times. UMass is a rebuilding program, however they are going to be seeking to make an announcement towards Penn State.
Energy of Convention Opponents
Penn State’s convention schedule contains video games towards Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Maryland. Ohio State is the perennial favourite within the Large Ten, and they are going to be a serious problem for Penn State. Michigan and Michigan State are each rising powers within the Large Ten, and they are going to be robust opponents for the Nittany Lions. Indiana, Purdue, and Wisconsin are all strong groups, and they are going to be seeking to upset Penn State. Maryland is a rebuilding program, however they’ve some gifted gamers, and they are going to be seeking to make an announcement towards Penn State.
Key Matchups
Penn State’s most difficult video games in 2025 will likely be towards Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State. These are all top-25 groups, and they are going to be robust exams for the Nittany Lions. Penn State might want to play their greatest to win these video games.
Projected Win-Loss Document
Based mostly on the energy of their schedule, Penn State is projected to complete the 2025 season with a report of 9-3. This could be a strong season for the Nittany Lions, however they might want to play effectively to realize this report.
| Opponent | Document |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | 6-6 |
| Temple | 4-8 |
| UMass | 2-10 |
| Ohio State | 11-1 |
| Michigan | 10-2 |
| Michigan State | 9-3 |
| Indiana | 7-5 |
| Purdue | 8-4 |
| Wisconsin | 9-3 |
| Maryland | 6-6 |
Penn State’s Non-Convention Assessments in 2025
Georgia State
The Nittany Lions will open the 2025 season at residence towards Georgia State. The Panthers are coming off a 6-6 season in 2022 and will likely be seeking to make an announcement towards a Energy 5 opponent.
Villanova
Penn State will then journey to Villanova to tackle the Wildcats. Villanova is a member of the FCS and is coming off a 10-3 season in 2022. The Wildcats will likely be seeking to pull off a serious upset towards the Nittany Lions.
East Carolina
The Nittany Lions will return residence to face East Carolina of their third non-conference sport of the season. The Pirates are coming off a 7-5 season in 2022 and will likely be seeking to make an announcement towards a Energy 5 opponent.
Pittsburgh
Penn State will journey to Pittsburgh to tackle the Panthers of their fourth non-conference sport of the season. The Panthers are coming off a 9-4 season in 2022 and will likely be seeking to make an announcement towards their in-state rival.
Non-Convention Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 29 | Georgia State | Beaver Stadium |
| September 6 | Villanova | Villanova Stadium |
| September 13 | East Carolina | Beaver Stadium |
| September 20 | Pittsburgh | Heinz Area |
Cincinnati
Within the sixth sport of their 2025 season, the Nittany Lions will host the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bearcats are coming off a 9-4 season in 2022 and will likely be seeking to make an announcement towards a Energy 5 opponent. Penn State and Cincinnati haven’t met since 2010, when the Nittany Lions gained 31-26. The sport will likely be a rematch of the 2022 Fenway Bowl, which Cincinnati gained 24-13.
The Bearcats are led by head coach Luke Fickell, who’s coming into his seventh season on the helm. Fickell has led Cincinnati to a few consecutive 10-win seasons and has the Bearcats ranked within the high 25 for many of his tenure. Cincinnati is thought for its bodily and aggressive type of play, and they are going to be a tricky check for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State will have to be at their greatest to beat Cincinnati. The Nittany Lions might want to management the road of scrimmage and power the Bearcats into making errors. Penn State may even have to reap the benefits of its alternatives within the pink zone, as Cincinnati has a robust protection that may make it tough to attain factors.
High Performers to Watch in 2025
Sean Clifford (QB)
The veteran quarterback enters his fifth season as a starter for the Nittany Lions.
Nick Singleton (RB)
The five-star working again from Governor Mifflin Excessive Faculty is poised to have a breakout season.
Kaytron Allen (RB)
The speedy again from IMG Academy will present a dynamic complement to Singleton.
Drew Allar (QB)
The gifted freshman will likely be seeking to earn taking part in time behind Clifford.
Parker Washington (WR)
The electrical vast receiver is without doubt one of the greatest pass-catchers within the nation.
Olu Fashanu (DT)
The huge defensive deal with will likely be a power in the course of the Penn State protection.
Dani Dennis-Sutton (DE)
The speedy edge rusher is coming off a breakout season and must be even higher in 2025.
Penn State Soccer’s Playoff Hopes in 2025
With a gifted roster and a positive schedule, Penn State has a sensible probability of constructing the Faculty Soccer Playoff in 2025.
10. Indiana (Residence)
The Hoosiers have been a perennial bottom-feeder within the Large Ten, however they’re slowly enhancing beneath head coach Tom Allen. Penn State ought to nonetheless be favored on this matchup, but it surely’s a lure sport that the Nittany Lions cannot afford to miss.
This is a better have a look at Penn State’s 2025 soccer schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 30 | West Virginia | Beaver Stadium |
| September 6 | at Syracuse | Service Dome |
| September 13 | Kent State | Beaver Stadium |
| September 20 | at Purdue | Ross-Ade Stadium |
| September 27 | Ohio State | Beaver Stadium |
| October 4 | at Michigan State | Spartan Stadium |
| October 11 | Indiana | Beaver Stadium |
| October 18 | at Minnesota | Huntington Financial institution Stadium |
| October 25 | Maryland | Beaver Stadium |
| November 1 | Michigan | Beaver Stadium |
| November 8 | at Wisconsin | Camp Randall Stadium |
| November 15 | Rutgers | Beaver Stadium |
