SEC
Kentucky – The Kentucky Wildcats could be an intriguing option on the table as well. And you would think a showdown between a Big Ten and SEC program in Week 1 would be worth watching. So let’s throw this into the mix as a potential leading candidate that would certainly be backed by television partners, especially if the Big Ten continues a working relationship with ESPN.
LSU – Or, how about starting up a home-and-home deal between Penn State and LSU. Two schools with some of the most electric primetime atmospheres would make for a phenomenal home-and-home series. But like any potential home-and-home deal, Penn State would have to have the Tigers agree to a delayed second half of the scheduling agreement. But in this case, it may be worth the wait in between games.
Tennessee – There is one more option that would be fun to witness, as the Tennessee Volunteers have a few openings in September. After opening the season against Syracuse in Atlanta in Week 1, the Vols have a home game against UAB scheduled on Sept. 20. Odds are Tennessee wouldn’t be inclined to add a second straight power conference opponent to start the season in Week 1, but it would certainly be a lot of fun to see. Plus, Penn State has a solid history against the Vols.
OK, but what about Notre Dame?
Notre Dame currently has 10 games scheduled for its 2025 season, all against Power 5 opponents with the notable exception of historic rival Navy, from the American Athletic Conference. And as of now, none of those games are scheduled for the first two weeks of the season, leaving Penn State’s Week 2 vacancy there to be filled by the Fighting Irish if they were interested.
But they won’t be. With nine P5 opponents and Navy already on the books, Notre Dame will be far more likely to fill its remaining vacancies with Group of Five options. In 2023, Notre Dame will play an FCS opponent for the first time in school history (Tennessee State), and then two weeks they play Central Michigan. Notre Dame has Northern Illinois and Miami Ohio on the schedule in 2024. Given this trend, it would be likely to see Notre Dame not even consider a possible game against Penn State, as much as we’d love to see it.
Any other independents available?
You bet! BYU only has three games currently scheduled for 2025, and none of those games are currently in line for Week 2. And BYU is a program that would welcome an opportunity to play a program like Penn. State as they look to form the most attractive schedules possible as an independent.
But BYU and Notre Dame are the only independent options with a vacancy in Week 2 as Penn State looks to fill its 2025 schedule.
While there are certainly some wildly intriguing options for Penn State’s vacant Week 2 spot, the way it will be filled in Week 2 probably comes down to one of two options. Either the Big Ten slides a Week 2 conference matchup into the mix or Penn State looks to add a game against a Group of Five opponent. Penn State already has a game against an FCS opponent with Villanova in 2025, so this vacancy may be Group of Five or bust for the Nittany Lions.
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