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GAMEDAY UPDATES: Penn State throttles Villanova to close out non-conference

Penn State football downed Villanova in emphatic fashion to close out its non-conference schedule on Saturday. Follow along here for postgame updates here.

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September 13, 2025. Penn State wide receiver Trebor Peña leaps into the end zone during the Nittany Lions' matchup against Villanova. © Jake DeLuca / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Penn State football returns to Beaver Stadium for the third consecutive week on Saturday afternoon to battle in-state Villanova. After a slow start out of the gates in Week 2 against FIU, the Nittany Lions are looking to use their final non-conference matchup to round into form before Big Ten play begins later this month.

“I think our guys feel like we have done enough to win, but haven’t played up to what our expectations and standards are,” James Franklin noted earlier this week. “But I would also say that’s always going to be the case. We’re always going [to] feel like we can play better.”

Meanwhile, the Wildcats kicked off their schedule last week with a 24-17 win over Colgate. The Nittany Lions come into the contest as heavy favorites over their FCS opponent.

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Saturday’s action will get underway at 3:30 p.m. on FS1. Follow along with this blog for photos, videos, and live updates before, during, and after the game.

Gameday Updates: Penn State football closes out non-conference schedule vs. Villanova

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James Franklin press conference

On disparity between touches for Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen

Franklin notes that the difference in touches wasn’t planned, was just how the drives turned out when each was in the game.

On King Mack making his first start at safety

Mack lost the starting battle during fall camp. The first couple games, defense wasn’t playing as fast as it needed to. Mack responded well to camp competition, worked his way back into the starting discussion. Helped the defense play with more confidence today, but there is still room for improvement.

On Drew Allar’s play through three games

Notes a missed assignment on Drew Allar’s interception third quarter. “Drew’s got to be better, and all the guys on the field need to be a little bit better.” Points to improvement on third down, but overall there is room to grow. Issues on third down are preventing the offense from getting into a rhythm.

On plans for the bye week

The Nittany Lions will return to Beaver Stadium Sunday night to practice under the stadium’s new lights, then practice again Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

On Penn State’s play today

Franklin emphasizes that his team is playing “winning football” despite some early errors, including the one turnover. “A lot of positives to build on this bye week.”

FINAL: Penn State 52, Villanova 6

Penn State added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns from Kaytron Allen and Joey Schlaffer as well as a pick-six from Jahmir Joseph. However, the Nittany Lions couldn’t secure back-to-back shutouts after Villanova connected on a last-second score for its first points of the day.

The Nittany Lions put up 465 yards on the afternoon including 237 on the ground. The Penn State defense held the Wildcats to 179 total yards on the day.

Penn State 31, Villanova 0

Nittany Lion offense gets back on track midway through the third quarter. Nick Singleton pushes in from 3 yards.

INTERCEPTION PENN STATE

Dani Dennis-Sutton brings the pressure, causing Villanova QB Pat McQuaide to make an errant throw. It was picked off by Elliott Washington for PSU.

Penn State 21, Villanova 0

After an extremely slow start on offense, the Nittany Lions put together a nice drive at the end of the first half. It was capped off by a 23-yard toss from Drew Allar to Trebor Pena. It was Pena’s first touchdown for Penn State.

Penn State 10, Villanova 0

The Nittany Lions add 3 points to the board after the offense couldn’t capitalize on a short field to start the drive.

Penn State 7, Villanova 0

The Nittany Lions take an early 7-0 lead thanks to a short run by Nick Singleton. Solid opening drive from Franklin’s unit.

Injury report

Not too many changes for the Nittany Lions injury-wise from last week to Saturday. Freshman Mylachi Williams is listed as out after recording one tackle in his first two college appearances. Wide receiver Kaden Saunders will miss his third consecutive game.

Team arrival

Get ready for kickoff with Basic Blues Nation!

 

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Mark is a proud graduate of Penn State's Class of 2019 and is a massive fan of Penn State athletics. Born and raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Mark is also a huge Pittsburgh sports fan and a self-proclaimed 'yinzer.' Mark is new to sports writing and cannot wait to connect with Nittany Nation in a way he never has before. Work has been featured on Bleacher Report, Yahoo, and Yardbarker.

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