BREAKING: Penn State football announces starting lineups for home opener

After 294 days, Penn State football returns to Beaver Stadium as the Nittany Lions are set to take on the Bowling Green Falcons in the 2024 home opener. 

Kickoff is officially set for 12:05 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. About an hour ago, Penn State football released its conference-mandated availability reports. 

Moments ago, the Nittany Lions announced the program’s anticipated starters for this afternoon’s contest:

Offense

QB: Drew Allar

RB: Nicholas Singleton (Kaytron Allen also listed as a starter)

WR: Harrison Wallace III, Julian Fleming, Liam Clifford

TE: Tyler Warren

LT: Drew Shelton

LG: Vega Ioane 

C: Nick Dawkins

RG: Sal Wormley

RT: Anthony Donkoh

Defense

DE: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Abdul Carter

DT: Zane Durant, Dvon J-Thomas

LB: Tony Rojas, Kobe King, Dom DeLuca

CB: AJ Harris, Cam Miller

S: KJ Winston, Jaylen Reed, (Zakee Wheatley also listed as a starter)

Special Teams

K: Sander Sahaydak (placekicker), Gabe Nwosu (kickoffs)

P: Riley Thompson

LS: Tyler Duzansky

KR: Nicholas Singleton

PR: Kaden Saunders

Penn State team captains for Bowling Green

On Friday, James Franklin announced the trio of Nittany Lions who will serve as the team captains for Saturday’s game: Nicholas Singleton (offense), Zane Durant (defense), and Tyler Elsdon (special teams).

#WeArePennState pic.twitter.com/5JwOLLKgCN

— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) September 6, 2024

Penn State football looking to build on strong Week 1 performance

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Outside of the weather, James Franklin and Penn State football would be hard-pressed to ask for a much better start to 2024 after a 34-12 victory over West Virginia in Morgantown last Saturday.

The Nittany Lions gained 457 total yards under Andy Kotelnicki’s “exciting” new offense, almost equally split on the ground and through the air. The Penn State defense allowed 246 yards, only 83 of which came in the second half. The Mountaineers didn’t reach the end zone until the 12:49 mark of the 4th quarter.

But now, Penn State football has shifted its focus to Bowling Green. Saturday is only the third meeting between the two programs since 1987. The Nittany Lions have won both previous matchups, including a 45-19 victory in 1987 that earned Joe Paterno his 200th career win. 

Bowling Green is coming off a 7-6 record in 2023 with sixth-year head coach Scot Loeffler. The Falcons played two Big Ten programs last season, losing to Michigan 31-6 in Week 3 and Minnesota 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl.

We will continue coverage of Penn State vs. Bowling Green here on Basic Blues Nation and on social media. After the game, check out the Basic Blues Nation YouTube Channel for James Franklin’s postgame press conference and interviews with select Nittany Lion players.

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