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Who are the top 10 rivals for Penn State football?

Penn State football has had plenty of regional rivals over the years, but who are the top 10 rivals for the Nittany Lions?

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Penn State football
Sept 8, 2007; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams (2) reacts after returning a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © James Lang

Penn State football was independent for most of its history until joining the Big Ten in 1993. Many of the most frequent matchups are with teams who don’t reside in the midwestern conference. In recent years, Penn State has used the term “Unrivaled” due to a lack of an annual game with bad blood on both sides. It’s an unusual position, especially with all the historic rivalries in the conference, such as Ohio State-Michigan, Wisconsin-Minnesota, and Indiana-Purdue. Despite not having a traditional rival, these are the Top 10 rivals for Penn State football.

10. Temple Owls

Overall Record: 40-4-1 (.900)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 1 (2016)

Longest Win Streak: Penn State 31 (1952-2014)

The Owls are more of a geographic rival than anything else for Penn State football. The Nittany Lions have dominated the series that lasted 62 years until Temple pulled off the upset in 2015 at Lincoln Financial field. A game that saw Christian Hackenberg sacked ten times. While the series hasn’t been competitive, it has allowed each fanbase to make a relatively short road trip in-state. While Temple struggled for much of the 2000s, the series typically followed a two or three-for-one format in which Penn State would host most of the matchups. The schools have a future home and home scheduled for Philadelphia in 2026 and State College in 2027. Why Penn State ever agreed to a home and home with Temple, we will never know.

9. West Virginia Mountaineers

Overall Record: 48-9-2 (.831)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 4 (1989-1992)

Longest Win Streak: Penn State 25 (1959-1983)

West Virginia is the third-most-played team in Penn State football history. The two teams had previously played every season from 1947 to 1992 for a total of 45 straight years, and it was one of the traditional matchups that was a casualty when Penn State joined the Big Ten conference. The Nittany Lions and Mountaineers haven’t played in over 30 years, but that is coming to an end this season. The rivalry is being renewed with a home and home where Penn State will be hosting in 2023 and West Virginia hosting in 2024. The Nittany Lions have dominated this series, but the regionality of it keeps it on the list. This year, the old rivalry will be thrust back into the spotlight with a season-opening night game at Beaver Stadium and the first-ever broadcast on NBC as a part of the new Big 10 television deal. While both programs are experiencing different levels of success right now, expect both fanbases to travel well for each game and the atmospheres to be electric.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Overall Record: 9-9-1 (.500)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 1 (2007)

Longest Win Streak: 3 Penn State (1981-1983 & 1985-1987) Notre Dame (1926-1976)

This is a rivalry that an older generation of Penn State football fans will remember quite fondly. The Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish played 12 consecutive seasons from 1981-1992 and was another series that was discontinued with Penn State joining the Big Ten Conference in 1993. The programs had a home and home in 2006 and 2007 that saw Notre Dame win 41-17 in South Bend and Penn State 31-10 in State College. The 2007 game was the first full stadium whiteout in Penn State history, and maybe heard one of the loudest crowd pops ever when Derrick Williams took a punt back 78 yards for a TD late in the first quarter. The two teams have played to a dead-even series tie through 19 matchups. With conference realignment rumors never-ending, this may be a rivalry that Millennials and Gen Z may get to experience on an annual basis soon.

7. Maryland Terrapins

Overall Record: 42-3-1 (.924)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 2 (2021-2022)

Longest Win Streak: Penn State 24 (1962-1988)

The Terrapins are the fourth-most-played opponent in Penn State football history, with 46 total matchups. The schools played almost every season from 1960 to 1993, where the series was discontinued when Penn State joined the Big Ten, only to be renewed, of course, when Maryland joined the conference in 2014. James Franklin is 7-2 against the Terrapins while at Penn State, with the two losses coming in 2014 and 2020. While this hasn’t been a particularly competitive series in recent years, that wasn’t always the case. Despite Penn State winning almost every season, the series had plenty of competitive games during the 1980s that saw a total of seven one-score games. The proximity of the two schools makes this a geographic rivalry, if nothing else. Plenty of Penn State fans make the trek to Byrd Stadium, where sometimes the fan split is close to 50/50. With Mike Locksley turning Maryland into a solid program, expect more competitive games on the field over the next few years and the recruiting to heat up in the DMV.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes

Overall Record: 17-14 (.548)

Current Win Streak: Iowa (2020-2021)

Longest Win Streak: Penn State 6 (2011-2019)

Shockingly, this is the 10th most-played opponent in Penn State football history. It seems that the Hawkeyes are always on the schedule, and they have been in recent years with six straight matchups between 2016 and 2021. The series has had plenty of excruciating losses, such as 2008, where No. 3 Penn State went to Iowa City and lost on a last-second field goal. The following year, No. 5 Penn State lost at home 21-10 to Iowa in a rain-soaked night game. After the Hawkeyes won eight of nine games between 2000 and 2010, Penn State followed it up with six straight wins from 2011 to 2019. Everyone remembers the exciting game-winner from Trace McSorley to Juwan Johnson in 2017 that kept the top five Penn State undefeated.

In addition to the exciting finishes, this game has drawn up some organic hatred between the two fanbases. It started with the last matchup in 2021, where Iowa fans booed Penn State players and accused them of faking injuries while on defense. The Hawkeyes would come back to win that game 23-20, which at the time was a No. 3 vs. No. 4 matchup, but the bad blood was already created. Sometimes rivalries are created by a good completive series, while others are kickstarted by an event that energizes both fanbases. Either way, this season, Penn State will host Iowa for the Whiteout, and there may be a little extra juice in the stadium than Minnesota in 2022.

5. Syracuse Orange

Overall Record: 43-23-5 (.641)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 5 (1989-2013)

Longest Win Streak: Penn State 16 (1971-1986)

This may not be a team that you would expect to see on a rivalry list, but Syracuse is the second-most-played team in Penn State football history, with a total of 71 games between the two programs. In fact, the teams played every single season but one from 1922 to 1990. Syracuse was a staple on the Penn State schedule for much of the Nittany Lions’ history until joining the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions’ control of this series on the field shouldn’t discount the historical significance of when these two play. The teams have played three times since the annual series was discontinued. There was a home and home in 2008 and 2009 that saw Penn State win 55-13 in Syracuse and 28-7 in State College. The other was a neutral site game in MetLife Stadium in 2013, where the Nittany Lions squeaked out a 23-17 victory over the Orange. The two will renew the series with another home and home where Penn State will host in 2027 and then travel to upstate New York in 2028. The upcoming series will be a fun throwback to a classic northeast matchup and give each fanbase a reasonably distanced away travel destination.

4. Michigan Wolverines

Overall Record: 10-16 (.385)

Current Win Streak: Michigan 2 (2021-2022)

Longest Win Streak: Michigan 9 (1997-2007)

We now arrive at the first team on this list where Penn State football has been the inferior team for the history of the matchup. The Wolverines are one of three Big Ten teams that Penn State has a losing record against. James Franklin is just 3-6 against Michigan in his time at Penn State. This matchup is often pointed to as one of the final hurdles for Franklin to get over to reach the next level. In recent years, the team who has been at home has found a way to win this game.

There is no doubt that Michigan and Penn State fans don’t like each other; it just isn’t that high on the rivalry list for Wolverine fans. Most would probably rank Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame all ahead of Penn State. This year’s matchup has the potential to be a top-five showdown in Beaver Stadium, with Michigan looking to win the Big Ten and make the playoff for the third consecutive year and Penn State looking to break through and make its first-ever College Football Playoff. No matter what the series record is, consistently ranked matchups will always make this game a must-see event.

3. Michigan State Spartans

Overall Record: 18-18-1 (.500)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 1 (2022)

Longest Win Streak: Michigan State 5 (1949-1966)

The Spartans have been one of the most competitive series for Penn State football since joining the Big Ten. Michigan State has appeared on the schedule the eight most times in school history. Despite the overall series being tied, Penn State has led 17-10 since joining the conference in 1993. The Big Ten tried to manufacture a rivalry between these two programs by creating the Land Grant Trophy. Some have called it the most beautiful trophy in all of college football.

Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions and Spartans playing the final game of the season was somewhat of a tradition from 1993 until 2010. The fanbases don’t necessarily have any hatred for each other, but both know that it is a fun series that has the ability to produce unpredictable results. James Franklin is 4-5 against Michigan State, and this year, with the more talented team, will look to even that record. This year’s game has an interesting wrinkle as it will be played at Ford Field in Detroit. This was a concession for the new TV deal partner NBC to ensure they could still have a night game in November. Don’t be surprised if many Penn State fans make the trip through the easy-to-access Detroit airport during Thanksgiving weekend, especially if the Nittany Lions are in contention for the Big Ten East title.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Overall Record: 14-24 (.368)

Current Win Streak: Ohio State 6 (2017-2022)

Longest Win Streak: Ohio State 6 (2017-2022)

Ohio State is probably who most Penn State football fans would consider their No. 1 rival. They have played every season since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993. The teams have competed a total of 38 times, which is good for sixth most in Penn State history. The series has been dominated in recent years by Ohio State and has begun to cause a lot of angst among the Penn State faithful about head coach James Franklin. This is the most bitter of, and closest game to, a true rivalry that Penn State has on its schedule annually. The fanbases simply do not like each other, and the competition for recruits in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio only adds fuel to the fire. The Buckeyes are currently on their longest winning streak in series history, and Franklin is just 1-8 against the Scarlet and Grey, with that one win coming on the blocked field goal in 2016. In fact, Ohio State has won 14 of the last 17 matchups.

All that said, even Buckeye fans will admit that Penn State has been a tough matchup even in these past six seasons. Penn State had a double-digit fourth-quarter lead over Ohio State in 2017 and 2018 and even had a fourth-quarter lead last season in Beaver Stadium. This isn’t to bring up bad memories for Penn State fans. Instead, it shows that although this matchup has the worst winning percentage for the Nittany Lions against a team played at least 20 times, it still has been an exciting series. The talent discrepancy between the two programs has shown in the last few years that while Penn State has recruited well, it isn’t at the Ohio State level. This year, Franklin and company will have an opportunity to try and do what Penn State hasn’t done since 2011: win in Columbus. The Buckeyes will be breaking in a new quarterback, and Penn State returns a loaded defense. If there is a chance to snap the losing streak, 2023 could be the year.

1. Pittsburgh Panthers

Overall Record: 53-43-4 (.550)

Current Win Streak: Penn State 3 (2017-2019)

Longest Win Streak: Pittsburgh 14 (1922-1938)

Whenever you play a team 100 times in your history, and you occupy the same state, they are your de facto No. 1 rival. Even though Penn State football and Pittsburgh have landed in different conferences, the hatred runs deep. These two previously played every single year from 1900 to 1992, and another streak snapped when Penn State joined the Big Ten conference. The series resumed a short five years later for a four-game series, only to end for another 16 years where another four-game series was played. While the teams don’t play annually anymore, that didn’t stop the most recent series between 2016 and 2019 to have some serious animosity. Penn State won the most recent 4-game stint 3-1, but that one game in 2016 was a major reason why the Nittany Lions were left out of the playoff that season.

Many argue that this should be a game that is played every single season because it is an in-state game and the only natural rival for Penn State. Other fans argue that the Panthers aren’t as good as they used to be on the national level, and playing them doesn’t benefit Penn State if they win but rather only hurts the Nittany Lions if they lose. There is also the issue of only getting three nonconference games, one of which is a Power Five school. That means that if Penn State were to play Pitt every season, they wouldn’t have a spot for a home and home with a team like Auburn. Whichever side you fall, it still wouldn’t be bad to see this game back on the schedule for at least a home and home every decade. Who knows, maybe when the ACC eventually crumbles, the Panthers will be one of the teams that the Big Ten snatches up.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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BREAKING: Penn State football lands top 10 prospect in PA

Brady O’Hara a top 10 prospect in PA commits to Penn State.

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Oct 19, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Pat Freiermuth (87) reacts to a touchdown run by quarterback Sean Clifford (14) against the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY S

The Penn State football team has now gone three straight days a landing a commitment. Brady O’Hara has made his commitment to the Nittany Lions. He is a top 10 prospect in Pennsylvania. The 2025 class has added DJ McClary and Tiqwai Hayes in the past two days. Both players are part of Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class. The impact of the whiteout continues to prove its value on the recruiting trail.

Penn State football lands top 10 prospect in PA

Brady O’Hara is a four-star recruit in the 2025 class and he plays his high school football at North Catholic High School located in Pittsburgh, PA. He held offers from Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, UConn, and Penn State. Then, on Tuesday morning he announced his commitment to Penn State on his social media channels.

O’Hara is currently ranked as the No. 8 prospect in Pennsylvania.

Brady O’Hara plays both sides of the ball

O’Hara is listed as an athlete on 247sports because he plays both tight end and defensive end. It will be interesting to see what position he will choose to play when he gets on campus. But after watching Tyler Warren and Chop Robinson on Saturday night either position would fit him well.

Either way, he has shown that he can be successful regardless of where he lines up on the field. He can be a great red zone target or a dominant defensive end. Both positions at Penn State have developed well over the years which helped their case land this top 10 prospect in Pennsylvania.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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Penn State football players were seeking revenge against Iowa

Revenge was on the mind of several Penn State football players against Iowa on Saturday night.

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Penn State football, Dani Dennis-Sutton, KeAndre Lambert-Smith,James Franklin
Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) runs after a catch during the first half of a White Out game at Beaver Stadium Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in State College, Pa.

It was the elephant in the room of last week for the Penn State football team. Would revenge be on the minds of players during the Iowa game? Of course, this was produced from the 2021 matchup between Penn State and Iowa. When several Nittany Lions went down with injuries during the game, Iowa fans and members of their coaching staff mocked Penn State. The Hawkeyes special teams coach LeVar Woods even flopped on the ground at one point making fun of the injured players. After the game, we learned that revenge was certainly on the Dani Dennis-Sutton, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and other’s minds Saturday night. James Franklin reminded the team what message they needed to send Saturday night.

Penn State football players were seeking revenge against Iowa

One of the best parts of college football is what goes around comes around. One year you might beat a team by 30 points and the next you lose to them by 30. But how you act during those wins usually stands out. In Iowa City in 2021, James Franklin and his coaching staff took note of how they were treated. They got their sweet revenge on Saturday night defeating Iowa 31-0.

Audrey Synder of The Athletic recently wrote a piece Penn State football wanted revenge on Iowa. It got that and much more in Whiteout shutoutIn this story, Synder included a quote from sophomore defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton following the Iowa game.

Sutton said, “[Franklin] showed us some of the same things they did in 2021 with the special teams coordinator on the sideline flopping and stuff like that. Their head coach was saying stuff that they smelled a rat or something when some of our guys went down.”

It’s amazing that even a player like Dani Dennis-Sutton who wasn’t on the team in 2021 could find motivation from this. This shows how meaningful the brotherhood of being a Penn State football player truly is.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith also remembered 2021

One of the players who was part of that game in 2021 was WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He remembered that game very well. Following the Nittany Lions’ victory on Saturday night, Lambert-Smith spoke about the mindset James Franklin instilled heading into the whiteout game.

Lambert-Smith said, “I would just say we know what was at stake. We knew what happened a few years ago. We just locked in. We put a great week of preparation together.”



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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Penn State QB Drew Allar grades offense’s play through 4 games

QB Drew Allar broke down the good and the bad that he’s seen from the Penn State offense through 4 games this season.

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Sep 23, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) gestures from the line of scrimmage during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

And just like that, we’re through a third of the college football season. It’s hard to argue that Penn State football isn’t one of the most dominant teams in the sport through four games. A major piece of the success so far in 2023 has been new starting QB Drew Allar. The sophomore has been a rock for Penn State this year, and has led the Nittany Lions’ offense to be one of the most successful in the nation. But what has led to Penn State’s offensive success this season? After the Iowa game, we asked the Penn State QB to break down what he’s seen from his unit so far.

Hope springs eternal for the Nittany Lions’ offense

There’s plenty of optimism around the Penn State offense after four games this year. Most recently, we watched the Nittany Lions dismantle the No. 24 Iowa Hawkeyes 31-0 in the White Out Saturday evening. So far, we’ve seen Penn State pick apart secondaries and roll over opponents with the ground game.

Penn State currently leads the Big Ten in scoring and is second to Maryland in total yards. The Nittany Lions have scored at least 30 points in 11 straight games, the longest streak in the nation. Even when it hasn’t looked sharp, the offense has still been able to put up points in bunches. And that is perhaps the most impressive thing about the Penn State offense this year – there’s a wide belief that we haven’t seen the unit peak yet.

Drew Allar leads the way

The catalyst for the offense so far is undoubtedly QB Drew Allar. The 19-year-old has looked like a seasoned veteran despite only making his fourth start Saturday night. He looks in command on the field, and it shows. Allar, who today was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list for the nation’s top QB, has 903 yards and 8 touchdowns on a 67% completion rate this year.

Allar’s most impressive stat line, however, is the lack of one. The Penn State QB has yet to turn the ball over this season, something that young first-time starters with rockets for arms are apt to do. Even when he hasn’t been on his A game, Allar has not put the football in harm’s way.

As a result, the rest of the team has followed suit. Penn State football is the only team in the nation that has yet to turn the ball over. This is a stat that will most certainly end at some point, but it speaks to the poise and maturity that Drew Allar has already brought to the field.

Penn State QB grades offense’s play through four games

The Penn State offense has at times looked equal parts lethal and methodical. But most of all, the offense has looked clean and efficient. The Nittany Lions have kept Allar clean (only two sacks allowed) and have avoided the big mistakes. According to Drew Allar, this has been the winning formula thus far.

“I think we’re doing a really good job right now of being efficient and staying on track,” Allar told us after the Iowa game. “We do get into situations where we kind of hurt ourselves with penalties. And I think we’ll continue to learn and grow from those mistakes that we make. But I think we’re doing a really good job right now just taking what the defense has given us, taking care of the ball, which is the biggest thing for the offense, and controlling the ball. So, I think we’re just doing a really good job of being very efficient.”

But now, the tape on the Nittany Lion offense grows by the game. If Penn State football is to continue riding the wave and reach its goals for this season, the offense must continue to evolve. After all, the slate won’t get any easier, and the biggest challenges still lie ahead.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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