Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530530
1 4 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State fans won't have to wait all that long to see the Nittany Lions get their shot at avenging the team's 45-37 loss to Oregon earlier this month in the Big Ten Championship Game. Coach Dan Lanning will bring his squad (minus graduating offensive stars Dillon Ga- briel and Tez Johnson) to Beaver Stadium for next year's Big Ten opener. The Lions and Ducks will meet Sept. 27 in State College. It will be Oregon's first visit to Penn State since 1964 when it defeated the hosts, 22-14. The matchup against Oregon is part of a 2025 conference slate that was announced Dec. 11 by the Big Ten. James Franklin's team had already set its nonconference schedule, and it had known for a while which Big Ten teams it would face next year, but it wasn't until this month that it knew when those games would take place and when its bye weeks would fall. Game times were not disclosed, nor is it known whether any of the road games will be on Friday night. (PSU has said it will not host Friday night games.) Penn State will get its 2025 season underway with a noncon- ference game against Nevada on Aug. 30. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Nittany Lions and Wolf Pack, which com- petes in the Mountain West Conference. Week 2 brings a matchup against Florida International, a team that Penn State has played only once before (a 59-0 win in 2007), followed by Villanova's second visit to Beaver Stadium in five seasons. The Lions will then have a bye week to help prepare for the game against Oregon. Penn State won't leave home until travel- ing to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA on Oct. 4. The Lions' other four road opponents are Iowa (Oct. 18), Ohio State (Nov. 1), Michigan State (Nov. 15) and Rutgers (Nov. 29). Penn State's second bye conveniently falls on Oct. 25, just prior to the team's visit to Columbus. The Lions will face three of this year's College Football Playoff qualifiers in Ore- gon, Ohio State and Indiana, with the game against the Hoosiers set for Nov. 8 at Beaver Stadium. Senior Day will be Nov. 22 when Nebraska makes its first visit to State College since 2017. The Nittany Lions won that game, 56-44, thanks largely to Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns in his final home appearance. However, since joining the Big Ten in 2011, the Cornhuskers have won four of the five meetings between the two teams, including a 30-23 victory in Lincoln in 2020, the most recent game in the series. — Greg Pickel Lions To Open 2025 Big Ten Slate Against Oregon 2025 PSU Football Schedule Aug. 30 NEVADA Sept. 6 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL Sept. 13 VILLANOVA Sept. 20 Bye Sept. 27 OREGON Oct. 4 at UCLA Oct. 11 NORTHWESTERN Oct. 18 at Iowa Oct. 25 Bye Nov. 1 at Ohio State Nov. 8 INDIANA Nov. 15 at Michigan State Nov. 22 NEBRASKA Nov. 29 at Rutgers Nittany Lions Lose Two Players To Transfer Portal Penn State tight end Jerry Cross has officially entered the transfer portal, and defensive tackle T.A. Cunningham appeared set to join him as of mid-December. Cross, a four-star recruit in the On3 Industry Ranking in the class of 2022, announced before the Nittany Lions' trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Cham- pionship Game that he would be moving on following a career in State College that was derailed by injuries. Undergraduates were able to enter the portal on Dec. 9, and that's what the Milwaukee native did. He will have three years of eligibility at his next school. "First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Penn State University, Coach [James] Franklin, and the entire coaching staff for the op- portunity to be part of such a prestigious program," Cross wrote in a social media post. "My time here has been filled with invaluable experiences, lifelong friendships, and lessons that have shaped me both on and off the field. … Penn State will always hold a special place in my heart. However, I believe this is the best step for my personal growth and athletic career." Cross played only 19 snaps for the Lions in 2024. He did not record any count- ing stats during his three years in the program. Cunningham was a true freshman this fall, having arrived at Penn State as a three-star prospect from Atlanta. He was dealing with an undisclosed injury and since Week 1 of the season had been listed as out of action on the team's availability report. Cunningham no longer appeared on Penn State's official roster as of Dec. 11. He redshirted this year and will have four seasons of eligibility at his next stop. — Greg Pickel Tight end Jerry Cross played in only seven games during his three years at Penn State. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER