UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 2/3 Penn State takes on FIU in a non-conference matchup on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets FIU for the second time in program history. The Nittany Lions opened the 2007 season with a 59-0 win over the Panthers. Anthony Morelli threw for 295 yards and there touchdowns, while the Nittany Lions added five rushing touchdowns. PSU is 4-0 all-time against current members of Conference USA.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE: Penn State opened the Nevada game by scoring on its first nine possessions of the game, ending the first nine drives with five touchdowns and four field goals. The five touchdown drives were all 60+ yards, including a 15-play, 94-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Penn State scored on its first nine possessions of a season for the first time since at least 1952.
TAKEAWAYS: The Nittany Lions forced three takeaways against Nevada. Penn State forced a takeaway on Nevada's opening drive as A.J. Harris recovered a fumble forced by Dani Dennis-Sutton. It was PSU's first time forcing a takeaway on the opening defensive possession of the season since 1994 against Minnesota (Terry Killens fumble recovery). On the next possession, Zane Durant recorded his first career interception. In the third quarter, Dennis-Sutton forced another fumble, which was recovered by Zakee Wheatley. Penn State scored 16 points off the three takeaways.
DISRUPTIVE DANI: Dennis-Sutton made the most of his season debut, tallying five tackles (four solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and a QB hurry. He posted his seventh career game with 2+ tackles for loss and raised his career total to 25 tackles for loss. He became the first Nittany Lion with two forced fumbles in a game since Micah Parsons in the 2019 Cotton Bowl against Memphis.
THE OPPOSITION: FIU began the 2025 season with a 42-9 win over Bethune-Cookman last Friday. The Panthers notched 456 yards, including 223 rushing yards. FIU scored six times on the ground, including two touchdowns each by Keyone Jenkins and Kejon Owens. Johnny Chaney Jr. led FIU with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
BY THE NUMBERS
1994 - The Nittany Lions forced a takeaway on its first defensive possession of a season for the first time since 1994 against Minnesota.
32 - With its victory over Nevada, Penn State has won 32-straight games against teams unranked in the AP Poll.
9 - Penn State scored on its first nine possessions of the game against Nevada for the first time since at least 1952.
8-0 - Penn State is 8-0 when Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton both score a rushing touchdown in a game.
NEVADA NOTES
- The Nittany Lions have won 21 of its last 24 season-opening contests and nine of its last 10. Penn State is 115-22-2 all-time in season openers and 122-13-1 all-time in home openers.
- The 46 points scored by Penn State marked the most points scored by the Nittany Lions in a season opener since notching 79 against Idaho in 2019.
- Penn State scored on its first nine possessions of the game and of the season, alternating touchdowns and field goals (5 TD, 4 FG).
- Penn State scored on its first nine possessions to open the season for the first time since at least 1952.
- In the fourth quarter, Penn State scored a touchdown on a 15-play, 94-yard drive, the longest drive by the Nittany Lions in terms of yards since a 97-yard drive against Oregon in last season’s Big Ten Championship Game.
- Penn State forced a takeaway on Nevada’s opening drive. DE Dani Dennis-Sutton forced a fumble, which was recovered by CB A.J. Harris.
- Penn State had a takeaway on its first defensive possession of the season for the first time since 1994 vs. Minnesota (Terry Killens recovered).
- Dennis-Sutton recorded his first career game with two forced fumbles. He is the first Nittany Lion with two forced fumbles in a game since Micah Parsons in the 2019 Cotton Bowl against Memphis.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FIU
- Penn State and FIU will meet for the second time in school history, with PSU holding a 1-0 advantage.
- The Nittany Lions earned a 59-0 win over FIU to open the 2007 season.
- Penn State tallied 549 total yards, including 313 passing yards and 236 rushing yards.
- Anthony Morelli threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, connecting on touchdown passes to Terrell Golden (4 yards), Mickey Shuler (17 yards) and Matt Hahn (1 yard).
- The Nittany Lions scored five rushing touchdowns, incluidng two by Austin Scott and one each by Evan Royster, Rodney Kinlaw and Dan Lawlor.
- Penn State limited FIU to -3 rushing yards, 117 passing yards and seven first downs.
- The Nittany Lions combined for 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks.