UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 2/2 Penn State meets Villanova in a non-conference matchup on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State battles Villanova for the 11th time in program history. The Nittany Lions lead the series, 6-3-1, including a 6-2-1 mark at home. In 2021, the Nittany Lions earned a 38-17 win after taking a 38-3 lead into the fourth. Sean Clifford threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns as Parker Washington (148 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Jahan Dotson (117 yards, 1 touchdown) both went over 100 yards receiving.
ALLEN, SINGLETON REACH 3,000-YARD MARK: Penn State senior running backs Kaytron Allen (3,064) and Nicholas Singleton (3,007) both eclipsed the 3,000 career rushing yards mark in the win over FIU. Allen reached the 3,000-yard mark on a career-long 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. They became the first Penn State teammates with 3,000 career rushing yards at the same time. Allen and Singleton are the first FBS teammates with 3,000 career rushing yards at the same time since Louisiana's Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell in 2020 and the first Power 4 teammates since Georgia's Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.
PITCHING A SHUTOUT: After recording a shutout against FIU, the Nittany Lions have posted a shutout in each of the last five seasons. The last time Penn State recorded a shutout in five-straight seasons was 1972-76. FIU ran four total plays inside of the Penn State 25 yard-line. Penn State is currently the only FBS team with a shutout in each of the last five seasons.
BIG GUYS MAKING PLAYS: For the second-straight week, a Penn State defensive tackle recorded an interception. In the second quarter against FIU, Alonzo Ford Jr. picked off a pass. In the season opener against Nevada, Zane Durant recorded his first career interception. The last time Penn State had interceptions by multiple defensive tackles in a season was 1990 (Jim Deter, Frank Giannetti).
THE OPPOSITION: Villanova opened its 2025 season with a 24-17 win over Colgate last Saturday. The Wildcats tallied 416 total yards. Pat McQuaide threw for 299 yards and a touchdown, while adding a 28-yard rushing score. Luke Colella caught five passes for 124 yards, while Lukas Kopecky caught a 56-yard touchdown.
BY THE NUMBERS
3,000 x 2 - Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton both went over 3,000 career rushing yards in the win over FIU.
11-11 - Penn State is 11-of-11 in the red zone this season.
3 - Dominic DeLuca has three career blocked punts, after blocking a punt against FIU, one off the PSU career record.
0 - The Nittany Lions have recorded a shutout in each of the last five seasons. PSU is the only FBS team to do so.
FIU NOTES
- Penn State has outscored FIU, 93-0, in two all-time matchups.
- RB Kaytron Allen’s 144 rushing yards rushing moved him to 3,064 for his career, while RB Nicholas Singleton’s 76 rushing yards moved him to 3,007 career rushing yards. They became the first Penn State teammates with 3,000 career rushing yards at the same time.
- Allen and Singleton are the first FBS teammates with 3,000 career rushing yards at the same time since Louisiana’s Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell in 2020 and the first Power 4 teammates since Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.
- Penn State has shut out an opponent in each of the last five seasons. The last time Penn State recorded a shutout in five-straight seasons was 1972-76.
- DT Alonzo Ford Jr. intercepted a pass in the second quarter, joining Zane Durant (vs. Nevada) as Penn State defensive tackles with interceptions this season. The Nittany Lions have interceptions by multiple defensive tackles in a season for the first time since 1990 (Jim Deter vs. Notre Dame; Frank Giannetti vs. Alabama).
- LB Dominic DeLuca blocked a punt in the second quarter. It was his third career blocked punt.
SERIES HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA
- Penn State and Villanova will meet for the 11th time with PSU holding a 6-3-1 advantage.
- Penn State is 6-2-1 in home games and 0-1 in neutral contests.
- The teams last met in 2021 with the Nittany Lions winning 38-17. PSU built a 38-3 lead early in the fourth.
- Penn State gained 509 total yards, including 429 through the air.
- Sean Clifford threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns, while Parker Washington caught five passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns and Jahan Dotson added seven catches for 117 yards and a score.
- Penn State scored three times on passes of 52 or more yards.
- The Nittany Lions collected eight tackles for loss and three sacks, while Ji'Ayir Brown had an interception.