Penn State is set to meet Syracuse on the playing field for a home-and-home series beginning in 2027. With the addition of Syracuse to the future schedule, Penn State’s non-conference schedule is now completely booked through the 2027 season, with one notable exception. Penn State has one remaining scheduling vacancy to fill in 2025. And with Penn State making an effort to line up at least one game against a power conference opponent in each schedule, there could be some fun possibilities to explore to fill that one single non-conference vacancy in 2025.
As a refresher, here are the non-conference opponents Penn State has lined up for the next six seasons (full future schedules can be found here):
2022: Ohio, at Auburn, Central Michigan
2023: West Virginia, Delaware, UMass
2024: at West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State
2025: Nevada, Villanova
2026: Marshall, at Temple, San Jose State
2027: Syracuse, Delaware, Temple
2028: at Syracuse
As seen in the 2026 schedule, Penn State doesn’t necessarily have to fill its schedule with a power conference opponent. Although the Big Ten made an effort to make that a scheduling priority in the last few years, there is no strict policy prohibiting a Big Ten school from not scheduling a power conference opponent. But, ideally, that would be the case for Penn State as it looks to fill its 2025 schedule.
Penn State is set to host Nevada in the season opener on Aug. 30, 2025. Its home game against Villanova is scheduled for two weeks later on Sept. 13, 2025. One would be safe to assume Penn State’s schedule vacancy will fall in between those games on Sept. 6, 2025. But there is also the chance that week could be used for a Big Ten conference matchup. The Big Ten has taken steps to adding more conference inventory earlier in the year, which Penn State has been a part of. The 2022 season opener will be the third consecutive season Penn State will open the schedule with a conference game.
But, if that week is not used for a Big Ten…