NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Penn State Football vs. Wisconsin Kickoff Time Gets National Showcase

Penn State Football, Nick Singleton

No. 3 Penn State Football picked up a massive, potentially season changing win on the road against USC Saturday. Now, just two days removed from the Nittany Lions escaping Los Angeles undefeated, Penn State’s next matchup against Wisconsin on October 26 gets a national spotlight.

Penn State Football announced Monday that the week nine tilt in Madison will kickoff at 7:30 on October 26 on NBC.

The Lions will come into the matchup at Camp Randall with a top-three ranking (barring any crazy changes during Penn State’s bye week) coming off a bye week following Penn State’s road win against USC. Wisconsin currently sits at 4-2 and travels to Northwestern this weekend before returning home to face Penn State.

Penn State last played at Camp Randall to kick off the 2021 season, when Penn State defeated number 12 Wisconsin 16-10. Penn State holds a five-game winning streak in the series against the Badgers, including a 2016 win in the Big Ten championship game in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Wisconsin holds the advantage in the series at Camp Randall, with a 6-5 record at home against Penn State. Penn State holds a very slim advantage in the all-time series with an 11-9 overall record in 20 matchups.


Looking Ahead to Penn State Football at Wisconsin

Penn State Football, James Franklin
Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Camp Randall is considered one of the tougher atmospheres to play in across college football. The new EA Sports College Football 25 ranks Camp Randall as the seventh hardest venue to play in (one spot behind Penn State’s Beaver Stadium).

James Franklin’s Penn State teams are only 5-7 after bye weeks during his tenure at Penn State. Penn State, however, has won the last two matchups after a bye week (2023 against UMass and 2024 against Kent State).

Earlier this season, Franklin noted that he talked to many different coaches on the staff to see how other organizations handled bye weeks because of Penn State’s struggles out of bye weeks in the past. Franklin further noted that he didn’t “see a whole lot of changes” to be made, however, after the discussions.

After the win over USC in overtime, James Franklin commented in his press conference after the game that the win would “make the bye week awesome because it would not have been without [the win].”

James Franklin did not hold his weekly press conference this week (as is typical on a bye week) so the next opportunity to hear from Franklin about the bye or about the looming trip to Wisconsin will be after practice Tuesday and again at his weekly press conference next Monday.

MORE: Penn State’s Tyler Warren Plays His Way into Heisman Trophy Conversation

A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
Robert Shields
Penn State Football vs. Wisconsin Kickoff Time Gets National Showcase
Scroll to top