Penn State Football is always in the national spotlight. That won’t be any different this year as James Franklin’s team will face the best of the best as always is the case in the Big Ten.

Penn State has known its schedule for a long time now, and they will face a bevy of top competition.

The Nittany Lions will play in the primetime national game of the week slot several times, which is something they must get used to as a young team.

Sports Illustrated previewed the Top 10 Big Ten football games upcoming this fall, and in fact, Penn State Football landed in three of the top 5 games in 2023.

Here’s a look at the games listed and where each one ranked on SI’s top-10 list.

No. 5: Penn State vs Iowa, 7:30 pm, 9/23/2023

Analysis: There’s nothing more important for Penn State this year than to start off the year with a fast start.

They should be able to easily dispatch West Virginia and Delaware before taking on Illinois.

The pressure really cranks up the following week for Happy Valley’s annual whiteout game. There are few atmospheres in sports that rivals this experience, so the team must be ready to live up its high expectations.

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No. 3 – Penn State vs Ohio State, Time TBD, 10/21/2023

Analysis: If Penn State Football wants to be the best, they need to beat the best.

This will arguably be PSU’s toughest game all year as they take on the O-H-I-O team in a hostile Columbus environment.

The Nittany Lions haven’t beaten OSU since 2016. That has included some heartbreaking defeats in too many frustrating ways for PSU since that glorious win in 2016.

A signature win against one of the top programs in the country would go a long way to bringing Penn State back to the top of the Big Ten, again.

No. 2. Penn State vs Michigan, 12 pm, 11/11/2023

Analysis: Another top ranked matchup here.

PSU will look to avenge the beatdown they took at the hands of the Wolverines last year in a 24-point rout.

Michigan has won the last two games in back to back seasons, can they put an end to this streak also?

This will be a tough game with Michigan returning several starters on offense from last year and will look to make a 3rd consecutive CFP appearance.

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