(Above Image Credit: The Smoking Musket)

When: Saturday, Sept. 2nd, 7:30 PM EST

Where: Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)

Channel: NBC (check your local listings)

West Virginia heads to Happy Valley to face Penn State this Saturday night as college football kickoff weekend continues.

Penn State’s Rising Star?

Penn State’s season could possibly ride on their newest quarterback, Drew Allar. The former 5-star recruit has already become one of the most anticipated players this season after his performances last season. He completed 35 passes out of 60 for four touchdowns. The only loss he was a part of was against Michigan in October, the same team that beat out Penn State by a few points to advance to last year’s Big Ten championship.

He made his debut against Purdue, taking over for QB Sean Clifford in the second half after he was banged up. It made sense for him to start small, but that would be his first step towards the start of becoming a future big name in college football as a sophomore. Imagine him going down the paths of C.J Stroud, Bryce Young, or Caleb Williams.

Penn State head coach James Franklin hasn’t announced Allar as the starting quarterback against West Virginia. However, many people most likely see him taking the field on Saturday night.

West Virginia vs. Penn State: A Rare Rivalry

This unique rivalry dates back to 1904. The first five games were won by Penn State in dominant fashion, shutting out West Virginia. Many of their games against them had long winning streaks, but their longest one was from 1959 – 1983. West Virginia did win a few battles, but they were no match for the prowess their opponents possessed.

Penn State leads the series 48-9-2, but the rivalry went dormant. The last time they faced each other was 1992. The Nittany Lions defeated the Mountaineers 40-26 and increased their winning streak to four games before moving to the Big Ten in 1993.

Their rivalry will reignite this Saturday night at Pennsylvania. Then, they will see each other again next year at West Virginia. Both games will be season-openers.

Final Prediction

The odds are heavily in Penn State’s favor. This game will be a test run to really prove their meddle, and West Virginia will be their first guinea pigs. Allar is already peaking my interest, so if his past performances are any indication, he shouldn’t have any trouble struggling through this one, especially against the Mountaineers’ defense.

Speaking of West Virginia’s defense, they were terrible last season. They gave up 4.3 yards per carry and 6.1 yards per play. Meanwhile, their offense looks rather interesting, but if they can’t succeed in rushing the ball or outmaneuvering a Penn State defense that was one of the best in the nation last year, there’s no chance of beating them and no chance to go all the way in the Big 12.

I see Penn State taking their win in stride this Saturday night.