Penn State faces UCLA on the football field this Saturday, marking their first meeting since 1968 when the Nittany Lions defeated the Bruins 21-7 in Los Angeles during Joe Paterno’s third season as head coach. Strangely, that game was part of a six-game series the two schools played consecutively, and they haven’t faced each other since.
Now sharing a conference, they are set to meet more often in the future, but anticipation is high for this first matchup as conference rivals.
How to watch Penn State vs. UCLA live:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5 | Time: Noon ET
Location: Beaver Stadium — University Park, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Key points about the matchup:
This game is especially noteworthy for UCLA, as it marks their first game in the Eastern Time Zone since 2014. The last time the Bruins traveled east was for a season opener against Virginia 10 years ago, where they emerged victorious 28-20. Following a home game against Minnesota next week, UCLA will return to the Eastern Time Zone again in two weeks to challenge Rutgers.
For the fourth consecutive season, Penn State has achieved a 4-0 start. While this is a strong start for many programs, for Penn State, it is part of their routine. The Nittany Lions are looking to extend their current winning streak against unranked teams, which stands at 24 games. This streak began after a dramatic loss to Illinois in 2021.
In contrast, UCLA’s experience in the Big Ten has not been favorable. The Bruins are currently 0-2 and have been outscored by a total of 50 points, allowing at least 34 points in each game, both of which were played at home. The challenge intensifies as they head to Penn State, where they face a formidable opponent.
With predictions leaning towards a Penn State victory, it’s expected they will cover the spread.