The 2024 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Nittany Lions were led by head coach James Franklin in his 11th year leading the program.
Their home stadium is Beaver Stadium in College Township, Pennsylvania, with a mailing address of University Park, Pennsylvania. The Penn State Nittany Lions football team drew an average home attendance of 108,379 in 2024.
Following a 44–7 win against Maryland and a Michigan win over Ohio State in the final week of the regular season, the Nittany Lions clinched their first Big Ten Championship appearance since 2016, which they lost to the Oregon Ducks. However, Penn State still clinched its first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff, in which they defeated No. 11 seed SMU 38–10 in the first round at home, then the No. 3 seed Boise State 31–14 in the Fiesta Bowl. They then faced No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the CFP National Championship, but fell 27–24. The team concluded with a record of 13–3, making this Penn State's first ever 13-win season.
Penn State ranked No. 5 in the final rankings of both major polls, the program first top-five finish since the 2005 season.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Cristian DriverWRMinnesotaAlex BacchettaPRiceJace Tutty (Walk-on)CBYoungstown StateDante CephasWRKansas StateJake Wilson (Walk-on)EDGEUnknownIbrahim TraoreOTToledoMason Stahl (Walk-on)WRSacred HeartKeAndre Lambert-SmithWRAuburnJordan van den BergDLGeorgia TechMalick MeigaWRCoastal CarolinaKing MackSAlabamaMalik McClainWRArizona StateLondon MontgomeryRBEast CarolinaDavon TownleyEDGEMissouri StateGolden Israel-AchumbaOGUnknownDavid Kency Jr. (Walk-on)RBLSU
Incoming Chase MeyerKTulsaJulian FlemingWROhio StateJordan MayerOLBWisconsinA. J. HarrisCBGeorgiaJalen KimberCBFloridaNolan RucciOTWisconsin
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries at West Virginia
Statistics PSU WVU First downs 21 19 Total yards 60–457 66–246 Rushing yards 42–222 37–85 Passing yards 235 161 Passing: comp–att–int 12–18–0 15–29–1 Time of possession 30:25 29:35
Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 11/17, 216 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 13 carries, 114 yards, TD Receiving Harrison Wallace III 5 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD West Virginia Passing Garrett Greene 15/28, 161 yards, Rushing CJ Donaldson Jr 12 carries, 42 yards, TD Receiving Preston Fox 2 receptions, 41 yards
vs Bowling Green
Statistics BGSU PSU First downs 20 21 Total yards 66–375 57–438 Rushing yards 26–121 37–234 Passing yards 254 204 Passing: comp–att–int 25–40–2 13–20–1 Time of possession 32:00 28:00
Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green Passing Connor Bazelak 25/39, 254 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaison Patterson 16 carries, 57 yards Receiving Harold Fannin Jr. 11 receptions, 137 yards, TD Penn State Passing Drew Allar 13/20, 204 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Nicholas Singleton 13 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 8 receptions, 146 yards
vs Kent State
Statistics KENT PSU First downs 6 40 Total yards 43–67 81–718 Rushing yards 30–49 50–309 Passing yards 18 409 Passing: comp–att–int 2–13–0 24–31–1 Time of possession 24:19 35:41
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing JD Sherrod 2/6, 18 yards Rushing Ayden Harris 10 carries, 20 yards Receiving Ardell Banks 1 reception, 13 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 17/21, 309 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 11 carries, 81 yards Receiving Omari Evans 4 receptions, 116 yards, TD
vs No. 19 Illinois
Statistics ILL PSU First downs 17 24 Total yards 57–219 65–374 Rushing yards 32–34 44–239 Passing yards 185 135 Passing: comp–att–int 16–25–1 15–21–0 Time of possession 26:11 33:49
Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 16/25, 185 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaden Feagin 13 carries, 64 yards Receiving Zakhari Franklin 4 receptions, 49 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 15/21, 135 yards Rushing Kaytron Allen 18 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Harrison Wallace III 4 receptions, 50 yards
vs UCLA
Statistics UCLA PSU First downs 14 18 Total yards 59–260 54–322 Rushing yards 29–93 30–85 Passing yards 167 237 Passing: comp–att–int 22–30–0 17–24–0 Time of possession 32:57 27:03
Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Justyn Martin 22/30, 167 yards, TD Rushing Jalen Berger 9 carries, 38 yards Receiving T.J. Harden 5 receptions, 59 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 17/24, 237 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 21 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Liam Clifford 3 receptions, 107 yards
at USC
Statistics PSU USC First downs 28 16 Total yards 75–518 58–409 Rushing yards 31–118 24–189 Passing yards 400 220 Passing: comp–att–int 31–44–3 20–34–1 Time of possession 32:22 27:38
Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 30/43, 391 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 16 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 17 receptions, 224 yards, TD USC Passing Miller Moss 20/34, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Woody Marks 20 carries, 111 yards Receiving Makai Lemon 6 receptions, 73 yards
at Wisconsin
Statistics PSU WIS First downs 22 16 Total yards 66–419 69–298 Rushing yards 35–173 27–81 Passing yards 246 217 Passing: comp–att–int 25–31–0 22–42–1 Time of possession 34:31 25:29 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 14/18, 148 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 11 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 7 receptions, 46 yards Wisconsin Passing Braedyn Locke 22/42, 217 yards, INT Rushing Tawee Walker 22 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Will Pauling 8 receptions, 79 yards
vs No. 4 Ohio State
Statistics OSU PSU First downs 21 15 Total yards 64–358 53–270 Rushing yards 40–176 32–120 Passing yards 182 150 Passing: comp–att–int 16–24–1 13–21–1 Time of possession 31:29 28:31
Team Category Player Statistics Ohio State Passing Will Howard 16/24, 182 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Quinshon Judkins 14 carries, 95 yards Receiving Jeremiah Smith 4 receptions, 55 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 12/20, 146 yards, INT Rushing Tyler Warren 3 carries, 47 yards Receiving Nicholas Singleton 6 receptions, 54 yards
vs Washington
Statistics WASH PSU First downs 14 24 Total yards 56–193 70–486 Rushing yards 33–74 40–266 Passing yards 119 220 Passing: comp–att–int 16–23–1 20–30–0 Time of possession 28:52 31:08
Team Category Player Statistics Washington Passing Will Rogers 10/13, 59 yards, INT Rushing Demond Williams Jr. 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Giles Jackson 5 receptions, 23 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 20/28, 220 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 20 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 8 receptions, 75 yards
at Purdue
Statistics PSU PUR First downs 23 16 Total yards 61–539 59–302 Rushing yards 34–234 28–85 Passing yards 305 217 Passing: comp–att–int 22–27–0 15–31–0 Time of possession 31:20 28:40
Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 17/19, 247 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyler Warren 3 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 8 receptions, 127 yards, TD Purdue Passing Hudson Card 11/20, 151 yards Rushing Devin Mockobee 11 carries, 40 yards Receiving Max Klare 7 receptions, 91 yards, TD
at Minnesota
Statistics PSU MINN First downs 20 18 Total yards 61–361 59–281 Rushing yards 33–117 36–106 Passing yards 244 175 Passing: comp–att–int 21–28–0 15–23–1 Time of possession 25:49 34:11
Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 21/28, 244 yards, TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 13 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 8 receptions, 102 yards Minnesota Passing Max Brosmer 15/23, 175 yards, TD, INT Rushing Darius Taylor 17 carries, 58 yards Receiving Daniel Jackson 6 receptions, 90 yards
vs Maryland
Statistics MD PSU First downs 13 24 Total yards 57–194 79–412 Rushing yards 31–72 49–219 Passing yards 122 193 Passing: comp–att–int 15–26–3 20–30–0 Time of possession 27:20 32:40
Team Category Player Statistics Maryland Passing MJ Morris 14/24, 112 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Roman Hemby 13 carries, 64 yards Receiving Tai Felton 4 receptions, 27 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 17/26, 171 yards, TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 13 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyler Warren 6 receptions, 68 yards, TD
vs No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten Championship Game)
Statistics PSU ORE First downs 28 24 Total yards 74–518 75–466 Rushing yards 35–292 43–183 Passing yards 226 283 Passing: comp–att–int 20–39–2 22–32–0 Time of possession 27:24 32:36
Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 20/39, 226 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 14 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Warren 7 receptions, 84 yards Oregon Passing Dillon Gabriel 22/32, 283 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jordan James 20 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tez Johnson 11 receptions, 181 yards, TD
vs No. 10 SMU (CFP First round)
Statistics SMU PSU First downs 21 18 Total yards 73–253 65–325 Rushing yards 36–58 40–189 Passing yards 195 136 Passing: comp–att–int 20–37–3 14–25–1 Time of possession 28:48 31:12
Team Category Player Statistics SMU Passing Kevin Jennings 20/36, 195 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Brashard Smith 18 carries, 62 yards Receiving Roderick Daniels Jr. 4 receptions, 64 yards, TD Penn State Passing Drew Allar 13/22, 127 yards Rushing Nicholas Singleton 14 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Harrison Wallace III 4 receptions, 48 yards
vs No. 9 Boise State (Fiesta Bowl / CFP Quarterfinal)
Statistics PSU BSU First downs 21 25 Total yards 66–387 75–412 Rushing yards 41–216 40–108 Passing yards 171 304 Passing: comp–att–int 13–25–0 23–35–3 Time of possession 25:56 34:04 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 13/25, 171 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 17 carries, 134 yards Receiving Tyler Warren 6 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TD Boise State Passing Maddux Madsen 23/35, 304 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Ashton Jeanty 30 carries, 104 yards Receiving Matt Lauter 4 receptions, 96 yards, TD
vs No. 5 Notre Dame (Orange Bowl / CFP Semifinal)
Statistics ND PSU First downs 23 20 Total yards 73–383 75–339 Rushing yards 42–116 42–204 Passing yards 267 135 Passing: comp–att–int 21–31–2 12–23–1 Time of possession 29:56 30:04
Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 15/23, 223 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 11 carries, 45 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Greathouse 7 receptions, 105 yards, TD Penn State Passing Drew Allar 12/23, 135 yards, INT Rushing Nicholas Singleton 15 carries, 84 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tyler Warren 6 receptions, 75 yards
Roster
References