The seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions play their next game on Saturday against the UCLA Bruins. This is the last of four straight games at Beaver Stadium. It is also Penn State’s second Big Ten contest of the season. The Nittany Lions defeated Illinois 21-7 in their first Big Ten game of the season last week to stay undefeated. Below is a preview of the Penn State vs. UCLA matchup.
UCLA is a newcomer to the Big Ten, moving to the conference this season from the Pac-12. The Bruins enter the game with a record of 1-3 and are winless in two Big Ten games. After winning their season opener against Hawaii, UCLA has dropped three games in a row. This game marks UCLA’s first trip east this season and their first trip to Happy Valley since 1967. While everything seems set up for Penn State to win big, the Nittany Lions should not be taking UCLA lightly.
UCLA (1-3) at #7 Penn State (4-0) Preview
When & Where: Saturday, October 5, 12 pm ET, at Penn State
Last Game’s Results: Penn State won at home, defeating Illinois 21-7. UCLA lost to Oregon at home by a score of 34-13.
Last Season’s Results: Penn State finished ranked #13 after a 10-3 season that ended with a Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. UCLA was 8-5, in a season that ended with a victory in the LA Bowl over Boise State.
Series History: UCLA leads the series all-time by a four to two margin. The teams last met in 1968, when Penn State won 21-6.
Penn State vs. UCLA Preview: Nittany Lions to Watch
Tight End Tyler Warren
No matter what game or what type of opponent, Tyler Warren has impacted the game. Following the Kent State game, head coach James Franklin said, “He’s the best tight end in college football.” His performance against Illinois did not dampen that enthusiasm. So far this season, Warren has significantly impacted the Penn State offense.
In terms of receiving, he leads the team with 20 catches, which is almost one-third of all completed passes. It is also almost double Trey Wallace’s 11 receptions, which is second on the team. Warren also leads the team in receiving yards with 260 and is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with two.
It would be impossible for Warren to have all the team’s receptions. That is because he threw a pass as well. The pass was a 17-yard completion. It was also a touchdown. Warren also ran the ball three times this season. One of those runs resulted in a touchdown. So, Warren has at least one touchdown receiving, one rushing, and one passing.
The expectations were high for Warren entering this season. He has easily surpassed them so far. However, he is becoming a “must-see” player. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is a creative playcaller and is obviously seeing value in the catching, running, and throwing abilities of Warren. Wondering what he’ll do next makes Warren a Nittany Lion to watch.
Kicker Sander Sahaydak
This is not Sander Sahaydak’s first time on the “Nittany Lions to Watch” list. Despite winning the starting kicker job twice, he is not the clear-cut choice to kick a field goal with the game on the line. This is due to his poor performance in kicking field goals, both last year and this year.
In 2023, Sahaydak had the starting kicker spot as the team broke camp. In the first game against West Virginia, he missed two field goals. He was benched after that, with the job going to Alex Felkins.
Fast forward to 2024, and Sahaydak won the camp competition again. This time, he beat out Chase Meyer, a transfer from Tulsa, and redshirt freshman Ryan Barker. Against the same West Virginia Mountaineers to start the 2024 season, he missed again, on a 47-yard attempt. Franklin stuck with him against Bowling Green, and he was able to convert. He missed again against Illinois. In total this season, he has converted only two of five field goal attempts.
In his Monday press conference, speaking of the summer kicking competition, Franklin said, “It was close, but I think everyone felt comfortable that we made the right decision.” However, the competition is back on. Meyer has experience, as he converted 17 of 20 field goals last year for Tulsa. Barker has received a bit of experience, including the last extra point against Illinois. How Sahaydak responds to the renewed competition, if he is given the opportunity, makes him a Nittany Lion to watch.
