The West Virginia Mountaineers face the No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions this Saturday in a highly anticipated season opener at noon, part of Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff. Penn State, which won last year’s matchup 38-15, aims to avoid an upset on the road with junior quarterback Drew Allar leading the team. The Nittany Lions have bolstered their roster with key transfers and new coordinators, including offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and defensive coordinator Tom Allen. West Virginia, motivated by their previous loss, hopes to leverage their home-field advantage and upset the Nittany Lions. This game marks Penn State’s first non-conference road opener since 2015 and could set the tone for their pursuit of a spot in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, a poll revealed West Virginia fans' enthusiasm for resuming football rivalries with Marshall, indicating a broader appetite for local matchups.