Five things you should know about Penn State before Saturday’s season opener

No. 8 Penn State will kick off its season against West Virginia on Saturday (noon, Fox29). Ahead of a year in which the Nittany Lions could crack the College Football Playoff, given its expansion to 12 teams, here are five things to know about Penn State:

Head coach James Franklin is heading into his 11th season at Penn State. The Langhorne native remains the only Black coach to win a Big Ten title (2016). After finishing among the top 12 teams in six of his seasons at the helm, Franklin appears poised to earn his first berth into the CFP.

In a regular-season slate that spans from August to November, the Nittany Lions will see Michigan fall off their schedule but find the addition of Big Ten newcomers Southern Cal and UCLA, courtesy of conference realignment. Michigan will return to Penn State’s slate in 2025, but it’s possible Ohio State will be removed.

Junior defensive end Abdul Carter is on the watch list for the Lombardi Award honoring college football’s top lineman. The Glenside native and La Salle College High School alumnus also is on the watch list for the Senior Bowl and was named a preseason All-American by the Associated Press.

Nick Dawkins is a redshirt senior lineman who was named one of five captains this season. He is the son of former 76er Darryl Dawkins and the cousin of Eagles legend Brian Dawkins, former Temple and Buffalo Bills receiver Dion Dawkins, and Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns.

How much did Penn State receive this offseason to fuel improvements to Beaver Stadium? $35 million. An initial $25 million was gifted by Penn State alumni, and another $10 million was donated to the school by an anonymous donor.