The Penn State Nittany Lions will start their 2024 season against West Virginia in Morgantown on August 31. Last year, Penn State won their matchup 38-15, but West Virginia went on to win nine games. The rematch is highly anticipated as both teams aim for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
NBC announced that the primetime slot on August 31 will feature Fresno State at Michigan, the reigning national champions, on Big Ten Saturday Night. Penn State’s game against Bowling Green in the second week will be overshadowed by Colorado vs. Nebraska, which is expected to draw more attention.
Despite being a more exciting matchup, Penn State at West Virginia was not chosen for primetime. This could be because NBC views Michigan as more marketable or due to competition from other networks. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, another major Big Ten platform, will likely feature the Penn State-West Virginia game in the afternoon. With few other high-profile Big Ten games that weekend, this matchup deserved a primetime slot, but it will still be a highlight for the Big Noon crew in Week 1.
