Why 3 Big Ten foes shape up as ‘trap’ games for Penn State in 2025

Penn State’s quest to the 2025 College Football Playoffs, and, potentially, a national championship, runs through an intriguing regular-season schedule.

On one hand, the Nittany Lions will face all three Big Ten teams that made the CFP last season: Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana. But the Ducks and Hoosiers must travel to Beaver Stadium.

Penn State also will not play conference contenders Michigan and Illinois.

But what are the top “trap” games on the slate for the nation’s No. 2 team entering 2025?

UCLA (Oct. 4): The Bruins finished 5-7 last year, and they aren’t projected to be Big Ten contenders this year.

But Penn State could be 4-0 coming off an emotional victory against reigning Big Ten champ Oregon. With a trip way out to Los Angeles on tap, wacky things could happen. And, unlike last year, there’s no bye week on either side of the lengthy travel.

UCLA will look drastically different this year, as former Tennessee star QB Nico Iamaleava made the move to Los Angeles in a highly publicized transfer.

Indiana (Nov. 8): Is it really a trap game when it’s an opponent that made the CFP last season?

Indiana’s playoff berth could be seen as a fluke, riding an exceptionally easy Big Ten schedule to an 11-1 finish under a first-year head coach. But Curt Cignetti, one of college football’s biggest personalities, reloaded in the transfer portal, this time with some noteworthy Power Four players.

Former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been a buzzworthy name this offseason among 23 total portal additions.

The Hoosiers head to Happy Valley the week after what’s sure to be a massive Penn State-Ohio State battle in Columbus. Win or lose, the Lions could have a hangover linger into the following week.

Nebraska (Nov. 22): The Cornhuskers, in their third year under former Penn State player and assistant Matt Rhule, will visit the Nittany Lions for the first time since 2017.

While Nebraska has hovered around a .500 record the past two seasons, it landed inside the top 25 last season for two weeks.

Former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola should be more comfortable in his second year as the starter. The defense was strong statistically last year, though better against the run than pass.

The Huskers should have a strong team, but it’s one easily overlooked near the end of Penn State’s schedule.