Indiana vs. Penn State, Odds, Preview, Picks and Prediction, Saturday, November 8th, 2025
Use Code WWWC In this Indiana at Penn State prediction, the Hoosiers travel to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Hoosiers appear poised for a second straight playoff appearance with a record of 9-0, ranked second in the country. The Nittany Lions, predicted to be a playoff team this season, have lost the starting quarterback to a season-ending injury and fired head coach James Franklin in the midst of a disappointing 3-5 season. The opening kick is scheduled for 12:00 pm EST. Don’t get sacked this football season! Try our College Football Picks!
Indiana Proving its for Real
The Indiana Hoosiers improved to 9-0 with a decisive 55-10 win over Maryland on the road on Saturday. It marked the second straight game the Hoosiers put up over 50 points in a game. They now head to Happy Valley, hoping to improve to a perfect 10-0 on the season and remain atop the Big Ten Conference standings.
“The defense has all year long risen to the occasion when their backs are against the wall,” Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti said. “It wasn't perfect tonight defensively, trust me. Open-field tackling wasn't very good, they had some explosive plays. But there's a lot of good things that are on tape.”
It was the Indiana ground game that took center stage in Maryland, piling up 367 yards on the ground in the win. Running backs Kaelon Black, Roman Hemby, and Khobie Martin each ran for a touchdown. Black led the way with 114 yards while Hemby and Martin combined for 168 yards. Even quarterback Fernando Mendoza got into the act, rushing for 24 yards and a score. Mendoza finished the game 14-of-21 for 201 yards passing and a touchdown. He also threw an interception in the game. The Hoosiers finished the game with 588 yards of total offense.
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Defensively, the Hoosiers held Maryland to just 289 yards of total offense, including just 37 yards on the ground. The Terps managed just 11 first downs against the stout Hoosiers’ defense, including 3-of-12 on third down conversions. The Hoosiers also forced five turnovers in the game, including two interceptions. Rolijah Hardy led the Hoosiers with six tackles. Devan Boykin scooped up one of three fumbles from Maryland and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
The Hoosiers are in great shape to finish the season with a perfect 12-0 mark heading into the Big Ten Conference title game. They play the Nittany Lions, followed by winnable games against Wisconsin and Purdue. They come into this contest ranked second in the nation in scoring. The Hoosiers are 10th in rushing and 49th in passing. The team ranks 47th in the red zone and 10th in sacks allowed this season. Defensively, the Hoosiers are 3rd in scoring defense. They rank 2nd against the run and 23rd against the pass. The Hoosiers are 2nd in the country in red zone defense. They are 12th in sacks per game and 7th in fewest penalty yards per game. The Hoosiers are ranked first in turnover margin.
Key Injuries: WR Elijah Sarratt, OL Drew Evans, and LB Aiden Fisher are questionable.
Change afoot for the Nittany Lions
Penn State had high aspirations heading into the season, with a majority of the starters returning from last season’s playoff team. Things never quite clicked, however, and the season turned for good in the worse after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Starting quarterback Drew Allar was lost for the season with an ankle injury, and head coach James Franklin was relieved of his duties following the loss. Last week, the Nittany Lions lost their fifth straight game, 38-14, to top-ranked Ohio State.
“We're in the middle of the storm, and we just can't figure out how to get out of it. The seniors are hurting. I feel awful for those guys to end their careers this way. It's very challenging. It's challenging for all of us, but we have to figure out how to keep fighting. We're going to keep chopping wood. The one positive of the game is these guys did not quit, and that's a tale to who they are as well. We've just got to figure some other things out.” interim Head Coach Terry Smith said after the team’s fifth straight loss.
Penn State hung tough in the first half, trailing just 17-14 at the break. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nichoals Singleton each scored a touchdown. Allen finished the game with 76 yards on 21 carries, while Singleton had six carries for just 18 yards. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer finished the game 19-of-28 for 145 yards with one interception. The Nittany Lions finished with exactly 200 yards of total offense against the stout Ohio State defense. They were kept off the board in the second half.
The Penn State defense allowed 480 yards of total offense in the game. The Buckeyes had 22 first downs in the game. The Buckeyes were 7-of-10 on conversions and averaged 13.7 yards per pass play. They forced one turnover in the game, recovering a fumble. Amare Campbell led the team with eight sacks in the game. Zakee Wheatley was second on the team with seven tackles.
The Nittany Lions would need to win out to earn a bowl bid this season. They are 58th in the country in points per game. The Nittany Lions are 76th in rushing and just 115th in passing. They are 37th in red zone offense and 44th in sacks allowed. The Nittany Lions are 52nd in the nation in points allowed this season. The team is 97th against the run and 16th against the pass. They are 97th in the country in red zone defense. The Nittany Lions are 108th in sacks per game and fifth in fewest penalty yards per game. Penn State is 58th in the country in turnover margin.
Key Injuries: OL Olaivavega Loane and DE Zuriah Fisher are probable. DT Owen Wafle is questionable.
Indiana vs. Penn State Pick
Point Spread pick for Indiana vs. Penn StateÂ
- Indiana -13.5 (4 units)
The Hoosiers have proved to be the real deal in year two under Cignetti. This year, the team has been more productive on the ground, which will play well against a Penn State defense that ranks just 97th in the country against the run. They come into Happy Valley having scored over 50 points in two straight games. The Nittany Lions are winless in the Big Ten this season and don’t have the firepower to match up against the Hoosiers. Additionally, this Hoosiers’ defense has been dominant, ranking 3rd in points allowed per game. They are 2nd in the country in rushing defense and 2nd in red zone defense. That run defense will force the Nittany Lions to throw, a tough assignment for a team that ranks 115th in the country in passing offense. The Hoosiers will make it a perfect ten with a comfortable win on Saturday.
Take the Nittany Lions -13.5
Over/Under Pick for Indiana at Penn StateÂ
- Under 48.5 (4 units)
The Hoosiers have scored over 50 points themselves in each of their last two games. They have a dominant ground game that should have its way with the below-average Nittany Lions’ run defense. The Hoosiers have scored 30 or more points in each of their last four games as well. Prior to their 14-point showing against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions had scored 24 or more points in each of their last four games.
Take the over.
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