Penn State is kicking off their 2026 season this Saturday, and get this: they’re rolling into a matchup against Marshall, a team they haven’t seen on the gridiron in a mind-blowing 96 years. Seriously, we’re talking almost a full century here! These two squads have only tangled twice before, ever, and let’s just say the Nittany Lions didn’t just win. No, they absolutely *crushed* it both times, leaving no doubt about who the boss was. What a way to start a season, right? Diving into a history book that old!
A Blast From The Past: When Dominance Was Defined
Talk about old-school football, before your grandpa was even born! Back in 1929, Penn State completely dominated the Thundering Herd with a decisive 26-7 victory. And then, just one season later, in 1930, they went full annihilation mode, absolutely shutting out Marshall with an eye-popping 65-0 score. Can you even wrap your head around that kind of beatdown today? We’re talking scores from so far back that there aren’t even any official box scores to dig up! Just imagine that scene: pure, unadulterated ground-and-pound football, probably mud-soaked fields and leather helmets. Forget the fancy forward passes; this was smash-mouth football where running the ball was everything, especially in those early days of the game. No wonder the scores were so incredibly lopsided. Penn State simply owned the field, no questions asked. It was a different game entirely, but the outcome was always the same: Nittany Lion victory.
What’s Changed Since the Roaring Twenties?
Now, while that ancient history is super cool, what about the modern game and what it means for Saturday? Penn State’s overall Big Ten record is… well, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher at 2-7 all-time. Oof, right? That record alone might not exactly scream “dominant,” but don’t write them off yet. Their only two conference wins have actually come in more recent times, specifically 2013 and 2015. So, it looks like they’re finally starting to figure out how to hang with the big dogs in the modern era of Big Ten play, showing some real progress. On the flip side, their record against the Sun Belt Conference, which is Marshall’s stomping grounds, is a spotless 3-0 all-time. They last tangoed with a Sun Belt team against Appalachian State back in 2018, and guess what? They took care of business then too, keeping that perfect record intact.
So, here’s the absolute bottom line for Saturday’s opener. Even with the Thundering Herd reportedly showing some flashes of improvement against Big Ten competition lately, the consensus from all the smart money and the experts is that Penn State should just walk away with this one. Seriously, they’re expected to win handily. We’re probably not looking at another absolutely insane 65-0 massacre, let’s be real, that’s a tough act to follow. But the expectation is crystal clear: Penn State is going to win this game, and they’re going to win it going away. They should be able to take the field, execute their game plan, and secure that season-opening W without too much drama at all. Get ready for some football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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