Welcome back to game day, Penn State fans! After an early week off, the No. 8 Nittany Lions are back in action today opposite Kent State. The 0-3 Golden Flashes are a massive underdog ahead of Military Appreciation Day inside of Beaver Stadium. This marks their second game against a Power Four school in as many weeks. Last Saturday, they were blasted 71-0 at Tennessee. Head coach James Franklin’s team, of course, sat idle.

“I think the first thing I would say is, you know, when you schedule these opponents, typically five and seven years out, you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Franklin said this week. “You schedule a MAC team, and some of the teams that you just mentioned have caused people fits, and then you can get to a year where someone is struggling. So that’s unpredictable and challenging.

“I think for us it’s ultimately about — and this is the challenge I think in college football. You hear people talk about it all the time, but the challenge is really it’s ultimately about us and our focus on Penn State and us getting better and developing and playing up to our standard week in and week out, which is easier said than done.”

GameDay Central gets you ready for the game below.

Game time, TV channel, how to watch: Penn State football vs. Kent State

Venue: Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.

Kick time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: Big Ten Network

Stream: Watch College Football Games Live –Click HERE NOW TO TRY Fubo for FREE!

On the call: Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (color commentary), and Brooke Fletcher (sideline reporter).

Penn State radio: Steve Jones, Jack Ham, and Brian Tripp will call the Penn State Sports Network radio broadcast on Saturday. It airs on 99.5 & 103.7 FM/1450 AM locally and at GoPSUSports.com online.

Series facts: PSU holds a 6-0 all-time advantage in this series. It last beat Kent State 63-10 back in 2018. Each matchup between the two schools has been played inside State College.

Penn State-Kent State betting line

Penn State opened as a 48.5-point favorite at various sportsbooks earlier this week. The line has sat right there almost all week. It briefly rose to 49.5 at some spots but then settled back at 48.5.

As for the betting total, it sits at 55.5 points.

Blue-White Illustrated predictions

Nate Bauer: Penn State: 56, Kent State: 10
Sean Fitz: PSU: 62, Kent State: 6
Thomas Frank Carr: Penn State: 63, Kent State: 7
Matt Herb: PSU: 54, Kent State: 10
Greg Pickel: Penn State: 73, Kent State: 0
Ryan Snyder: PSU: 63, Kent State: 7

Weather report

Weather.com did not have rain in the forecast early in the week. However, it’s now calling for possibly showers that would disrupt the postgame tailgate and drive home but not the contest itself. The latest report reads as follows:  “Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 76F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.”

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