Penn State is just hours away from welcoming fans back to Beaver Stadium for their much-anticipated home opener. After an impressive 38-15 road victory against West Virginia last week, the Nittany Lions are eager to improve to 2-0 as they face Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon. With an early kickoff set for noon Eastern, Penn State fans are excited to see their team in action on home turf.
However, the Nittany Lions will be missing several key players, according to the updated player availability report released by the Big Ten football office. Per conference policy, schools are required to release these reports no later than two hours prior to kickoff.
Players Out for Week 2
The following Penn State players have been ruled out for this weekend’s game against Bowling Green:
- Jaxon Smolik
- Mylachi Williams
- Ta’Mere Robinson
- Kari Jackson
- Keon Wylie
- Zuriah Fisher
- Mason Robinson
- Peter Gonzalez
- Andrew Rappleyea
- Sam Siafa
- Liam Andrews
- De’Andre Cook
- T.A. Cunningham
Additionally, backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has been listed as questionable, leaving some uncertainty about his availability for the game.
Player Availability Policy
The Big Ten’s player availability policy, implemented in 2023, requires schools to provide an updated report no later than two hours before kickoff, ensuring transparency regarding player injuries and absences. This initiative has been followed by several other conferences, including the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which Bowling Green belongs to.
At the time of this report, Bowling Green’s player availability list had not yet been released.
Kickoff and Broadcast
Penn State’s home opener against Bowling Green is scheduled to kick off at noon Eastern and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions are heavy favorites to win the game, and despite the absence of key players, they are expected to put on another strong performance as they continue their quest for a successful season.
Fans will be eager to see how head coach James Franklin manages the lineup with several players sidelined, and whether Penn State can maintain the momentum from their dominant win over West Virginia.
