Penn State plays its first home game Saturday since James Franklin was fired. The Nittany Lions will play the Indiana Hoosiers in Week 11 of the college football season in the program’s sixth Big Ten game of the year. Here are some final thoughts and predictions ahead of the matchup.

Indiana: Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza (15) has blossomed into a star with the Hoosiers. He’s passed for 25 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Mendoza is also a threat on the ground with four scores. He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers have a potentially challenging road test Saturday at Penn State. Here's the kickoff time and TV information, plus more game details.

Find single game tickets to the Indiana Hoosiers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions college football Week 11 matchup on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at West

If this Penn State team played No. 2 Indiana 10 times on a neutral field, the Hoosiers would probably win all 10 games. But Curt Cignetti’s 9-0 Hoosiers have to come to Beaver Stadium for Saturday afternoon’s Big Ten matchup.

Penn State, of course, is unranked in the inaugural CFP rankings after losing its fifth straight game. Still, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti found a ranking to pitch his team in girding against the upset as 13.5-point favorites. Hello, ESPN FPI!

No. 2 Indiana will be without starting guard Drew Evans when it plays Saturday at Penn State. Evans also missed last weekend’s 55-10 victory at Maryland with an undisclosed injury after starting the Hoosiers' first eight games.

Anthony Donkoh moved back to right tackle -- the position he played in 2024 -- against Ohio State. With Donkoh at tackle, Vega Ioane and TJ Shanahan Jr. were the starters at left guard and right guard, respectively. The odd man out was Nolan Rucci, who had been the right tackle.