The 2024 NFL season is another step closer, and now we know what the shape of it will be. On Wednesday night, the NFL announced its schedule for this fall.
There are a number of marquee matchups, beginning Thursday, Sept. 5 and stretching over the next 18 weeks through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2025. That will set the stage for the playoffs, which will culminate with Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans.
Once again, there figures to be a significant Penn State presence across that schedule. Last month, there was an influx of Nittany Lions talent into the league, including a pair of first-round picks. And during free agency, some big names changed teams with running back Saquon Barkley returning to his home state.
Now we know when all of those former Nittany Lions will be in action. Of course, the full NFL schedule, which can be viewed here, is subject to change because of flex scheduling. But fans can now mark their calendars for when some of their favorite Penn State alums will be in action.
Here's a selection of potentially important games this fall that will or could feature some notable Nittany Lions.
WEEK 1: BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Details: Thursday, Sept. 5, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
The NFL is opening its season with a bang as Patrick Mahomes and the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. And there could be a Penn State flavor to opening night. The Ravens roster features outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, punter Jordan Stout and outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who Baltimore picked in the third round last month.
The Chiefs picked offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad in the fifth round and signed linebacker Curtis Jacobs as an undrafted free agent. Depending on how things shake out, it could be quite the stage for some combination of those Nittany Lions to make their professional debuts. On top of that, Oweh and Stout occupy key roles on the Ravens defense and special teams.
WEEK 1: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES VS. GREEN BAY PACKERS IN BRAZIL
Details: Friday, Sept. 6, 8:15 p.m. (Peaco*ck) at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil
The first NFL game to ever be played in South America will also be Saquon Barkley's Philadelphia Eagles debut. After spending the first six years of his career with the New York Giants, Barkley signed a lucrative contract with Philadelphia in free agency, and he's expected to add some significant punch to an offseason that also features Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and one of the NFL's top offensive lines. There are high hopes.
The Eagles roster also currently features defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who signed in free agency after making his NFL debut for the New Orleans Saints last year, and linebacker Brandon Smith, the former Carolina Panthers fourth-round pick who appeared in two games for the Eagles last year.
The Green Bay Packers roster currently has three former Nittany Lions, too. Quarterback Sean Clifford is looking to reprise his role as Jordan Love's backup after appearing in two games as a rookie last season, while third-year pro Rasheed Walker is attempting to hang on to the left tackle job that he took over down the stretch last season. The Packers also added cornerback Kalen King to their roster as a seventh-round pick last month.
As the NFL heads to Brazil, there could be a notable Penn State contingent on the field and on the sidelines.
WEEK 1: NEW YORK JETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Details: Monday, Sept. 9, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
The first Nittany Lion off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft was offensive lineman Olu Fashanu, who went to the New York Jets with the No. 11 overall pick, and he could have the chance to make his NFL debut on Monday Night Football. The Jets might not need Fashanu right away after adding veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason, but Fashanu could be a good insurance policy for New York. Of course, the real reason this game will have so much attention is that Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get another chance to begin the next stage of his career after he suffered a torn Achilles in his debut last year — which was also on MNF.
On the other side, the San Francisco 49ers are aiming to bounce back from another Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. The 49ers boast a trio of Penn State defenders on their roster in safety Ji'Ayir Brown, defensive lineman Kevin Givens and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos.
Brown worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie and ultimately intercepted Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Givens, an Altoona native who made it as an undrafted free agent, has been a member of the rotation for a few years. Gross-Matos had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 12 games for Carolina last year.
WEEK 4: CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
Details: Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m. (FOX)
The three former Nittany Lions involved in this game are all looking to rebuild their value in 2024 after quiet seasons in 2023. In his lone season with the Patriots, new Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki caught 29 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, his lowest totals since his rookie year in 2018. On the other side, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders lost his starting job and carried 129 times for only 432 yards and one touchdown in his first year with the team. Safety Nick Scott was benched by the Bengals last season and released earlier this year before joining Sanders in Carolina as a free agent.
All three players have shown they can be impact players at different points in their careers, and they're looking to return to form this fall.
WEEK 4: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
Details: Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m. (CBS)
The AFC South rivals feature a collection of impressive skill talent and some Nittany Lions at key spots. Houston was a breakout team last fall behind quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Juice Scruggs slotted in as left guard down the stretch and into the playoffs for the Texans offensive line. After some offseason movement, Scruggs could take over the starting center job this offseason.
Jacksonville double-dipped on Nittany Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft by picking tight end Brenton Strange (second round, one spot ahead of Scruggs) and wide receiver Parker Washington (sixth round). Strange appeared in 14 games as a rookie and caught five passes for 35 yards and a touchdown, while Washington worked through some injuries to catch 16 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Strange and Washington will need to compete to carve out playing time this offseason, but they flashed a bit as rookies. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye spent part of last season on the Jags practice squad.
The two teams meet again in Week 13 for a Sunday, Dec. 1 matchup in Jacksonville.
WEEK 5: MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Details: Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. (FOX)
This game presents the opportunity for some Penn State-on-Penn State action in the trenches. The Dolphins made edge Chop Robinson the No. 21 overall pick in the draft, while the Patriots added offensive lineman Caedan Wallace in the third round. Both players will need to work their way up the pecking order — Miami has Jaelan Phillips (coming off injury), Bradley Chubb and Shaquil Barrett in its outside linebacker stable, New England has Chukwuma Okorafor and Michael Onwenu among its tackles on the roster — but both showcased some versatility in their Penn State careers. Robinson played at a high level over the course of his two seasons at Penn State, while Wallace was a breakout performer in 2023, which carried over into the pre-draft process.
The two teams meet again in Week 12 for a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Miami.
WEEK 7: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS
Details: Sunday, Oct. 20, 1 p.m. (FOX)
What will Barkley have in store the first time he faces his former team? Across his six seasons with the Giants, Barkley rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns while catching 288 passes for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns. Along the way, he was the 2018 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler. But his tenure there didn't end on the best terms, and he stayed in the division for his next stop.
The Giants, meanwhile, added two former Nittany Lions over the past few weeks. New York drafted tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round and signed wide receiver Allen Robinson last week. Johnson caught 77 passes for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons and tested as one of the most athletic tight end prospects in the draft class. Entering his 11th season, Robinson is joining his fourth team in four years. Last season, he caught 34 passes for 280 yards with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
WEEK 8: DALLAS COWBOYS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Details: Sunday, Oct. 27, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Cowboys-49ers is an historic NFL rivalry, and it'll feature a heavy dose of Penn State defenders. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is the headliner, while Brown could be a breakout star for the 49ers if he builds on his rookie season. Givens and Gross-Matos have had varying degrees of production in the NFL, too. Parsons is coming off a career high of 14 sacks, and he has 40.5 sacks in 50 games to start his career.
Both of these teams will have championship aspirations, and they'll need their Nittany Lions to play a part in achieving them.
WEEK 10: PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Details: Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m. (CBS)
This matchup holds an intriguing individual matchup as a possibility: Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. vs. Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. The two players were teammates across three seasons at Penn State and were among the best players in the Big Ten at their respective positions. Dotson went on to become a 2022 first-round pick, while Porter was the first pick of the second round last year.
In his rookie season, Porter worked his way into the starting lineup for the Steelers and finished the year with 10 pass breakups and an interception in 17 games. Dotson had a quieter Year 2 with 49 catches for 518 yards and four touchdowns. Dotson and the Commanders should hope that new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury helps unlock first-round pick Jayden Daniels at quarterback.
The Commanders roster also features cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley. The Steelers roster has tight end Pat Freiermuth, so there could be a couple Nittany Lions playing key roles in this AFC-NFC matchup.
WEEK 10: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Details: Sunday, Nov. 10, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
It's an Eagles-Cowboys game, so of course it's going to be in a prime time slot, and of course there are going to be plenty of eyeballs on it. That's just how it works in the NFL with this rivalry. It's a marquee opportunity for Parsons to showcase his skills on the national stage against the Eagles' high-profile offense. In five career games against Philadelphia, Parsons has three sacks, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. He's on track to command a hefty contract at a premium position, and a performance on a big stage like this can only serve to help his value.
The Eagles, meanwhile, will have the chance to assert themselves as NFC contenders after the Cowboys won the NFC East last season.
The two teams meet again in a Week 17 matchup in Philadelphia. That game is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4:25 p.m.
WEEK 11: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT BUFFALO BILLS
Details: Sunday, Nov. 17, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Whenever these two teams meet, it always seems to be a classic, and there will be a heavy Penn State flavor in the trenches for Buffalo. The Bills have Connor McGovern as their starting left guard, and they signed Austin Johnson to pair with DaQuan Jones at defensive tackle. Wide receiver KJ Hamler is on the roster this offseason after he looks to get his career back on track after he was sidelined by injuries and health issues.
The Chiefs have Nourzad and Jacobs on their roster this offseason with Nourzad poised to add depth on the interior and Jacobs fighting for a spot at the back end of the roster.
Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes is always worth watching, but Penn State fans could have some extra incentive to tune in, too.
WEEK 14: CHICAGO BEARS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Details: Sunday, Dec. 8, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
A trio of former Penn State defenders will get their shot at the No. 1 overall pick in this one. The 49ers defense features Brown, Givens and Gross-Matos, who signed with San Francisco this offseason, while the Bears are on track to be led by top pick Caleb Williams out of USC, along with wide receiver Rome Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick out of Washington.
Chicago made an effort to boost the cast around Williams that involved Penn State. The Bears traded for Ryan Bates, who spent the past couple of seasons as a versatile lineman with the Buffalo Bills, to play in front of Williams on the offensive line. The Bears also have a notable Nittany Lion in their secondary in safety Jaquan Brisker, who played 95% of defensive snaps last season and is solidifying himself as a consistent presence on the Chicago defense.
WEEK 16: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Details: Sunday, Dec. 22, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin is entering the final year of his contract and is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard season in the past five years. Tampa Bay might have found its quarterback after Baker Mayfield led it to an NFC South win and the divisional round of the playoffs, and that could offer some stability for Godwin and fellow wide receiver Mike Evans, who received a contract extension earlier this offseason.
On the other side, it's another opportunity for Parsons to showcase his skills as a pass rusher. Parsons has three sacks in three games, including the playoffs, against the Buccaneers, and he can add to that against Mayfield in prime time.
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for Lions247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at daniel.gallen@paramount.com. Follow Daniel on X at @danieljtgallen and Instagram at @bydanieljtgallen.
