Athletics

Penn State football to open season at Temple Sept. 5

Penn State junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg will be making his 26th career start when the Nittany Lions open the 2015 season at Temple. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State will face one of its most familiar foes to open its 129th year of football, opening its season at Temple for the first time since 1978. Kick off is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and the game will air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUSports.com.

This will be the 44th meeting between the Nittany Lions and Owls on the football field, with Penn State looking to continue its 39-game winning streak in the series that dates back to 1943. Penn State most recently defeated Temple in Beaver Stadium last season, 30-13, and traveled to Philadelphia in 2011 for a 14-10 victory.

Penn State enters the 2015 season opener with eight returning starters on offense and seven returning starters from its vaunted defense that ranked among the best in the nation last season. Senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel leads the group, garnering both preseason All-America and All-Big Ten honors.

Junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg enters the season poised to re-write the Penn State record books. He needs just 12 completions to tie Matt McGloin for second all-time in the category. He will be supported by a talented and deep running back corps led by junior Akeel Lynch, who finished the 2014 season as the team’s leading rusher. DaeSean Hamilton will be among Hackenberg’s top targets, as the sophomore enters 2015 coming off of a spectacular and record-setting freshman campaign.

Joining Hackenberg and Zettel as team captains are senior center Angelo Mangiro, senior safety Jordan Lucas and junior linebacker Von Walker. Mangiro will look to anchor the offensive line, while Lucas, who is moving from cornerback to safety this season, is the unquestioned leader of the secondary.

Temple cannot be overlooked, as it will open the 2015 season with an experienced group. Twenty-one players have numerous starts, and 10 starters return to the defense, including leaders in tackles, sacks and interceptions. The offensive side returns seven starters, including at quarterback and running back. Signal caller P.J. Walker will be throwing to new targets, however, after the loss of his top two pass catchers from a year ago.

After traveling across the Atlantic to open the 2014 season, the Nittany Lions will remain in-state for its first six games of 2015, as the Temple game will be followed by five consecutive home games at Beaver Stadium.

For more information about Saturday’s season opener, visit www.GoPSUSports.com.

Last Updated September 3, 2015