The Buffalo Bulls visit the No. 14 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State is a 40.5-point favorite in a game with a 50.5 total.
That is why Penn State Game Today is drawing attention: one team is unbeaten, ranked and playing at home, while the other is trying to steady itself after a loss. Penn State is 2-0 after beating Marshall 45-0 and Temple 27-9, and Buffalo is 1-1 after a 21-17 win over Albany and a 20-33 loss at Florida International.
The numbers on both sides point to a clear contrast. Penn State’s 150.6 passer rating ranks second in FBS, and Rocco Becht has thrown for 539 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception through two games. Buffalo has had a sharper edge in the passing game than its record might suggest, with Elijah Holmes accounting for 253 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and Chance Morrow leading the Bulls with 221 receiving yards and five scores.
That is the part that complicates the spread. Penn State has not allowed more than nine points in a game this season, which means Buffalo’s passing production has to do more than move the ball between the 20s; it has to finish drives and survive long stretches without mistakes. If the Bulls cannot create those extra plays early, the game can slip away quickly from a number that already asks a lot.
The matchup now turns on whether Buffalo can force Penn State out of its comfort zone for even a few possessions. If not, the No. 14 team’s defense and efficiency should keep the afternoon on the same track the betting line suggests.
