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Penn State vs. Villanova Preview | Redshirt Decisions & Stock Up/Down

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby: Thomas Frank Carr3 hours agoThomasFrankCarr
Khalil Dinkins Penn State Football On3
Sep 6, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Khalil Dinkins (16) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida International Panthers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Penn State football team has used the first two games of the regular season to work on itself while racking up wins in the non-conference season. How has that work gone so far? We’ll discuss the best and the worst of it today on the BWI Live Show. We’ll outline which freshmen are on their way to burning their redshirts, which players are stock up, and which are stock down. Plus, we’ll outline the areas the team needs to improve in the final non-conference game against Villanova on Saturday.

Join the BWI Live Show today at 10 a.m. on YouTube to be part of the action! We’ll take your questions and comments throughout the show. If you can’t catch us live, you can always get the replay on demand in this article, on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Penn State practice preview and freshman report

Penn State opens the doors of the Lasch practice facility today for another week of open viewing for the media. What are we monitoring this week? We’ll discuss the things we’re looking for tonight. Also, we’ll outline which freshman have participated through two games to learn who is on their way to burning a redshirt and who are being held in reserve for later in the season or next year.

Stock up/Stock Down and Best Bets

It’s only been two games, but the position battles that extended from training camp into the regular season are starting to come to a close. With the final non-conference game of the season looming on Saturday, it’s the last chance for players to put their best foot forward and make a case for more playing time or a move up the depth chart.

We’ll outline the players who are struggling and those who are surging through two games.

Next, we’ll give you Greg Pickel’s Best Bets of the week. He’ll pick a game he likes, the game of the week, and the Penn State game this weekend to give his take on the best bets over at Bet MGM.

Penn State vs. Villanova preview: What’s left to work on?

The Nittany Lions face Villanova this weekend and, as we mentioned earlier, the team has more work to do on polishing its offense and defense before the conference slate begins at the end of the month.

We’ll preview the things that the team can work on against Villanova, given what the Wildcats like to do on both sides of the ball, and what Penn State has shown it needs to continue working on.