Penn State and Wisconsin started their seasons off on opposite ends of the spectrum last year.
The Nittany Lions started 0-5, their worst in program history, while the Badgers started 2-0 and outscored their opponents 94-18 before having their next two games canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
James Franklin's squad won out the rest of the way while Paul Chryst's went 2-3 but did notch a win in the Duke's Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest.
Still, despite down years for both programs, they enter the 2021 season ranked inside the top 20 with Penn State checking in at No. 19 and Wisconsin at No. 12, as the two sides open their seasons against each other Saturday in a Big Ten matchup.
MORE: Watch Penn State vs. Wisconsin live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Penn State's offense will be led by quarterback Sean Clifford, who, like his team, had a less-than-stellar year a season ago. However, Franklin brought in Mike Yurcich to run the Nittany Lions' offense as a means to try and remedy that and the veteran offensive coordinator has a proven track record of developing quarterbacks, having been integral in the growth and success of Mason Rudolph, Sam Ehlinger and 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields. Franklin is hoping that his friend from their days coaching Division II can have a similar impact on his offense and quarterback as well.
The Badgers will presumably run their offense through signal-caller Graham Mertz, who was one of several Wisconsin players to test positive for the coronavirus last season, which led to him and his program missing several games. Wisconsin is also vying for its fourth Big Ten title game berth under Chryst, who has led the Badgers to top-10 end-of-season rankings twice in six years and has a 56-19 record during his time in Madison.
Here are all the details you need on how to watch this top-20 Big Ten matchup.
What channel is Penn State vs. Wisconsin on today?
- TV channel: Fox
- Streaming: Fox Sports App, fuboTV
The matchup between the Nittany Lions and Badgers is part of a slate of premier Big Ten and top-20 games in the opening week of the college football season. Being billed as "Big Noon Saturday" by Fox, the game will feature longtime play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson along with Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft on the call, the trio's second game in three days during Week 1 of the season.
Penn State vs. Wisconsin start time
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 4
- Kickoff: Noon ET
The game will kick off at noon ET and will be played at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
Penn State football schedule 2021
| Week. Date. Game. |
| 1. Sept. 4. at Wisconsin |
| 2. Sept. 11. vs. Ball State |
| 3. Sept. 18. vs. Auburn |
| 4. Sept. 25. vs. Villanova |
| 5. Oct. 2. vs. Indiana |
| 6. Oct. 9. at Iowa |
| 7. Oct. 23. vs. Illinois |
| 8. Oct. 30. at Ohio State |
| 9. Nov. 6. at Maryland |
| 10. Nov. 13. vs. Michigan |
| 11. Nov. 20. vs. Rutgers |
| 12. Nov. 27. at Michigan State |
Wisconsin football schedule 2021
| Week. Date. Game |
| 1. Sept. 4. vs. Penn State |
| 2. Sept. 11. vs. Eastern Michigan |
| 3. Sept. 25. vs. Notre Dame |
| 4. Oct. 2. vs. Michigan |
| 5. Oct. 9. at Illinois |
| 6. Oct. 16. vs. Army |
| 7. Oct. 23. @ Purdue |
| 8. Oct. 30. vs. Iowa |
| 9. Nov. 6. at Rutgers |
| 10. Nov. 13. vs. Northwestern |
| 11. Nov. 20. vs. Nebraska |
| 12. Nov. 27. at Minnesota |