Penn State football entered the 2018 season with some high expectations after defeating Washington in the Rose Bowl the previous year. The Nittany Lions, despite losing star running back Saquon Barkley, returned a loaded team and had their eyes on a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Nittany Lions opened the regular season ranked No. 10 and were facing an opponent in Appalachian State that was no stranger to pulling off a major road upset against a ranked opponent.
Penn State jumped out to a quick, seven-point lead in the first quarter when Trace McSorley capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run.