Penn State vs. West Virginia score, updates, highlights from Nittany Lions' opener

The future looks bright for Penn State, judging by the Nittany Lions' 38-15 victory over historical rival West Virginia on Saturday.

Former five-star recruit Drew Allar took all of two passes to complete his first touchdown pass as a starter, lobbing a 72-yard score to KeAndre Lambert-Smith to go up 7-0. Apart from a four-legged intruder making a run at the end zone, however, it was slow going for James Franklin and Co. in Happy Valley: They only led 14-7 at the half over Neal Brown's chronically maligned Mountaineers team.

The Nittany Lions took a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter before exploding for 17 points — including a potential bad beats candidate with a last-second touchdown — to seal the victory and start the season 1-0. Allar finished 21 of 29 for 325 yards and three touchdowns in his debut as a starter. Nicholas Singleton (13 carries, 70 yards) and Kaytron Allen (10 carries, 51 yards) led the way rushing for the Nittany Lions. Lambert-Smith finished the game with four receptions for 123 yards and two scores.

Expectations doubtless will remain high in Happy Valley after Penn State's Week 1 win, even if it did come against West Virginia. Check out all the updates, scores and highlights from Saturday's victory below:

Penn State vs. West Virginia score

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Penn State vs. West Virginia updates, highlights

All listed times Eastern.

Final: Penn State 38, West Virginia 15

10:49 p.m.: Garrett Green takes a quarterback draw 10 yards, but that'll do it. Penn State starts its season with a lopsided win.

Touchdown, Penn State: Penn State 38, West Virginia 15

10:46 p.m.: Pribula runs it in from five yards out for his first career college touchdown. What a cool moment for the local product. Alex Felkins adds the PAT to extend the lead to 23.

10:39 p.m.: Pribula runs up the middle on a 3rd and 10 for a first down and after a facemask penalty on West Virginia, the Nittany Lions are down to the Mountaineers 20.

10:36 p.m.: West Virginia's onside kick attempt goes out of bounds with 3:33 left in the game. Penn State takes over at the West Virginia 46. Allar is out of the game, with York native Beau Pribula taking his place.

Touchdown, West Virginia: Penn State 31, West Virginia 15

10:32 p.m.: Garrett Greene runs it in from one yard out on a quarterback keeper for a West Virginia touchdown. Caps off a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Mountaineers add a two-point conversion.

10:26 p.m.: Updated line for Drew Allar — 21/29, 325 yards, 11.2 yards per attempt, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Touchdown, Penn State: Penn State 31, West Virginia 7

10:21 p.m.: Allar has his third touchdown pass of the day, connecting with Florida State transfer Malik McClain for a 25-yard score, with 21 of those yards coming after the catch.

10:13 p.m.: West Virginia gets down to the Penn State 47, but on a 4th and 2, Abdul Carter gets a sack that will give Penn State the ball at the Mountaineers' 42. Odd play call there from Neal Brown. Had Garrett Greene line up wide and have his backup in at quarterback. 10:26 left.

10:11 p.m.: Garrett Greene has been effective with his legs tonight, with 12 carries for 57 yards, including a 15-yarder that was West Virginia's longest run of the game.

10:06 p.m.: James Franklin indeed does make a change at kicker and goes with Columbia transfer Alex Felkins, who drills a 25-yard field goal to extend the Nittany Lions' lead to 24-7.

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Third quarter: Penn State 21, West Virginia 7

10:01 p.m.: Kent State transfer Dante Cephas looked a little shaky on back-to-back plays. Barely hauled in a first-down catch one play and lets an Allar pass that would have been a touchdown on first and goal go right through his hands.

9:55 p.m.: West Virginia gets down to the Penn State 27, but fail to convert a 4th and 7. Garrett Greene faced a strong pass rush and rushed his throw, putting it well short of the intended receiver. Nittany Lions take over with 2:54 left in the third.

9:44 p.m.: Some updated stats...

Drew Allar: 18-24, 256 yards, 10.7 yards per attempt, 2 touchdowns, zero interceptions

KeAndre Lambert-Smith: Four catches, 123 yards, 2 touchdowns

Touchdown, Penn State: Penn State 21, West Virginia 7

9:39 p.m.: Drew Allar faces some pressure, but lofts a beautiful 12-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the back of the end zone. First multi-TD game of Lambert-Smith's career.

9:38 p.m.: Another encouraging drive from Penn State. Down to the West Virginia 12 with a 1st and 10.

9:31 p.m.: Penn State's defense responds well, forcing a three and out. Nittany Lions have done a nice job of getting consistent pressure on Garrett Greene tonight. Penn State will start at its own 45.

9:28 p.m.: The rare poor throw from Drew Allar tonight. Had KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the first down and likely more, perhaps even a touchdown given he was in single coverage, but the pass is low and a little behind the receiver. Three and out for Penn State. West Virginia takes over at its own 26.

9:26 p.m.: Penn State gets the ball to start the second half. Drive begins on the 25.

9:13 p.m.: Some individual stats of note for Penn State ...

• Drew Allar: 13-18, 214 yards, 11.9 yards per attempt, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions

• Nick Singleton: 6 carries, 34 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 1 touchdown

• Kaytron Allen: 5 carries, 28 yards, 5.6 yards per carry

• KeAndre Lambert-Smith: 3 catches, 111 yards, 1 touchdown

• Harrison Wallace III: 4 catches, 50 yards

• Curtis Jacobs: 8 total tackles, 6 solo tackles, 1 sack

• Kobe King: 5 tackles, 2 solo tackles

9:10 p.m.: Let's go over some key halftime stats ...

• Total yards: Penn State 277, West Virginia 136

• First downs: Penn State 15, West Virginia 8

• Yards per play: Penn State 8.4, West Virginia 4.3

A largely dominant first half statistically from the Nittany Lions, but only a seven-point lead to show for it. Those two missed field goals looming large.

Halftime: Penn State 14, West Virginia 7

9:03 p.m.: Another missed field goal from Sander Sahaydak, this one from 34 yards. Missed it by a couple of feet, also wide right like his first miss. Will be interesting to see if James Franklin opts for Alex Felkins, a Columbia transfer, in the second half.

8:56 p.m.: Penn State with an excellent chance to add some points before halftime. Nittany Lions are down to the West Virginia 17 with 57 seconds left in the period.

8:48 p.m.: After marching to the West Virginia 21, Penn State's offense stalls and Sander Sahaydak pushes a 38-yard field goal attempt wide right.

8:43 p.m.: West Virginia's offense didn't get any points there, but it has started to find something. After getting 34 yards on its first two drives, it has 101 yards on its past two.

8:40 p.m.: A promising West Virginia drive ends at the Penn State 43 after Garrett Greene throws behind an open receiver on a 4th and 5. Nittany Lions will take over at their own 43, with 5:01 left in the first half.

Touchdown, Penn State: Penn State 14, West Virginia 7

8:28 p.m.: Penn State responds to West Virginia's drive resoundingly. Nittany Lions go 81 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a two-yard Nick Singleton touchdown run.

Touchdown, West Virginia: Penn State 7, West Virginia 7

8:16 p.m.: West Virginia capitalizes on the Green-to-Carter pass and finishes off its best drive of the day with a one-yard touchdown run from CJ Donaldson to tie the score.

First quarter: Penn State 7, West Virginia 0

8:10 p.m.: West Virginia with its biggest play of the day, with Garrett Greene connecting with Devin Carter for a 37-yard pass to the Penn State 11.

8:06 p.m.: After Penn State is forced to punt, stadium employees had to chase a squirrel off the field at Beaver Stadium. I missed you, college football.

7:59 p.m.: Drew Allar showing some nice poise and pocket awareness there, turning what would have been a sack into a two-yard gain (which could have been more had he not gotten tackled from behind).

7:56 p.m.: West Virginia with 34 yards on 11 plays on its first two drives.

7:54 p.m.: Another West Virginia drive that doesn't amount to much. Mountaineers pick up one first down, but don't get past its own 40. Penn State will take over at its own 18 after a 42-yard punt.

Touchdown, Penn State: Penn State 7, West Virginia 0

7:49 p.m.: Well, that's one way to assert yourself as a starter. Drew Allar tosses a strike to KeAndre Lambert-Smith while on the run for a 72-yard touchdown. Nittany Lions take an early lead.

7:42 p.m.: West Virginia's C.J. Donaldson dropped for a three-yard loss on 3rd and 3 on the Mountaineers' first drive. Penn State will take over at its own 6 after a 50-yard punt.

Pregame

6:07 p.m.: According to an availability report released by Penn State, 12 Nittany Lions players are out for Saturday's game, along with two others who are questionable. Headlining the group of unavailable players is starting defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, reserve cornerback Daequan Hardy and defensive end Amin Vanover. The others who are out are wide receiver Tyler Johnson, running back DK Kency, safety Jashaun Green, defensive end Mason Robinson, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr., offensive lineman Ethan Harvie, offensive lineman Landon Tengwall, offensive lineman Jim Fitzgerald and defensive end Smith Vilbert.

Several of the inclusions aren't surprising. Tengwell revealed earlier this week that he's retiring from football due to an undisclosed injury. Earlier in preseason camp, Penn State announced Vilbert and Ford would miss the season due to injuries.

The players whose participation is questionable Saturday are wide receiver Omari Evans and quarterback Karson Kiesewetter.

What channel is Penn State vs. West Virginia on today?

• TV channel: NBC

• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo (free trial)

Penn State vs. West Virginia will broadcast nationally on NBC. Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will call the game. It's NBC's first-ever game in Beaver Stadium.

Streaming options include Peacock, which will have eight exclusive regular-season Big Ten games in 2023, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

What time does Penn State vs. West Virginia start?

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 2

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Nittany Lions' season opener vs. the Mountaineers is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Penn State vs. West Virginia odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday

• Spread: Penn State (-21)

• Over/under: 48.5

• Moneyline: Penn State -1400 | West Virginia +800

Penn State schedule 2023

West Virginia schedule 2023

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Penn State-West Virginia score, updates, highlights