UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour announced Thursday (Oct. 30) that Appalachian State will visit Beaver Stadium on Sept. 1, 2018 in the season opener for both teams. The Nittany Lions and Mountaineers will be meeting for the first time.
The addition of the Appalachian State game completes Penn State's schedules from 2015-18. The Nittany Lions will play nine Big Ten Conference games annually starting in 2016 and have three non-conference contests every year starting in 2016.
In 2018, the Nittany Lions will open the season with Appalachian State, visit Pittsburgh (Sept. 8) and host Kent State (Sept. 15) before starting Big Ten play at Illinois a week later. During the 2018 campaign, Penn State will have a blockbuster home conference slate, hosting Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Appalachian State is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers opened this season with a loss at Michigan. Their two games against the Wolverines (2007, '14) are their only contests against Big Ten opponents in program history.
Last month, Penn State and Army announced the Black Knights will visit Happy Valley on October 3, 2015 to complete next year's schedule. The teams will meet for the 26th time overall and the first time since 1979.
Long-time rivals Penn State and Pitt will meet every season from 2016-19. The Nittany Lions will play in Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2018 and the Panthers will play in State College in 2017 and 2019.
In addition to the Pitt series, Penn State is scheduled to play Virginia Tech for the first time in 2022-23 and renew its rivalry with West Virginia in 2023-24. The Nittany Lions also are scheduled to play Temple each of the next three seasons, including hosting the Owls on Nov. 15 for Military Appreciation Day, which includes more than 5,500 tickets purchased by Penn State fans for the Seats For Soldiers program.
Penn State's complete football schedules from 2015-18 are posted on GoPSUsports.com: http://bit.ly/1lzqlzB.
Coach James Franklin's Nittany Lions host Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. for the first meeting between the old rivals since 1993. The teams will be playing for the 38th time, but the first time since 1992 in Beaver Stadium. The game will air on ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network (10:30 a.m. airtime) and GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State fans have bought more than 6,000 new season tickets and more than 78,000 single game and group tickets this year. Tickets are available for Penn State's final three home games of the season: Nov. 1 vs. Maryland (12 p.m., All-University Day and THON Day); Nov. 15 vs. Temple (Military Appreciation Day/Seats For Soldiers) and the Nov. 29 Senior Day clash vs. No. 8 Michigan State. The kick times for the last two home games are to be determined.
Fans can purchase tickets at PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office, weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m. The Beaver Stadium Ticket Office, near Gate E, opens four hours before all home games.
Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots ($10) are also available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office prior to all home games.
Penn State Football is on Twitter (@PennStateFball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PSUFball).