Athletics

Penn State football to play trio of primetime clashes

University Park, Pa. — Penn State will face a trio of Big Ten foes in primetime during the 2008 season and the kick time has been set for the Nittany Lions' Homecoming game.

The Nittany Lions' contests versus Illinois (Sept. 27), at Wisconsin (Oct. 11) and at Ohio State (Oct. 25) have been set for primetime national TV exposure. In addition, Penn State's 89th Homecoming game, against Michigan on Oct. 18, will kick at 4:30 p.m. ET and air on ESPN or ESPN2.

The Big Ten opener with the Illini will kick at 8 p.m. ET from Beaver Stadium and air on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. A determination on which network will air the game may not be made until 12 days before the game.

The Nittany Lions' contest at Wisconsin will kick at 7 p.m. CT / 8p.m. ET and air on ESPN or ESPN2.

The clash with the Buckeyes also will kick at 8 p.m. ET and air on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. The border rivals will be playing in primetime for the third time in the last four seasons. A determination on which network will air the game may not be made until 12 days before the game.

Penn State's three primetime games on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 are the most of any Big Ten team for the 2008 season. The Big Ten Network's primetime football schedule for the upcoming season will be announced later.

Penn State will be playing at least one regular season night game for the ninth consecutive season. Last year, the Nittany Lions faced Notre Dame and Ohio State in primetime during the regular season and Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The Nittany Lions have long been one of college football's premier programs for television networks. Every Nittany Lion game has been televised the past four seasons and 164 of the last 166 Penn State games overall have been on TV. Since 1995, Penn State has had 149 regular season telecasts, tops in the Big Ten.

A Penn State game owns the top four spots and seven of the 10 nine all-time among the highest rated Big Ten football games on ESPN. The Nittany Lions' win over Michigan State during the unbeaten 1994 Big Ten Championship season remains the highest rated Big Ten game on ESPN with a 5.40 rating. The Nittany Lions' pulsating win over the Buckeyes in 2005 earned a 4.91 rating, the Big Ten's second highest on ESPN.

A Penn State contest also owns the top four spots and six of the top 10 all-time among the highest viewed Big Ten football games on ESPN. The Nittany Lions' win over the Buckeyes in 2005 is the conference's highest viewed game on ESPN, as 4.435 million U.S. cable households tuned in.

Future Penn State contests may be selected by the networks under the six and 12-day provisions of their contracts with the Big Ten Conference.

In his 43rd season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad returns 16 starters (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists) from last year's 9-4 squad that defeated Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 33rd Top 25 finish under Paterno.

Penn State has won 31 of its last 40 games, tied for eighth-best in the nation over that span.

The Nittany Lions conclude spring drills on Saturday, April 19 with the highly-anticipated Blue-White Game. As in previous years, there is no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White Game. Activities will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. with a carnival outside Beaver Stadium. On Saturday, stadium parking lots will open at 8 a.m. Stadium gates A, B and C will open at 12:00 p.m., with the popular autograph session starting at 12:30 p.m. and kickoff at 2 p.m. The carnival and other activities will run from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, with fireworks near Medlar Field at Lubrano Park both nights.

The Blue-White Game will air live on the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. The contest also will be televised on the Big Ten Network on Monday, April 21 at 8 p.m. ET.

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 18, 2010

Contact