UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — ESPN’s "College GameDay" program will be live from Penn State’s Old Main lawn on Saturday, Sept. 29, ahead of the Nittany Lions’ primetime meeting with Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. This is the 18th time "College GameDay" has been at the site of a Penn State game.
The popular pregame college football program will air live from 9 a.m. to noon ET Saturday. The Penn State White Out clash between the No. 9 Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0) and No. 4 Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0) will air on ABC, GoPSUsports.com and the Penn State Sports Network (6 p.m. airtime).
"College GameDay" will be appearing at a Penn State game for the third consecutive season, joining the 2017 Michigan and Ohio State contests and the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game. Last year’s show prior to the Michigan game marked the first time "College GameDay" was held on the lawn in front of Penn State’s iconic Old Main.
The eight-time Emmy Award-winning show is hosted by Rece Davis, who is joined by analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, as well as contributors Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica, Jen Lada, Tom Rinaldi, Maria Taylor and Gene Wojciechowski.
Pollock Road closed starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday
In order to accommodate the "College GameDay" production vehicles, Pollock Road will be closed between Carnegie Building and McAllister Building beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, through approximately 6 p.m. on Saturday. Beginning Friday night at midnight, this closure will be extended to include all of Pollock Road between Burrowes Road and Shortlidge Road.
In addition, the Pugh/Henderson Mall sidewalk (on East side of Old Main) from Pollock Road to College Avenue will likely be closed starting Wednesday night until the "College GameDay" set is completed on Thursday, as well as on Saturday after the "GameDay" show ends at noon.
Fans can attend 'College Football Live' and take photos at replica 'GameDay' set Thursday/Friday
"College Football Live" also will originate from the set with Taylor, Howard and Pollack and air Friday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2. There will also be several segments originating from the set Friday morning and afternoon and early Saturday morning for a variety of ESPN’s shows, including "Get Up!" and "SportsCenter."
Additionally, fans will have an opportunity to take photos/video at a replica "College GameDay" set on Old Main lawn Thursday and Friday from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There also will be fan giveaways and games near the "College GameDay" set on Friday.
Regulations for fans interested in standing in the 'GameDay' 'pit'
The following regulations will be in place, per ESPN and Penn State, for fans who are interested in standing in the “pit” near the "College GameDay" stage (show is free of charge):
— Fans may begin lining up for access to the pit Saturday at 5:30 a.m. ET, with the pit being open at approximately 6:30 a.m. (no overnight camping).
— Fans entering the pit will be screened by security using metal detection wands.
— No bags, backpacks or purses are permitted.
— No offensive, vulgar, inappropriate or solicitation signage will be allowed (i.e., no political, religious, or .com, .org, .net signage).
— No signs or flags on a stick.
— No pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards.
— No food or drinks.
— Throwing of objects is prohibited.
Transportation and parking recommendations for fans attending 'College GameDay'
Penn State is making the following transportation and parking recommendations for fans who plan to attend "College GameDay." The Beaver Stadium parking lots will open at 8 a.m.
Students
— Students who live on campus are encouraged to walk to Old Main lawn or take the CATA White or Blue Loop bus and walk from stops on Burrowes Street or the Schlow Library on Beaver Avenue (White) or intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street (Blue).
— Students who live off campus and State College residents are encouraged to walk to Old Main or take the CATA bus and walk from the Schlow Library stop on Beaver Avenue.
Students and fans who plan to park near 'College GameDay' location
— For fans who plan to drive to attend "College GameDay," there are three downtown parking garages that are within three blocks of the Old Main lawn that have hourly rates: the Beaver Avenue Garage, the Fraser Street Garage and the Pugh Street Garage. Metered street parking also is available downtown.
— There are three available parking garages on campus — the Eisenhower, HUB and Nittany parking decks — for fans attending "College GameDay." There is a flat fee of $25 (cash) to park in the University decks on football game day.
— Additionally, there is a flat fee of $15 (cash) to park in Lot Red A on football game day (west of North Atherton Street by the Westgate Building).
Fans who plan to park in Beaver Stadium lots and attend 'GameDay'
— Fans who have a Beaver Stadium parking permit and plan to park in their game day space and then attend "College GameDay" are encouraged to walk to Old Main (1.3 miles) or take the CATA White or Blue Loop bus to downtown and walk (two to three blocks).
— Fans can pick up the CATA White Loop near the Northbound lane of University Drive, just south of the intersection with Hastings Road and outside Gate D of the Bryce Jordan Center. The White Loop also stops in front of the Intramural Building and makes three more stops as it heads west on Curtin Road. Fans can walk from Schlow Library to Old Main.
— Fans can pick up the CATA Blue Loop on Curtin Road in front of McCoy Natatorium and Shields Building and walk from the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street to Old Main.
For more information about CATA and its campus and community routes and the Football Game Day Shuttle, go to www.catabus.com.
Saturday’s broadcast marks the seventh time "College GameDay" has originated from Penn State and the second-straight season Happy Valley has hosted the show. "College GameDay" was also in Happy Valley in 1997 (Michigan), 1999 (Arizona), 2005 (Ohio State), 2007 (Ohio State), 2009 (Iowa) and 2017 (Michigan).