Here’s what the Big Ten’s new 10-game schedule means for Penn State football
While uncertainty continues to shroud the 2020 college football season, the Big Ten released its new conference-only schedule on Wednesday, and with it, a date for Penn State football’s season opener.
All 14 Big Ten teams will now kick off on Sept. 5.
The Nittany Lions will take on Northwestern that day at Beaver Stadium. Penn State was originally scheduled to play the Wildcats Sept. 26.
The schedule includes 10 games for each team — nine against the conference programs each team was slated to face in their original schedule and one additional crossover game.
Penn State has added Illinois as its new crossover game to complete its 10-game schedule.
The Big Ten previously announced it would move to a conference-only slate in early July.
“By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic,” the Big Ten’s July statement on the matter read.
Among other changes, the Nittany Lions will now face rival Ohio State at Beaver Stadium in November rather than October, and will have three bye weeks instead of the one they were originally scheduled to have.
The additional bye weeks allow for the aforementioned flexibility in case alterations need to be made during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Penn State football’s 2020 schedule:
Sept. 5 - vs. Northwestern
Sept. 12 - @ Indiana
Sept. 19 - @ Michigan
Sept. 26 - vs. Michigan State
Oct. 3 - @ Rutgers
Oct. 10 - BYE
Oct. 17 - vs. Maryland
Oct. 24 - vs. Iowa
Oct. 31 - @ Nebraska
Nov. 7 - vs. Ohio State
Nov. 14 - BYE
Nov. 21 - @ Illinois
Nov. 28 - BYE
The Big Ten Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the option for it to be moved as late as Dec. 19.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 8:58 AM.
