Earlier today, it was announced that Penn State football will play Virginia Tech in a home-and-home series in 2022 and 2023.

This is the latest example of Penn State loading up its future schedules with big name opponents. Yesterday, it was announced that the Nittany Lions have scheduled San Diego State in 2015. Three weeks ago, it was announced that Penn State and West Virginia were finalizing a similar home-and-home series that would likely start in 2020. The Nittany Lions also have Pitt on the schedule every year from 2016-2019.

Penn State will travel to Blacksburg — which is widely regarded as one of the most menacing venues in college football — for the inaugural meeting in this series on September 17, 2022. The two teams will then face off in Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2023.

A meeting with the Hokies would be a first for Penn State, as the two schools have never played each other. Under the guidance of current head coach Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech has made it to a bowl game every year since 1993, including eight BCS bowls. Virginia Tech has also won four of the last nine ACC championships, with their most recent title coming in 2010.

“We are excited to be able to announce this football series with Virginia Tech,” athletic director David Joyner said through a press release. “Virginia Tech is an opponent our alumni and fans have been asking about adding to the schedule. I am very appreciative of the efforts of Jim Weaver to make this long-awaited match-up come to fruition.”

Weaver, Va. Tech’s athletic director since 1997, has strong ties to Happy Valley. He played linebacker and center for Penn State in the 60’s under Joe Paterno, and was an assistant coach from 1969-1972.

While Penn State has never played against Virginia Tech, it does have a very good record against schools from the state of Virginia — 10-3, most recently a loss to Virginia last season — and against schools from the Athletic Coast Conference, with an all-time record of 181-87-11. Penn State has played against every ACC school except for Duke, and kicks off its 2013 campaign against an ACC school, Syracuse.