The 2013 football season just ended, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next year. Penn State fans hoping to root on the Nittany Lions in Dublin, Ireland at the 2014 Croke Park Classic on August 30 will have the opportunity to buy single game tickets starting next Friday.

The official — and overpriced — tour packages have been on sale for several months now with the notice “Game tickets are currently available only through the Official Penn State Tour.” I guess the only important word in that sentence is “currently” because starting next week, fans will be able to buy single game tickets through Croke Park without all the extra bells and whistles.

Nittany Lion Club members will get first crack on December 9 and 10. Those folks will be notified by email with the URL and passcode to purchase up to eight tickets for the game. Alumni Association members who are not Nittany Lion Club members will get their chance to buy up to eight tickets the following day on December 11, with the same email notification process. Everyone else will be able to log in on Monday, December 16 to buy tickets. More information will be available on December 13 for the general public ticket sale.

Tickets won’t run cheap, either. Lower level tickets are priced at $145 (Lower Tier 2-300 Level), $170 (Lower Tier 1-300 Level and $190 (Lower Tier 1-700 Level). Students get a bit of a break, with our tickets running $55 (Lower Tier Zone 3-300 Level).

On top of the exciting venue, it should be another exciting matchup as well. Penn State will look to avenge its heartbreaking 34-31 loss to UCF earlier this season. The Knights have gone on to an impressive 10-1 season, are ranked 17th in the AP poll, and are just on the cusp of a BCS berth if it can win the American Athletic Conference later this month.