Topics

More

Penn State Football To Play First Friday Night Clash At Illinois Next Season

The Nittany Lions will officially play their first Friday night clash at Illinois on September 21, 2018 after the Big Ten announced today the road trip game will be held that night instead of Saturday, September 22 as originally scheduled.

The conference announced last fall it planned to start holding Friday night games, beginning with six Friday night matchups during the 2017 season. At that time, the athletics department issued a statement clarifying Penn State isn’t willing to host Friday night games at home in Beaver Stadium.

“Penn State has informed the Big Ten that we will not host football games on a Friday night. We are receptive to an occasional day game on the day after Thanksgiving,” the athletic department said last November. “We support the conference’s desire to expand exposure for Big Ten football on national platforms, providing additional content at high-demand times, and we’ve agreed to play no more than one away game each year on a Friday night.”

If Athletics stays true to their word, this matchup between Penn State and Illinois will be the only Friday night game for the 2018 Nittany Lions.

The Big Ten also moved the dates of four other conference games for the 2018 season. Northwestern will now play Purdue on Thursday, August 30 to open the season. Utah State and Michigan State will meet Friday, August 31, as will Western Kentucky and Wisconsin. Indiana’s away game at Minnesota is scheduled for Friday, October 26.

Penn State opens its 2018 Big Ten campaign against the Illini in Champlaign before hosting Ohio State the following week in what will almost assuredly be the White Out game. The Nittany Lions last played Illinois in 2015, prevailing 39-0 at home in Beaver Stadium. Penn State leads the all-time series 18-5.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Ethan Kasales

Ethan’s a senior journalism major who grew up in Lemont, a few minutes from campus. When he’s not covering Penn State sports, you can usually find him golfing or teaching snowboarding at Tussey Mountain. Feel free to email him at [email protected].

No. 1 Seed Penn State Women’s Volleyball Wins National Championship In Four-Set Thriller Against No. 1 Seed Louisville

The Nittany Lions win the national championship for the first time since 2014.

Beau Pribula Transfers To Mizzou From Penn State Football

Pribula was rated as the No. 27 quarterback in the portal after leaving Penn State.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley Becomes First Female Head Coach To Win Women’s Volleyball NCAA Championship

This was the 44th year of the NCAA Tournament.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
63.1kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter
Other posts by Ethan

Thanks For The Memories: Ethan Kasales’ Senior Column

Onward State staffer Ethan Kasales reflects on the past few years and everyone who helped make his college experience so rewarding.

Four-Star Defensive Tackle D’Von Ellies Commits To Penn State

Three-Star Defensive End Smith Vilbert Commits To Penn State