On a miserably rainy Saturday in Happy Valley, Penn State football absolutely stomped the UMass Minutemen 63-0 in the Nittany Lions’ annual Homecoming game.

Though campus and State College were abuzz all week while participating in activities like the Allen Street Jam, Guard the Lion Shrine, and the Homecoming Parade, that energy was lost amid a downpour and 40-degree weather throughout the blue-and-white gameday.

Despite fewer folks in attendance for the week-seven beatdown, there was plenty going on in and around Beaver Stadium.

Alumni Blue Band Dazzles With Alma Mater

The Alumni Blue Band is so wholesome and happy.

The alumni group performed a slower rendition of the Alma Mater ahead of kickoff and moved the crowd as once-Blue Band members took the field for the yearly tradition.

Rainy Conditions Dampen Attendance Totals

OK, there’s no way 105,533 folks were in the stadium Saturday.

Toward the end of the first half, the upper decks were nearly completely empty, and the rest of the attendees were on their way out shortly after.

Many ball-knowing, die-hards in the student section, though, said Beaver Stadium felt similar to the 2021 Blue-White Game, which was attended in a socially-distanced format.

It just felt that sparse.

Announced attendance for today's game is 105,533, per StatBroadcast.

Yeah, alright.

— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 14, 2023

Sean Clifford Returns For Homecoming

Homecoming ensures the appearance of Penn State legends, and that most certainly happened when Sean Clifford arrived in Beaver Stadium.

The Green Bay Packers backup quarterback took advantage of the bye week to make a pit stop in Happy Valley, support his younger brother Liam, and pump up the crowd of his alma mater with a “We Are” chant.

Penn State Homecoming Names Guide State Forward Award Winners

Seniors Tomi Oluwasuen-Apo, De’jah Coates, and Samantha Browne were named this year’s recipients of the Guide State Forward Award and were honored with the remainder of the Homecoming Court Saturday.

2023 Grand Marshals Conclude Homecoming Week In Beaver Stadium

Homecoming 2023 Grand Marshal Tanisha Wright was recognized during the game for her service as a Lady Lion, her time in the WNBA, and her work in the league as a head coach and the 2021 AP WNBA Coach of the Year.

Alumni Nittany Lions Display Timeless Spirit

A slew of Nittany Lion mascot alumni returned to Beaver Stadium to show off their best moves, crowd control skills, and token ear shakes.

These guys are certainly professionals in how to get an audience roaring.

There Was A Golden Retriever In The Student Section?

Toward the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, one student’s furry friend has its moment in the spotlight.

A golden retriever made its way to the front of the student section, and the Big Ten Network highlighted the Nittany Lion-in-training on the broadcast.

We’re pretty sure this will never happen again, but it was pretty wild to see a dog within the Greatest Show in College Football.

pic.twitter.com/iPLGAPKoaa

— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 14, 2023