It’s that time of year again, folks.

Penn State football’s season came to a close with a 27-24 defeat to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. With that came the close to the Class of 2028’s first football season. For freshmen, their first season was historical as they witnessed Penn State make it to the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2016 and host its first College Football Playoff game.

At the end of this season, our freshmen staffers reflected on their first football season as students.

Olivia Hess

My first Penn State football season was nothing short of amazing! I’ve been to Penn State games in the past, but being in the student section was unlike anything else. The never-ending cheering, support, and energy that’s produced by the students is so cool to be a part of. It’s a crazy feeling to look around and see tens of thousands of die-hard fans who spent hundreds of dollars to be at Beaver Stadium and cheer on their favorite team.

The White Out was definitely my favorite gameday experience because of the tailgating and atmosphere! You see these games on TV and think that there has to be special effects on the noise levels in the stadium for production purposes, but trust me, Beaver Stadium truly gets that loud. I’m so happy to have gotten tickets for this season of football and to have watched these players get as far as they did! I’ll be dreaming about the chicken baskets until next year.

Lauren Gruca

My first football season at Penn State was such a cool experience. Before college, I wasn’t a big football fan, but after watching the first few games, I became a huge fan. I finally started to learn all the rules of the game and basically how to play football in general (thanks, Dad). I had the best time at every game. I had never been to a Penn State football game before, so everything was new to me, but it was even better than I expected. From the student section screaming and cheering to the sound of “Mo Bamba” blasting in the stadium, gamedays were always something I looked forward to. My dorm is super close to the stadium, so I could hear the music blasting early every Saturday, waking me up and getting me ready. The one thing I wish I had done was buy one of those game bibs to wear — maybe next season!

John DeMasi

My first season of Penn State football was everything I imagined it would be. From the immense amount of fun tailgating to the electric atmosphere of the White Out game, every piece of this season came together to give me a wonderful experience that I haven’t had before with a football team. The best part of the season was getting to take pictures at College GameDay and see the thousands of fans coming together and getting to the stadium 16 hours early just to be a part of the crowd. Overall, I really enjoyed my first season and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Oscar Orellana

My introduction to Penn State football was an experience unlike any other. Growing up as an NFL fan and never really paying attention to the college football scene, I was excited to uncover this whole new section of the sport that I love, and it delivered. From the opening game against West Virginia all the way to sadly watching the Orange Bowl, I learned a lot about Penn State’s traditions and just how much the football team is at the core of this place. There’s a magic in the air on gamedays that is unmatched anywhere else in the country. I was so fortunate to get season tickets and experience most of the games firsthand, screaming my lungs out with all of my fellow students. It’s a season I’ll never forget and one I’ll always hold near and dear to me, and I’m beyond ecstatic to see what 2025 and beyond has on the way for Penn State football.

Ella Wehmeyer

My first season of Penn State football as a student was one I’ll never forget. Did I spend way too much on tickets because I didn’t get picked in the lottery? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I had watched Penn State and been to its football games before, but experiencing it as a student was completely different. I will always remember waking up at 4 a.m. to get to the Bryce Jordan Center and help shoot College GameDay before the Ohio State game. I loved every moment, from tailgating to the amazing chicken baskets and getting tossed in the air after each touchdown.

A highlight will forever be watching the Nittany Lions in my hometown at the Orange Bowl. Although they lost, I never imagined they’d make it that far into the season. Seeing them play at a stadium just 45 minutes from where I grew up loving the Nittany Lions was unforgettable. I couldn’t have asked for a better first season and can’t wait for next year.