A big weekend in Happy Valley is only getting bigger. ESPN’s College GameDay and FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will both return to Penn State for the team’s marquee matchup with Ohio State on Saturday, the shows announced.
This will mark College GameDay’s first trip to University Park since 2021, when the Nittany Lions defeated Auburn 28-20. Overall, this will be the 11th time the show has been broadcast at Penn State.
“Always love coming to State College-BEST student section in college football!!!” analyst Kirk Herbstreit posted on X. “And truth be known..All the signs you see at CGD today…started years ago when we came for a WHITE OUT. Students brought 1000’s of signs one year behind us and it’s become a weekly staple ever since. But it started at Penn State! And when Ohio State comes to town it goes to another level! Gonna be ELECTRIC!!”
The show will air from Gate C of the Bryce Jordan Center from 9 to 11:30 a.m. before moving inside the stadium until kickoff at noon.
College GameDay appearance won’t come without some competition, though. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast from Gate B of the Bryce Jordan Center from 10 to 11: 30 a.m. EDT before moving to the Gate B concourse in Beaver Stadium.
It will be the Nittany Lions third time on Big Noon Kickoff this season after being featured against West Virginia and UCLA.
The increased media attention surrounding the game also coincides with focus from a major political figure. Former President Donald Trump is also planning to attend the game, a university spokesperson confirmed on Thursday. The contest will be played three days before the presidential election on Nov. 5. It would be Trump’s second visit to State College in a week.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 28-13 comeback victory at Wisconsin, a game that saw starting quarterback Drew Allar exit in the second quarter with an apparent leg injury and not return. It remains unclear what Allar’s status will be entering the matchup with the Buckeyes, his hometown team.
If he’s unable to play, backup Beau Pribula — who erased a halftime deficit en route to victory in Allar’s absence — would likely get the starting nod.
Ohio State, which already has a loss to No. 1 Oregon, narrowly escaped with a 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday. The Buckeyes were trailing until running back Quinshon Judkins scored what was ultimately a game-winning touchdown with just over six minutes to play.
