Penn State football will open its Big Ten schedule on the road yet again as the Nittany Lions are set to face Illinois in the third week of the 2023 season, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon as part of its full 2023 slate of games. The contest will mark the eighth straight season that Penn State has started its Big Ten campaign on the road, a point of contention for both head coach James Franklin and new athletic director Patrick Kraft.
The Nittany Lions were previously scheduled to open the Big Ten season at Illinois when the conference originally released its tentative 2023 slate. In turn, there was some hope that Penn State would see that game at Illinois either changed or rescheduled to give the Nittany Lions a home game.
“It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing Penn State will be starting our Big Ten football slate next year on the road for the eighth-straight season and for the 13th time in the last 14 years,” Kraft said in a released statement Wednesday. “When I arrived on campus, I shared with the conference staff my concerns and repeatedly referenced their failure to address this issue in the past. I have been in communication with Commissioner Warren and I am confident this issue will be addressed moving forward.”
Penn State opens the year with back-to-back non-conference games against West Virginia and Delaware before making the trip to Illinois. The Nittany Lions will then return home to host Iowa, travel to Northwestern and then head into the off week prior to a home game against UMass. That contest was originally scheduled for Nov. 11 but was moved to Oct. 14.
In turn, Penn State will have a fairly light October schedule before facing Ohio State in Columbus on Oct. 21. Penn State will then host Indiana, travel to Maryland and close out the home slate against Michigan and Rutgers in back-to-back weeks. A trip to East Lansing to face Michigan State will close out the regular season.
The fully released schedule can be seen below.
Sept. 2 – vs. West Virginia
Sept. 9 – vs. Delaware
Sept. 16 – at Illinois
Sept. 23 – vs. Iowa
Sept. 30 – at Northwestern
Oct. 7 – BYE WEEK
Oct. 14 – vs. UMASS
Oct. 21 – at Ohio State
Oct. 28 – vs. Indiana
Nov. 4 – at Maryland
Nov. 11 – vs. Michigan
Nov. 18 – vs. Rutgers
Nov. 25 – at Michigan State
The newly released schedule [Left] the previously released schedule [right].
Sept. 2 – vs. West Virginia/vs. West Virginia
Sept. 9 – vs. Delaware/vs. Delaware
Sept. 16 – at Illinois/at Illinois
Sept. 23 – vs. Iowa/at Northwestern
Sept. 30 – at Northwestern/BYE WEEK
Oct. 7 – BYE WEEK/vs. Indiana
Oct. 14 – vs. UMASS/at Michigan State
Oct. 21 – at Ohio State/at Ohio State
Oct. 28 – vs. Indiana/Iowa
Nov. 4 – at Maryland/vs. Michigan
Nov. 11 – vs. Michigan/vs. UMass
Nov. 18 – vs. Rutgers/vs. Rutgers
Nov. 25 – at Michigan State/at Maryland
