Penn State Football Announces 2024 Game Themes

Penn State football has announced its game themes for the 2024 season. The Nittany Lions, in addition to hosting Washington in the White Out, will play Bowling Green in the THON game, Kent State in the Military Appreciate game, Illinois in the Homecoming game , UCLA in the Stripe Out, Ohio State in the Helmet Stripe game, and Maryland in Senior Day.

The Nittany Lions will host Bowling Green at noon on September 7 on the Big Ten Network and the Falcons will serve as Penn State’s home opener. THON families and volunteers will be invited to the game, and the team will wear a THON helmet sticker. Penn State has a 2-0 all-time record against Bowling Green, though the two teams haven’t played in 26 years.

Penn State will host Kent State on September 21 after a bye week, though a time and a network is yet to be announced. ROTC elite, active duty, veterans, and military families will be honored during the game. The Nittany Lions last faced Kent State in 2018, winning 63-10 .

Illinois, coming to Beaver Stadium on September 28, was rumored to be Penn State’s White Out opponent, though the program avoided mixing Homecoming, the White Out, and an underwhelming opponent. The Illinois game will kick off at just about any time that isn’t noon and has yet to be set on a network.

UCLA, like Washington, will experience a color-themed game in its introduction to the Big Ten. Penn State will host the Bruins on October 5. Fans can learn their stripe out color at PennStateStripeOut.com. The Nittany Lions have a 2-4 record against UCLA, though the two teams haven’t faced off since Lyndon B. Johnson was in the White House.

For the second straight year, the Nittany Lions will bring back the Helmet Stripe game, this time against the Buckeyes on November 2. Last year’s Helmet Stripe game came against West Virginia in what head coach James Franklin referred to the design as a “sneaky White Out.”

Penn State will host Maryland on November 30 for Senior Day, which annually honors the program’s seniors, whether they’re leaving or not, at the last home game of the regular season. The game will also be Scout Day, Educator Appreciation Day Medical Services Appreciation Day, and Parents Weekend.