James Franklin tells Penn State football fans what to expect during non-traditional Blue-White Game

Penn State football returns to Beaver Stadium Saturday afternoon for the Blue-White Game. While the annual tradition continues for 2025, this year’s spring game will feature some slight modifications from what Nittany Lions fans typically experience.

Construction at Beaver Stadium, the after-effects of a prolonged College Football Playoff run in 2024, and the transfer portal’s influence on roster management have all forced some changes to the gameday experience for fans making their way to Happy Valley and those at home. However, James Franklin assured the Penn State faithful that the on-field experience won’t deviate much from recent years.

“It’ll be very similar to what it’s been in the past,” Franklin said on Wednesday. “We’ll do an autograph session this year [before the game]. We will start with two skellies, then the first quarter we’ll go thud so everybody can get reps. Then we’ll transition second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter will be live, so we can evaluate those guys in the stadium. Kicking will be on air like it’s been in the past.

“I think each quarter is maybe a minute shorter than it’s been that you guys are used to. And then it won’t be on TV. That was one of the things I was adamant about with the changes that we’re making. But it’ll be very similar to what we’ve done in the past.”

Over recent weeks, the athletic department has published guidance for stadium entry and navigation, parking, concessions, and amenities. Seating will not be permitted on Beaver Stadium’s west side, but the rest of the stadium will be open to the public any time after 11:30 a.m. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

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— Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) April 25, 2025

“I know we have some real, real football people in our fan base that want to watch and evaluate our roster, get excited, and have discussion at the barber shop, at the water jug discussing what Penn State football will look like next year,” Franklin said previously. “…But I wanted it to be enough that you guys feel like it was worth it and our fans feel like, ‘Hey, I got a pretty good feel, idea of what Penn State football is going to look like.’”

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