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West Virginia announces new details for Penn State football season opener

We now know more about the environment that James Franklin and Penn State football will walk into at West Virginia in Week 1.

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3 months ago

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Penn State football, West Virginia, Milan Puskar Stadium
Sep 16, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; A general view of the crowd during the third quarter of a game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

James Franklin and Penn State football were already preparing for a hostile environment when they travel to Morgantown on August 31. But now, an even clearer picture of the atmosphere for the 2024 season opener versus West Virginia has come into focus. On Tuesday, the Mountaineers announced that the Week 1 matchup against the Nittany Lions will be the program’s annual “Stripe the Stadium” game.

The details were released along with several other game promotions by the West Virginia football program for the 2024 season.

Announced in May, the contest was already set to air as FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff game for Week 1.

“The Big Noon show will be there, so we’re fired up about that,” Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown said of the game at Big 12 Media Days earlier in July. “Our fans will be ready for that, too. I think we’ll show well on national television. But it’s not just a big game for West Virginia. It’s a big game for our league.”

Penn State football is 17-6-1 against West Virginia in Morgantown since 1904, including a 5-2 record since Milan Puskar Stadium was built in 1980. The Nittany Lions’ last trip to the venue came in 1992, which resulted in a 42-26 victory.

Other Penn State football news and notes: Big Ten Media Days kick off

Penn State football, West Virginia

Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The unofficial start of the college football season gets underway this week with Big Ten Football Media Days in Indianapolis, Indiana. The three-day event started on Tuesday; James Franklin will speak inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, followed by availability from seniors Dvon J-Thomas, Tyler Warren, and Jaylen Reed.

Media Days brings a host of tidbits regarding the 2024 version of the Nittany Lions. On Tuesday, edge rusher Abdul Carter was named to the conference’s preseason honors list. Carter was among only 12 players from six schools to earn the honor.

Even with the expansion of the conference to 18 teams, expectations for Penn State football remain high. The unofficial Big Ten preseason rankings released on Monday have the Nittany Lions finishing third, with 64% of voters saying James Franklin will lead his program to a 12-team College Football Playoff this fall.

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Matt is a co-owner and Editor in Chief of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics, with over 3.5 million readers in 2023. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

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