What are the key dates left on the Penn State offseason calendar? Spring practice, camps, portal, and more

The Penn State football program is about to pass its latest mile marker on the long road to the 2025 season. Spring break ends this weekend, meaning once the student body returns to campus, spring practice is right around the corner. Of course, that is not the only milestone that marks the path back to a packed Beaver Stadium for the opener opposite Nevada on Aug. 30.

Blue-White Illustrated subscribers have exclusive access to a Friday chat (that often extends far beyond that) with Sean Fitz, Nate Bauer, Ryan Snyder, Thomas Frank Carr, and the rest of the BWI staff. Recent topics discussed inside The Lions Den forum include Penn State position groups, NIL approach, freshmen to watch, early wide receiver transfer feedback, and where the Lions stand with On300 talent.

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A topic that came up in last week’s chat is a roadmap through the offseason. You can find it below. And, if you don’t want to take advantage of our $1 for one week offering, please consider signing up for our FREE BWI email newsletter, which delivers top headlines and breaking news right to your inbox daily (click here to learn more). And, be sure to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel, as well (visit it here).

What are the key dates for Penn State in March?

17 — Students return to classes following spring break
25 — Penn State starts spring practice
27 — Spring practice No. 2
28 — The Nittany Lions hold Pro Day at Holuba Hall
29 — Spring practice No. 3

Notes: The Lions kick off their 12th set of spring drills under the direction of head coach James Franklin at the end of the month. Penn State will get some final tune-up in next week before putting the pads back on. And, for the alumni, Pro Day marks a chance for the likes of Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren, and others to impress NFL scouts.

April is a busy month for the Nittany Lions

1 — Spring practice No. 4
3 — Spring practice No. 5
5 — Spring practice No. 6
7 — Final approval hearing for NCAA vs. House case settlement
8 — Spring practice No. 7
10 — Spring practice No. 8
12 — Spring practice No. 9
15 — Spring practice No. 10, spring contact window opens for recruiting

16-25 — Spring transfer portal window is open. 
18 — Spring practice No. 11
21 — Spring practice No. 12
23 — Spring practice No. 13
24-26 — NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisc. 
25 — Spring practice No. 14
26 — Penn State holds the Blue-White game, which is its 15th and final spring practice. 

Notes: Good luck picking just one thing to focus on this month. There will be weekly spring practice updates from the Blue-White Illustrated staff. The pending House vs. NCAA settlement will change college sports drastically if it is approved as expected. Once the spring portal window opens, Penn State will likely lose some players but potentially add them, as well. And, while we don’t yet know what exactly the Blue-White game (or Beaver Stadium) will look like for the annual spring practice finale, former Nittany Lions will find their first pro homes before, during, and after the event in State College.

Amid all of that, the spring contact window opens. That allows Penn State coaches to go on the road and recruit. They will not do so, however, until spring practice concludes.

What’s on the docket in May?

12 — Start of the Maymester on the academic calendar. Class of 2025 signees who are not yet on campus could report then. 
19 — Start of the first summer session on the academic calendar. Class of 2025 signees who are not yet on campus could report then. 

24 — Spring contact window for recruiting ends.
25-28 Recruiting dead period
May 29 — Quiet period starts that allows recruiting visits. 

Notes: May will bring members of the Class of 2025 to campus following the end of their high school careers. The travel time for coaches ends at the end of the month. But, the start of the spring and summer official visit window starts shortly thereafter.

The fifth month of the year is often when we get the first rumblings about kick times and television assignments for the season ahead. BWI subscribers can learn the latest on that inside The Lions Den forum here.

June is camp season

1 — Elite Showcase I recruiting camp
6 — Lion Strong 7-on-7 & Big Man Challenge8 — Elite Showcase II
13 — Lion Strong 7-on-7 & Big Man Challenge18 — Specialist Showcase & Elite Showcase III
20 — Lion Strong 7-on-7 & Big Man Challenge
23 — Summer recruiting dead period starts. It runs until August 31. 

Notes: June is going to be a very busy month on the recruiting trail. The Nittany Lions will be hosting official visitors while welcoming tons of seniors and underclassmen alike to campus for both traditional camps and 7-on-7 tournaments. A new plan for the Lasch Bash is also in the works. Blue-White Illustrated subscribers can learn more about that here.

July brings with it the unofficial start of the new Penn State season

2 — Start of the second summer session on the academic calendar. Class of 2025 signees who are not yet on campus could report then.
22-24 — Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, Nev. Penn State has not yet been assigned a date. 

Notes: We’ll learn more about when Penn State will go in Vegas and who will join Franklin there later this year. The dead period this month, which again, starts at the end of June, is a new wrinkle for this recruiting calendar.

The season starts in August

Early August — Penn State starts preseason camp.

11 — Projected date of first AP top 25, per The Athletic
30 — The Lions opener with Nevada.

Notes: As of today, March 14, just 169 days separate us from the first Penn State game of 2025.