Penn State kick time updates: West Virginia, Bowling Green games scheduled; Wisconsin and Illinois windows set
Penn State football will face Bowling Green in its 2024 home opener. That has been known since both teams announced the matchup back in 2018. What was not known prior to Thursday, however, is when the non-conference game would start and what television network would broadcast it. Both assignments are now in.
The Nittany Lions and Falcons will kickoff at Noon on Big Ten Network Sept. 7 at Beaver Stadium. A broadcast crew assignment will not be made until closer to kickoff. The Big Ten and Mid-American Conference foes have met twice previously. Penn State has won both contests. The most recent meeting came in 1998, when the Lions scored a 48-3 home victory powered by running back Cordell Mitchell’s only two rushing touchdowns of the season. The initial meeting between the schools was back in 1987. The Lions took that matchup 45-19.
Penn State is 10-0 against the MAC in the James Franklin era.
Other Penn State kick time information
Besides the Bowling Green tilt, one other 2024 Penn State kick time was announced on Thursday, as were the possible time slots for two others. The Lions will start the season at West Virginia on Aug. 31. FOX will televise the game in its ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ window.
Additionally, the Lions’ Sept. 28 home matchup with Illinois will air at either 3:30, 4, or 7:30 p.m. ET on a to-de-determined network. And, its game at Wisconsin on Oct. 26 will start at either 12 p.m., 3:30 pm, or 7:30 pm ET on a to-be-determined network.
“Kickoff times and television designations not announced today will be determined and distributed according to the 12-/6-day in-season selection process,” the Big Ten said in a news release.
Additional start times for the new season could be announced in June.
Early thoughts on Bowling Green
Sixth-year head coach Scot Loeffler’s team will be a massive underdog at Penn State. But, it could still make some noise in the MAC this season. It projects as a preseason top-five team in that conference according to win totals listed at DraftKings. If all goes right for the Falcons, they will be bringing plenty of experience to State College, at the very least.
“BGSU has upped its record each of the last three seasons, beginning with a four-win improvement from 2020 to 2021 and a two-win improvement the following year, and there’s no reason to believe the Falcons can’t do it again this year,” Michael Burwell writes for The Toledo Blade. “BGSU will likely be one of the most veteran teams in the MAC and has loads of experience and skill at nearly every position.
“The biggest factor, without question, for the Falcons this season will be health. Several of BGSU’s best players are still rehabbing injuries from last season as spring practice gets underway.”
