Penn State’s conference opponents over the next two years have been released alongside the rest of the Big Ten on Thursday.
For those with great eyesight 👀 pic.twitter.com/JgMrsM8aOK
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) June 8, 2023
The schedule will be broken down in a 3-6-6 format with each school having three opponents they’ll face in 2024 and 2025 while facing the other six teams once in those two years. Overall all Big Ten teams will play each other at least once in the two-year span.
🚨 The #B1G Announces 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 & 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 Two-Play Opponents
🏈 #B1Gfootball24and25
🔗 https://t.co/AoNgFZWg9h pic.twitter.com/EujtcgesP3— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) June 8, 2023
Penn State’s three “two-play” opponents will be Michigan State, Rutgers and USC meaning they will play all three in both 2024 and 2025, alternating between home and away.
It’s important to note that these three games are not protected rivalries and are being referred to as “two-play,” meaning there will be a different trio in 2026 and 2027.
Overall there are only 11 protected rivalries with Iowa being the sole team to have three annual rivalries a year.
Here are the Big Ten's protected rivalry games, which will be played on an annual basis — while all other matchups rotate: https://t.co/4FiKEWdSOV pic.twitter.com/1EMB7Kc64N
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 8, 2023
In 2024 Penn State will have four away conference games against Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers and Wisconsin while hosting five Big Ten schools in Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and USC for an exciting home slate.
As stated, only Michigan State, Rutgers and USC will remain opponents in 2025 from the 2024 schedule. Michigan State and USC will both be road games alongside Michigan, Maryland and Iowa creating a tough away slate in 2025. That same season Penn State will host Minnesota, Illinois, Rutgers and UCLA.
