Penn State Football

How to Watch: Penn State ‘Bringing It’s Own Juice’ for Northwestern Game

Published

September 30, 2023

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin

EVANSTON, IL— Penn State football’s played three home games this season, and two of them were among the four-highest recorded attendances in Beaver Stadium history.

PSU’s most recent game— a 31-0 drubbing of Iowa at home last Saturday night— had an announced attendance of 110,830, the second-highest ever at Penn State.

Northwestern had averaged 17,500 fans through two home games.

Penn State coach James Franklin knows it will be a different environment, and prepared his team accordingly.

“I think just being honest,” Franklin told reporters at Wednesday’s weekly post-practice media scrum. “Just being very honest about what it’s going to be like. These guys (Northwestern) are 2-0 at home. You look at Northwestern, they’ve typically had good home records. Why? Because it can be challenging to play there. They’re used to the environment. Other people may not be.”

“It’s going to be very different from what we played in last week. So just being transparent and honest. Are we internally motivated or are we externally motivated? But for me to act like it’s not a factor (would be wrong). It is, and we have to get prepared for it.”

A way to prepare for it, Franklin said, was to cut Phil Collins’ hit “In the Air Tonight” out of the picture.

“Even our period 20, you guys (media) know, we usually play the Phil Collins, and it’s usually blaring, Franklin said. “They were asking me to turn it up today, and I said ‘no.’” “So just little things like that.”

Penn State comes into the game a massive 26.5-point favorites. PSU fans will probably make up a good chunk of Saturday’s crowd at Ryan Field, but for those not making the trip, here’s how to watch and listen to the game.