PENN STATE FOOTBALL GAME DAY CENTRAL
Marshall at No. 18 Penn State
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GAME NOTES
OPENING KICK
No. 18/17 Penn State takes on Marshall in its 2026 season opener at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1. The Nittany Lions will play in their 11th Stripe Out game.
CAMPBELL ERA BEGINS
Matt Campbell makes his debut as Penn State head coach. He is set to coach his first game for the Nittany Lions after a 10-year stint as Iowa State's head coach. He left as the Cyclones' winningest coach with a 72-55 overall record and a 56.7 winning percentage, both bests in school history. He has led his teams to winning records in 12 of his 14 seasons. Penn State head coaches are 11-4-1 in their debut games.
BECHT BRINGS EXPERIENCE
Redshirt senior Rocco Becht, on the Davey O'Brien, Manning, Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch lists, brings plenty of experience to the Penn State quarterback room. Becht made 39 starts at Iowa State, leading the Cyclones to 26 wins and engineering seven game-winning drives. Entering 2026, Becht ranks Top 10 among active FBS quarterbacks in wins as a starting quarterback (26; 1st), 200-yard passing games (29; t-1st), passing yards (9,274; 2nd), passing touchdowns (64; 3rd), total offense (9,773; 3rd), completions (714; 4th), passing attempts (1,177; 4th), completion percentage (60.7; 5th, min. 1,000 pass attempts) and rushing touchdowns (19; 7th).
RELOADED DEFENSE
The Nittany Lions' defense has played a combined 631 games and made 207 starts. Redshirt junior LB Tony Rojas is on watch lists for the Comeback Player of the Year, Hispanic College Football Player of the Year and Lott IMPACT Trophy. S Jeremiah Cooper (Bednarik, Comeback POY), LB Kooper Ebel (Butkus), DE Max Granville (Comeback POY) and DT Siale Taupaki (Polynesian College POY) are also on watch lists.
THE OPPOSITION
Marshall went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Sun Belt in 2025. The Thundering Herd earned wins over Eastern Kentucky (38-7), Middle Tennessee State (42-28), Old Dominion (48-24), Texas State (40-37) and Georgia State (30-18). Quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson returns after throwing for 2,043 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 660 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, cornerback Boogie Trotter returns after leading the squad with 74 tackles and five interceptions in 2025.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State meets Marshall for the third time in program history. The Nittany Lions earned a 26-7 win over the Thundering Herd in the first matchup in 1929 and a 65-0 victory in the second matchup in 1930.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
140 - Penn State begins its 140th football season and 67th in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
62 - The Nittany Lions added 62 newcomers ahead of the 2026 season, including 40 transfers. PSU's incoming transfers have combined for 337 career collegiate starts.
39 - Quarterback Rocco Becht brings 39 career starts to Happy Valley, most among FBS QBs, and 26 wins as a starting quarterback.
17 - Matt Campbell was named the 17th head coach of the Penn State Football program on December 8, 2025.
15 - Fifteen Nittany Lions were named to preseason award watch lists.
PARKING
LOTS OPEN & ONE-WAY PATTERN
Lots open at 8 a.m.
The one-way traffic pattern goes into effect at 1 p.m., or earlier as traffic dictates.
ACCESS YOUR PARKING
Use the link below to access your parking through the Penn State Account Manager, powered by Ticketmaster.
RIDESHARE
Rideshare pickup and drop-off are available at Pegula Ice Arena and the North Transit Center.
LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES & NAVIGATION
Live traffic updates are available via the link below. For step-by-step directions to your lot within the game day traffic pattern, use Waze.
FAN ASSISTANCE SHUTTLES
Fan Assistance Shuttles help fans get to the stadium from their parking lots. Pickup and drop-off locations are shown at the link below. Shuttles run from 1:30 p.m. until all fans have been transported pregame, then resume at the end of the third quarter until all fans have been transported postgame.
TICKETS
PURCHASE SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets remain available for the 2026 season opener against Marshall. Visit the link below to secure your seats inside West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
ACCESS YOUR TICKETS
Use the link below to access your tickets through the Penn State Account Manager, powered by Ticketmaster.
MOBILE TICKETING GUIDE
Use the link below to view the Mobile Ticketing Guide for Android and iOS users.
STRIPE OUT MAP
Use the link below to view the official 2026 Penn State Stripe Out seating map and find out whether you're on Team Blue or Team White.
GATES
GATES OPEN
Suites, Club & Museum Gates - 12:30 p.m.
Student Gate (Gate A) - 1 p.m.
Public Gates - 1:30 p.m.
SHORTEN YOUR WAIT
ARRIVE EARLY FOR THE SHORTEST WAIT TIMES! All fans pass through magnetometers before entering West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Have your mobile ticket pulled up and ready to scan before you reach the gate.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Clear tote bags measuring 12" x 6" x 12" or smaller are permitted inside West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. A clutch or wristlet measuring 4" x 6" x 1" or smaller is also permitted. Use the link below to view the full Penn State Athletics Clear Bag Policy.
Navigation
Use this map to help you navigate West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on Game Day!
Opens in a new window GAME DAY TIMELINE
From the Beaver Stadium Block Party to the on-field pregame show, view the Game Day Timeline below to make sure you're ready for kickoff!
Parking Lots Open
Beaver Stadium Block Party Opens
Cubs Zone presented by GIANT Opens
One Way Traffic Pattern Begins
View your parking permit and utilize Waze for navigation instructions.
Team Arrival presented by Amica
Modelo Pregame Show
All Gates to Beaver Stadium Open
Suites & Club, Student Gates open earlier. View the "Gates" section above for more information.
Blue Band March to Stadium
On-Field Pregame Show
Kickoff
Beaver Stadium Block Party
BLOCK PARTY INFORMATION
The Beaver Stadium Block Party takes place prior to each home game on Curtin Rd. between University Dr. and Porter Rd. and features different activities, food trucks and entertainment. The Beaver Stadium Block Party begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will close following the Blue Band's March at 2:15 p.m.
The Cubs Zone presented by GIANT features free activities for kids of all ages - inflatables, caricature artists, face painting, lawn games, and more - and takes place on the Bubble Turf in the Lot 18 Parking Lot (west side of the stadium). The Cubs Zone presented by GIANT is open from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Penn State Team Store merchandise trailers selling officially licensed Penn State gear and game programs will be spread out along Curtin Rd., as well as other locations around the stadium.
ACTIVATIONS THIS WEEKEND
New this season, the Modelo 21+ Zone is a part of the Beaver Stadium Block Party and will be open 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
10 a.m. - Velveeta Performs on the Team Arrival Stage
11:30 a.m. - Ted & the Hi-Fi's perform on the Team Arrival Stage
1 p.m. - Modelo Pre-Game Show begins at the Modelo 21+ Zone
Team Arrival
presented by AmicaTEAM ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Cheer on the team as they arrive at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium upon the iconic blue buses! The Team Arrival Pep Rally featuring the Penn State cheerleaders, Lionettes dance team, Penn State Blue Band, and the Nittany Lion mascot will start at 1 p.m. Team Arrival is presented by Amica Insurance.
ADA & ACCESSIBILITY
ADA ENTRANCES
Three ADA Accessible entrances serve West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium:
- Club/Letterman/ADA Entrance — southeast corner of the stadium, next to Gate A
- All-Sports Museum/ADA Entrance — near Gate B
- Designated ADA lane — at Gate B
ADA PARKING
Shuttle service runs before and after every game from the ADA parking lots listed below. Shuttles drop off and pick up fans at two locations: the accessible entrance on the west side of the stadium near Gate B, and Porter Road near Gate A.
ICA ADA Accessible Parking - Shields Building, Wagner Building, IM Building, Nittany Lion Softball Park and Katz Building lots.
Day-of-game accessible parking - Available at the East Deck. Passes sold by Penn State Athletics are not accepted at the East Deck.
ADDITIONAL ADA INFORMATION
For more information on accessibility on game day, use the link below to view the ADA & Accessibility section of the West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium A-to-Z Guide.