UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 11 Penn State football will return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 2016 season when the Nittany Lions take on Pac-12 foe No. 8 Utah in the Rose Bowl Game on Monday, January 2 at 5 p.m. (ET). The game will air on ESPN.
This will be the first matchup between the Nittany Lions and the Utes. Penn State is 25-14 all-time against current Pac-12 schools, having played every Pac-12 team except Utah. The most recent meeting against a Pac-12 foe was Washington in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, a 35-28 victory for the Nittany Lions.
"We are thrilled our storied Penn State football program will participate the 109th Rose Bowl," said Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "I am so proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for the hard work they have put in this season to earn the reward of a trip to The Granddaddy of Them All. The Rose Bowl has such a rich history, and I can't think of a better way to cap a terrific season and send our seniors off with a special memory. I know Nittany Nation will be excited to head to Pasadena to start the New Year."
"I want to thank the Rose Bowl Committee for the invitation to one of college football's most prestigious and historic bowl games," said Penn State head coach James Franklin. "Playing in the Rose Bowl is truly a special way to close out this season with a team, staff and fan base that has stuck together and trusted the process all year. I look forward to ringing in the New Year in Pasadena with our passionate fans filling the Rose Bowl stadium January 2."
This is Penn State's fifth trip to the Rose Bowl and first since its 2016 season meeting against USC. Penn State is 1-3 all-time in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions made their first-ever bowl appearance in the Rose Bowl against USC in 1923, a 14-3 loss. Penn State did not return to the Rose Bowl again until 1995 when Ki-Jana Carter led the Nittany Lions to a 38-20 win over Oregon.
On defense, Penn State leads the Big Ten with 95 tackles for loss with 26 different Nittany Lions having made at least one full tackle for loss, the most in the FBS. Penn State has recorded at least seven tackles for loss in each of its last seven games (Michigan, 7; Minnesota, 7, Ohio State, 7; Indiana, 16; Maryland, 9; Rutgers, 15; Michigan State, 7). In addition, the Nittany Lions have limited nine opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this season (Purdue, 61; Ohio, 99; Central Michigan, 88; Northwestern, 31; Ohio State, 98; Indiana, 65; Maryland, 60; Rutgers, 32; Michigan State, 25).
The Nittany Lions had 10 All-Big Ten selections on defense, which included LB Abdul Carter (second team), DT PJ Mustipher (second team), S Ji'Ayir Brown (third team), DE Adisa Isaac (third team) and CB Kalen King (third team).
Offensively, Penn State has featured a balanced attack with 20 different pass catchers and a rushing attack which has reached 200 rushing yards in five games this season (Ohio, 234; Auburn, 245; Northwestern, 220; Maryland, 249; Rutgers, 237). In addition, the Nittany Lions have not allowed a sack in four games this year (Auburn, Northwestern, Minnesota, Maryland). The four games without allowing a sack are the most for Penn State since 2011 (five games).
Freshman running back Nicholas Singleton was the Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was also a third-team All-Big Ten running back selection and second-team All-Big Ten kick returner, joining OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu (second team), OL Juice Scruggs (third team) and TE Brenton Strange (third team) with postseason conference honors.
ROSE BOWL GAME TICKET SALE TIMELINE
- Eligible Football Season Ticket Holders and Nittany Lion Club Members – online pre-sale requests are now available and run through Monday, Dec. 5 at 11:59 p.m.
- Student Nittany Lion Club [maximum 2 tickets each] – online pre-sale runs Monday, Dec. 5 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Penn State Students [maximum 2 tickets each] – online sale begins Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., pending availability.
- Alumni Association Members – online pre-sale requests run Wednesday Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. – 11:59 p.m., pending availability.
- General Public – sale begins Thursday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., pending availability.
As a benefit of membership, football season ticket holders and Nittany Lion Club (NLC) members can request tickets HERE to Penn State's bowl game. All football season ticket holder and NLC ticket requests received by Monday, Dec. 5 at 11:59 p.m. will be allocated based on NLC point totals. The ability to request tickets does not guarantee fans will receive tickets from Penn State's allotment. Penn State hopes to honor all requests, however, may fill orders with lower priced tickets, reduced quantities or unfortunately, may not be able to provide tickets at all. Football season ticket holders and NLC members will receive ticket confirmations as soon as possible.
An allotment of bowl tickets is being held for Penn State students to purchase. Student Nittany Lion Club members will have an opportunity to buy bowl tickets online only through Student Account Manager on Monday, Dec. 5 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., or until the allotment is exhausted. Penn State students who are not Student Nittany Lion Club members will be able to purchase tickets on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Mobile ticketing will be the exclusive delivery method for all student tickets. All student tickets will be assigned reserved seating locations once the sale closes. Sit by requests will not be accommodated. Students who purchase two tickets will have their two seats assigned together.
Should any tickets from Penn State's bowl allotment remain available after the Nittany Lion Club, football season ticket holders, Student Nittany Lion Club and student ticket pre-sale, Penn State Alumni Association members will be sent an email with the ability to purchase bowl game tickets when their pre-sale begins on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. via the link that will be sent via the Alumni Association. Should an Alumni Association sale occur, seats will be assigned according to NLC point status first, followed by Alumni Association membership. Alumni Association members will receive ticket confirmations as soon as possible.
Should any tickets from Penn State's bowl game allotment remain available, general public can purchase tickets starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 online.
Any Nittany Lion Club members, football season ticket holders or Alumni Association members who need assistance can call Customer Relations at 1-800-NITTANY Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or email GoLions@psu.edu.
Official Bowl Tour Packages Available for Purchase Beginning Sunday Night
Penn Staters can join the Official Penn State Bowl Tour starting Sunday, Dec. 4. Bowl tour package information is available HERE. Join the Penn State Official Bowl Tour from On Location - Anthony Travel, which is the official travel partner of Penn State Athletics and the Penn State Alumni Association.
Fans are reminded that the best way to guarantee seats in the Penn State section is to purchase those tickets through Penn State Athletics.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2023 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Please note the ticket office will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 23 until Dec. 26. Additionally, starting Dec. 27 until Dec. 30 there will ticketing representatives available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.