UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 10 Penn State football will make its first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl when the Nittany Lions take on SEC foe No. 11 Ole Miss on Saturday, December 30 at noon (ET) Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will air on ESPN.
This will be the first matchup between the Nittany Lions and the Rebels. The Nittany Lions are 25-24 all-time against current members of the SEC.
"We are thrilled to have Penn State Football heading to Atlanta," said Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have worked tirelessly this season for an opportunity at a New Year's Six bowl game, and to represent Penn State and the Big Ten in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be a great way to send our seniors off. I am confident Nittany Nation will be loud and ready in Atlanta."
"I want to thank the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Committee for inviting Penn State to Atlanta this year," said Penn State head coach James Franklin. "This gives our program, especially seniors, a chance to stay together for a few more weeks and close out the season in a memorable way. Our team has stuck together and played as a family all year. I am thrilled for our student-athletes, senior class and staff. We are looking forward to our passionate fans filling Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 30."
Penn State had 29 All-Big Ten selections in 2023, including offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu being selected Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, becoming Penn State's second Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year joining A.Q Shipley (2008). Joining Fashanu as first-team honorees were linebacker Abdul Carter, defensive end Adisa Isaac and defensive end Chop Robinson.
The Penn State defense leads the country in total defense (223.2), first downs allowed (151), sacks per game (4.0) and total sacks (48), while sitting second rushing defense (69.7) and tackles for loss per game (8.4). The Nittany Lions are third in the nation in scoring defense (11.4), pass defense (153.6), total tackles for loss (101) and fumbles recovered (12). Penn State's nation-leading 223.2 total yards allowed per game currently stands as the lowest in a single season in the FBS since Alabama's 183.6 in 2011.
On offense, PSU ranks fourth in the country in red zone conversion percentage (95.1; 1st in the Big Ten), 12th in scoring offense (37.2; 1st), 19th in fewest sacks allowed (1.25; 2nd), 24th in rushing offense (186.7; 1st), while holding ninth in time of possession (33:02; 1st). PSU has tallied a Big Ten-best 271 first downs. The Nittany Lions posted 50+ points three times and 40+ points five times this season.
Chick-fil-A Peach 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. 4 at 11:59 p.m.
- Student Nittany Lion Club [Maximum 2 Tickets Each]: Online pre-sale runs Monday, Dec. 4 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Penn State Students [Maximum 2 Tickets Each]: Online sale begins Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Alumni Association Members: Online pre-sale requests run Wednesday Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. – 11:59 p.m., pending availability.
- General Public: Sale begins Thursday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m., pending availability.
As a benefit of membership, football season ticket holders and Nittany Lion Club (NLC) members can request Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl tickets here. All football season ticket holder and NLC ticket requests received by Monday, Dec. 4 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 Chick-fil-A Peach 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. 4 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. 5 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. by clicking here. 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. 6 at 8 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. 7 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. 3. Bowl tour package information is available at www.PennStateSportsTours.com.
Fans are reminded that the best way to guarantee seats in the Penn State section is to purchase those tickets through Penn State Athletics. Please note the ticket office will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 23 until Dec. 26. Additionally, starting Dec. 27 until Dec. 29 there will ticketing representatives available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.