STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- They're a pre-season top-10 team with several players filling up award lists, but that still doesn't make the Nittany Lions' season opener against Akron all that attractive for prime-time viewing.
Instead, Penn State's season opener on Sept. 2 against Akron will kick at noon and air on ABC. The Lions are 5-0 all time against the Zips with James Franklin's team last beating Akron in 2014. That game was Franklin's first in Beaver Stadium and Steelers tight end Jesse James was the star of the afternoon, hauling in two touchdowns during Penn State's 21-3 victory.
The start time against Akron is the first announced for the upcoming season and it means that in all likelihood with the season opener 100 days out the start time for Penn State's Week 2 game against Pitt should be getting announced soon. Because there aren't any professional sports franchises in the same vicinity, heck even the same region as Beaver Stadium, that game should be able to fit into just about any viewing window.
With Ohio State-Oklahoma set set to air on ABC at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 that means the likelihood of Pitt-Penn State in primetime probably isn't happening, which seemed like a stretch to begin with. Now, the lineup for FOX, which is reportedly getting more Big Ten games this season -- potentially including Ohio State vs. Michigan -- still hasn't been released.
One report earlier this month from a FOX affiliate claimed that Penn State vs. Ohio State, set for Oct. 28 in Columbus, will air on FOX. So, potentially there could be a landing spot there for Pitt vs. Penn State, or it could end up earlier in the day in all likelihood and on another channel.
Other Week 1 and Week 2 start times that were announced on Thursday include:
Mark your calendars.
Kickoff weekend is set. ?https://t.co/CSoJ9FhFgM pic.twitter.com/fkcDJHaqlZ
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) May 25, 2017
Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron,Akron https://t.co/4je68Hdfwo
— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) May 25, 2017