Nittany Lions slated for night game at Iowa

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's first road game of the season will be played under the lights. The Nittany Lions' road clash against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 23 will kick at 7:30 p.m. and air on ABC, the network announced Monday.



This gives Penn State back to back night games with this Saturday's game at Beaver Stadium against Georgia State also slated for a 7:30 p.m. kick. While the routine of a night game means more time for players to hang out in the hotel and catch other games throughout the day, it's also important for television networks to showcase some of the premier teams during these important prime-time slots.

With Penn State checking in at No. 5 in both the AP Poll and this week's Amway Coaches Poll in all likelihood the Iowa night game won't be the last on the schedule. A start time has yet to be announced for the Lions' Sept. 30 home game against Indiana and neither has a start for Penn State's White Out game against Michigan in October.

While the Lions' October clash against Ohio State at The Horseshoe seemed destined to be a night game, thanks to FOX having the rights to the World Series the football game will not be showcased under the lights. Instead, the showdown with the two premier Big Ten East opponents will kick at 3:30 p.m.

I've long praised the atmosphere at Kinnick Stadium and think it's one of the best in the Big Ten. With the fans seated so close to the field it's a loud road environment and for it being Penn State's first road trip of the season it will give the Nittany Lions a good taste of crowd noise.

I've been to Iowa City twice to cover games and one of them was for the Hawkeyes' stripe out game a few years back and while Penn State has since copied the idea -- and also ripped it off of the checkerboard at Tennessee -- Iowa fans, decked out in their overalls with tons of gold and black always seem to be one of the more energized crowds in the conference. That will be a good test for Penn State, especially in September after thus far pretty much rolling their first two opponents.