ALTOONA, Pa. -- Penn State's full 2023 schedule is now complete, and -- to the surprise of no one -- the Nittany Lions once again will open Big Ten play on the road next season.
The Big Ten revealed conference schedules for 2023 this afternoon. The Lions' non-conference opponents were already scheduled.
Here's Penn State's full schedule:
Sept. 2: vs. West Virginia
Sept. 9: vs. Delaware
Sept. 16: at Illinois
Sept. 23: vs. Iowa
Sept. 30: at Northwestern
Oct. 7: Bye
Oct. 14: vs. UMass
Oct. 21: at Ohio State
Oct. 28: vs. Indiana
Nov. 4: at Maryland
Nov. 11: vs. Michigan
Nov. 18: vs. Rutgers
Nov. 25: at Michigan State
Next year will mark the eighth consecutive season that Penn State will open Big Ten play on the road, and the 17th time in 20 years. Much has been made of that bizarre scheduling quirk, and athletic director Pat Kraft called it "unacceptable" when speaking to the media in late July.
“It stinks. It stinks," Kraft said. "(James Franklin) called me the other day. I said, ‘What?’ I called the conference office and said this is unacceptable. So we’re addressing that right away.”
It was to no avail, though, with regards to next year's schedule.
Kraft released the following statement Wednesday:
“It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing Penn State will be starting our Big Ten football slate next year on the road for the eighth straight season and for the 13th time in the last 14 years.
“When I arrived on campus, I shared with the conference staff my concerns and repeatedly referenced their failure to address this issue in the past. I have been in communication with Commissioner (Kevin) Warren and I am confident this issue will be addressed moving forward.”
The biggest thing that jumps out about the schedule is that the Nittany Lions will get a bye week before their cupcake non-conference game against UMass, which comes the week before a trip to Ohio State. That will make for an extremely easy two-week stretch heading into the biggest game of the year.
Nits have 2023 bye in front of … UMass?? That’s like two straight byes before visiting the Buckeyes.
— Neil Rudel (@NeilRudel) October 26, 2022
The Iowa game would seem to be the most logical choice for the whiteout next year at Beaver Stadium. Why not Michigan? Well, because it's in November, and Penn State doesn't like to play night games that late in the year. The whiteout won't be determined until a later date.
All in all, next year's schedule looks very manageable for Penn State, with no real gauntlet of games such as this year's three-game stretch of Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State.
Opening Big Ten play at Illinois won't be easy, since the Illini have made great strides this year and should be pretty good next year. Then Iowa comes to Beaver Stadium for the first conference home game of the year.
It's always beneficial, as well, when Penn State doesn't have to play Ohio State or Michigan early in a season.
