Big Ten Football Schedules Set for 2010-12

Bye Week Added to Conference Schedules Starting in 2010

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Big Ten Conference has implemented a bye week, starting with the 2010 football season, which will give every team one week off during the eight-game league schedule.

The 2010-12 conference football schedules were announced today. Each conference team will have an open date during the 2008 season due to how the calendar falls. In 2009, the Nittany Lions are scheduled to play 12 games in 12 weeks, before the new conference scheduling commences.

Several non-conference games during the 2010-12 seasons had previously been announced. The renewal of series' with Alabama (2010 and 2011) and Virginia (2012 and 2013) are upcoming. Also, Penn State will clash with old rival Syracuse the next two seasons. The Nittany Lions visit the Orange on Sept. 13 this year and Syracuse will travel to Happy Valley on Sept. 12, 2009.

A handful of Penn State's non-conference games are in the process of being re-scheduled due to the implementation of the open week starting in 2010.

The 2010 Penn State schedule will begin with Youngstown State on Sept. 4, followed a week later by the first contest between Penn State and Alabama since 1990. The Nittany Lions will host Kent State on Sept. 18 and Temple on Sept. 25 and open Big Ten play at Iowa on Oct 2. Penn State has an open date on Oct. 16.

In 2011, Penn State will host the Crimson Tide on Sept. 10 and visit Temple on Sept. 17. Home games on Sept. 3 and 24 are to be announced and the conference season will begin at Illinois on Oct. 1. The Nittany Lions will have an open date on Nov. 5.

The 2012 slate has Penn State visiting Virginia on Sept. 8, with a home game against Temple on Sept. 15. Home contests on Sept. 1 and 22 are to be announced and the Nittany Lions will host Illinois on Sept. 29 to open Big Ten action, with an open date on Nov. 3. The Cavaliers will return to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 14, 2013.

The Nittany Lions' season-ending clash with Michigan State for the Land Grant Trophy will be played the weekend after Thanksgiving starting in 2010.

In his 43rd season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad has won 31 of its last 40 games, tied for eighth-best in the nation over that span. Penn State returns 16 starters and 37 letterwinners from last year's 9-4 squad that defeated Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 33rd Top 25 finish under Paterno.

Future Football Schedules

2008

Aug. 30
COASTAL CAROLINA

Sept. 6
OREGON STATE

Sept. 13
at Syracuse

Sept. 20
TEMPLE

Sept. 27
ILLINOIS (1), 8:00 p.m.

Oct. 4
at Purdue

Oct. 11
at Wisconsin, 8:00 p.m.

Oct. 18
MICHIGAN (2), 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 25
at Ohio State

Nov. 8
at Iowa

Nov. 15
INDIANA

Nov. 22
MICHIGAN STATE

(1) All-University/Varsity "S" Day
(2) Homecoming

2009

Sept. 5
TBA

Sept. 12
SYRACUSE

Sept. 19
TEMPLE

Sept. 26
IOWA

Oct. 3
at Illinois

Oct. 10
EASTERN ILLINOIS

Oct. 17
MINNESOTA

Oct. 24
at Michigan

Oct. 31
at Northwestern

Nov. 7
OHIO STATE

Nov. 14
INDIANA

Nov. 21
at Michigan State

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2010

Sept. 4
YOUNGSTOWN STATE

Sept. 11
at Alabama

Sept. 18
KENT STATE

Sept. 25
TEMPLE

Oct. 2
at Iowa

Oct. 9
ILLINOIS

Oct. 16
OPEN

Oct. 23
at Minnesota

Oct. 30
MICHIGAN

Nov. 6
NORTHWESTERN

Nov. 13
at Ohio State

Nov. 20
at Indiana

Nov. 27
MICHIGAN STATE

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2011

Sept. 3
TBA

Sept. 10
ALABAMA

Sept. 17
at Temple

Sept. 24
TBA

Oct. 1
at Illinois

Oct. 8
OHIO STATE

Oct. 15
IOWA

Oct. 22
at Northwestern

Oct. 29
PURDUE

Nov. 5
OPEN

Nov. 12
WISCONSIN

Nov. 19
at Minnesota

Nov. 26
at Michigan State

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

2012

Sept. 1
TBA

Sept. 8
at Virginia

Sept. 15
TEMPLE

Sept. 22
TBA

Sept. 29
ILLINOIS

Oct. 6
at Ohio State

Oct. 13
at Iowa

Oct. 20
NORTHWESTERN

Oct. 27
at Purdue

Nov. 3
OPEN

Nov. 10
at Wisconsin

Nov. 17
MINNESOTA

Nov. 24
MICHIGAN STATE