Michigan State kickoff set for ABC/ESPN

Not a bad way to end the season:

ABC/ESPN will nationally televise Penn State's regular season finale at Michigan State on Nov. 21. The contest will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET in the schools' annual season ending clash for the Land Grant Trophy. ABC will regionally televise the contest and ESPN will air the game outside the ABC coverage area to the rest of the nation.

Although, it could very well end up being a bad way to end the season. Most of the nation associates Penn State with blowing games on the national stage. What if this is just another episode? One thing Penn State has going for it: the Lions are 3-0 on the road this season.

GoPSUSports.com

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Ohio State at Penn State kickoff set

Looks like this will be the closest thing to a night game we'll get:

ABC/ESPN will nationally televise Penn State's clash with Ohio State on Nov 7. The national powers will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET in the 300th game to be played in Beaver Stadium.

Expect the crowd to be fully lubricated for this one. Though, let's hope they don't die off again at the first sign of adversity on the field. Yeah, I'm talking to you, fans who attended the Iowa game.

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Penn State at Michigan kickoff set

The Big Ten announced this morning that Penn State's road game at Michigan will kickoff at 3:30 p.m., and be televised nationally on ABC and ESPN Regional.

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Game times announced... crap, crap and crap

I get it. Penn State plays a creampuff non-conference schedule. But to relegate Penn State-Syracuse to the Big Ten Network? Wow. Although I must say this is a major coup for the BTN, and I respect them for getting the game. This game will generate more local buzz in the New York Metro Area than even the Ohio State -USC game (yes, I actually said that), due to Penn State's and Syracuse's HUGE alumni presence in the northeast.

More on this below the fold.

GoPSUSports.com: The Nittany Lions are playing their initial four games of the season in Beaver Stadium, starting with the Sept. 5 opener with Akron. One week later, old rival Syracuse will make its first visit to Happy Valley in 19 years, followed by a visit from Temple on Sept. 19. Penn State begins Big Ten play on Sept. 26, hosting Iowa for an 8:00 p.m. kick on ABC or ESPN.

With the announcement of the three season opening kickoffs, the start time for six of Penn State's contests this fall have been determined. The Nittany Lions will host Minnesota for Homecoming at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 on ABC/ESPN. On Oct. 31, Penn State will visit Northwestern for a 4:30 p.m. ET kick on ESPN or ESPN2.

I apologize for not elaborating on this topic today. It's deadline day, so I'm pretty swamped. I just happened to check the internets and saw the kick times announcement.

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Penn State vs Minnesota kickoff set

Penn State announced today that the Nittany Lions' homecoming clash with Minnesota will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. eastern, in front of a national audience. I'm pumped for this game. I'm already thinking about making this one the very first "official" Zombie Nation tailgate ("ZombieGate?"). Of course, you and all your friends will be invited! But, that's getting a bit ahead of ourselves.

From GoPSUSports.com:

Penn State's Homecoming clash with Minnesota is set for a 3:30 p.m. kick on Oct. 17 in Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions' third announced start time for the 2009 season.

The contest with the Golden Gophers will be an ABC regional telecast, with ESPN or ESPN2 airing it in the rest of the nation.

The Nittany Lions' Sept. 26 Big Ten opener with Iowa previously had been announced for an 8:00 p.m. kickoff in Beaver Stadium on ESPN or ABC. Also, Penn State's Oct. 31 contest at Northwestern will kick at 3:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. ET and air on ESPN or ESPN2.

Excited? You frickin' should be!!!

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Rubin earns Big Ten POW; Iowa kickoff set

Mark Rubin received his second honor this week, as he earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. In case you've forgotten, he forced Terrelle Pryor to fumble on 3rd-and-1, leading to a Penn State touchdown.

On a logistical note, the Penn State-Iowa game is now scheduled to air at 3:30 ET on ABC Regional and ESPN out-of-market.

For the complete write up on Rubin,

Mark Rubin, Penn State
SR, S, Amherst, N.Y./Amherst
Rubin collected a career-high 11 tackles and made the play of the game when he forced a fumble in the fourth quarter, which Penn State turned into the game-winning scoring drive to remain undefeated and stand alone atop the Big Ten standings. The senior safety registered nine solo stops on the night to spearhead a Nittany Lions defense which held the Buckeyes to only six points, its fewest points at home since 1982. PSU limited OSU to 61 rushing yards on the night, more than 100 yards below its season average, and forced two turnovers. The biggest turnover occurred in the final stanza. After Penn State missed a potential game-tying field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, Ohio State held a 6-3 lead and drove to midfield before Rubin hit the Buckeyes quarterback to force a fumble. Linebacker Navorro Bowman recovered the loose ball at the 38-yard line with just over 10 minutes left. The Nittany Lions scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to claim a 10-6 lead on the way to the victory, PSU's first win in Columbus since 1978. Rubin collects his first career weekly laurel.

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