The Nittany Lions will visit the Illini on Oct. 22. The contest will begin at 6:00 p.m. CT (7:00 ET) in Champaign and air on ESPN2.
The telecast is the second announced TV appearance of the 2005 season for the Nittany Lions. Penn State will entertain border rival Ohio State for a primetime clash on Oct. 8, with kickoff at either 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2) or 7:45 (ESPN). A determination on the kick time may not be made until 12 days prior to the game.
The Lions have appeared on television 126 of their last 128 games. All of Penn State's games during the 2004 season were televised.
Future Penn State contests may be selected by the networks under the six and 12-day provisions of their contracts with the Big Ten Conference.
Penn State and Illinois will be meeting for the first time since 2002 and the first time in Champaign since 2001. The Nittany Lions lead the series, 10-2, with a 7-1 edge in Big Ten play. Penn State won the last meeting, 18-7, three years ago in Beaver Stadium and the Illini claimed a 33-28 win in Memorial Stadium in 2001. This is Illinois' homecoming game.
Penn State is playing at least one regular season night game for the sixth consecutive season. The only other time that happened was from 1983-89. The Lions' last six night games are: Minnesota and Boston College (2004), Nebraska (2002 and '03), Miami, Fla. (2001) and Indiana (2000).
2005 Penn State Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time
September 3 South Florida TBA
September 10 Cincinnati TBA
September 17 Central Michigan TBA
September 24 *at Northwestern TBA
October 1 *Minnesota (1) TBA
October 8 *Ohio State 7:00 / 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2 or ESPN)
October 15 *at Michigan TBA
October 22 *at Illinois 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
October 29 *Purdue (2) TBA
November 5 *Wisconsin TBA
November 19 *at Michigan State TBA