Penn State Nittany Lions Football

Known most commonly among football fans simply as Penn State, the Penn State Nittany Lions football team has represented Penn State University since the earliest days of American football itself, with its first official season occurring way back in 1887. The team gained its nickname from nearby Nittany Mountain and the Lions refers not to African felines but to the North American mountain lion (commonly known as a cougar). For many years, Penn State played as an independent school, but joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993, where they have competed ever since. As well as two claimed national titles and five unclaimed national titles, as well as divisional and conference honors, the Nittany Lions have one of the best bowl game records in the country, with a record of 31-20-2 throughout their history. In 2023, the team played in the Rose Bowl, where they defeated Utah of the Pac 10 conference by a score of 35-21. Penn State home games take place in the absolutely massive Beaver Stadium (the second largest stadium in the Americas), where the words “We are…” ring out from one stand to be answered by the opposite stand shouting “...Penn State” in a classic call and response. The whole stadium is also known to dress up in white on certain occasions (known as White House) and tailgating to get pumped up for the big game is a popular tradition among students, faculty, alumni, and general fans alike. Students are known to camp out at the stadium in tents to buy tickets in a good-natured tradition known as Nittanyville. The team is also known for its focus on scholastic achievement, with a graduation rate much higher than the average for student athletes in the United States.  

Penn State Nittany Lions Rivalries

Any sports team around for over a century invariably develops deep rivalries and the Penn State Nittany Lions are no exception. The team’s longest-standing rivalries are with the Pittsburgh Panthers, Ohio State Buckeyes , and Maryland Terrapins, as well as the West Virginia Mountaineers. Recent decades have seen new rivalries emerge against the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Michigan State Spartans, who the Nittany Lions play for the right to hold the Land Grant Trophy. 

Finding Penn State Nittany Lions Football Tickets

With their massive stadium, huge raucous crowds, fun traditions of tailgating and chanting, and excellent record on the field, the Penn State Nittany Lions have long been one of the most popular college football teams in the United States, bringing fans from all over Pennsylvania and surrounding regions, as well as from further afield, to their games, home and away. This makes for a great experience but can also tend to render tickets difficult to come by, especially when it comes to Bowl games, championship deciders, or games against any of their main rivals (see above). For affordable tickets to all the most exciting Penn State Nittany Lions games, check out TicketX and use our handy stadium seating chart to compare different seating options in terms of price and location. Read more about our tips on "How to Get Cheap Penn State Football Tickets Tickets in 2024" on TicketX Magazine.