Is Penn State’s Peacock-only football game ruffling your feathers? Here’s how to watch

Matt DiSanto
·4 min read

Penn State’s 2023 football season is finally underway, but you might need to take action this week if you hope to watch the Nittany Lions’ next game.

Penn State’s Sept. 9 matchup with the University of Delaware will stream exclusively on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. According to Sports Illustrated, the Peacock-only game will break the Nittany Lions’ streak of nearly 250 consecutive televised games dating back to 2003.

Before kickoff arrives at noon Saturday, here’s what you should know.

Do I need a subscription to watch Penn State-Delaware?

Yes. By all accounts, NBC says Peacock will exclusively televise the Nittany Lions’ clash with the Blue Hens, and you’ll need a working subscription to tune in.

Though rates were raised by $1 in August, Peacock plans start at $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually, NBC says. An upgraded plan, known as “Plus,” starts at $11.99 per month and $119.99 annually.

Peacock’s basic paid plan, known as “Premium,” includes access to films, television shows and live sports, including Big Ten football games. The “Plus” plan features reduced advertising, downloadable content, offline viewing and access to live feeds of local NBC stations.

Either plan should give you access to Saturday’s exclusive stream.

Penn State students hoping to watch the Nittany Lions’ upcoming game should take note of Peacock’s student discount. According to the platform, eligible college students can purchase 12 months of Peacock’s Premium plan for $1.99 per month at PeacockTV.com/student.

Previously, Peacock was included at no additional cost for some cable subscribers, including those on select Xfinity plans. That offer is no longer available, but some customers may be eligible for new offers and discounts depending on their level of service, Peacock says.

Peacock is available on most devices, including Apple and Android smartphones, computers, video game consoles and smart TVs. A full list of supported devices — and their required specs — is available online.

The service accepts cancellations for its plans at any time, Peacock says in its terms of service. If you truly want to watch only Big Ten football, you could buy a plan this fall and say goodbye to Peacock by Christmas.

How to watch, stream Big Ten and Penn State games that will require a subscription

Will more Penn State games air on Peacock this year?

For now, it’s unclear if Penn State’s schedule will include additional Peacock-exclusive games this season. The Nittany Lions’ 2023 schedule as of Sept. 6 is largely devoid of television destinations, though a few games are already slated for Fox (at Illinois Sept. 16 and vs. Michigan Nov. 11), CBS (vs. Iowa Sept. 23) and NBC (vs. Michigan State Nov. 24 at Ford Field in Detroit).

Nine games are expected to stream exclusively on Peacock this college football season, including Penn State’s matchup with Delaware. These games, dubbed “Big Ten Saturday” games, will kick off during the day, while 15 others, just like Penn State’s season-opening clash with West Virginia, are slated to kick off at night on Peacock and NBC.

Here’s a look at NBC and Peacock’s upcoming schedule of announced games with television designations as of Sept. 6:

  • Noon Sept. 9 — Delaware vs. Penn State — Peacock

  • 7 p.m. Sept. 9 — Charlotte vs. Maryland — NBC and Peacock

  • 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 — Washington vs. Michigan State — Peacock

  • 7 p.m. Sept. 16 — Syracuse vs. Purdue — NBC and Peacock

  • 7 p.m. Sept. 23 — Ohio State vs. Notre Dame — NBC and Peacock

On its website, Peacock says its remaining exclusive broadcasts are dependent upon the Big Ten, which ultimately assigns games to different networks as the season moves forward.

Most of the Big Ten’s new broadcast parameters, including Peacock-exclusive streams, derive from the conference’s landmark media rights deal finalized in August 2022. Three combined agreements with CBS, Fox and NBC are worth more than $8 billion over seven years, Sports Business Journal reports.

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Penn State-Delaware broadcast info

No. 7 Penn State will host Delaware at noon Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions enter the matchup following a 38-15 season-opening win over West Virginia, while Delaware topped Stony Brook 37-13 to begin its year.

Peacock’s exclusive stream will feature Brendan Burke on the play-by-play call, while former Penn State star Michael Robinson will offer color commentary and analysis, Peacock says. Zora Stephenson will contribute sideline coverage.

Local radio coverage is available through 99.5 FM, 103.7 FM and 1450 AM. You can find a digital stream on channel 196 through SiriusXM, plus a university-run stream through Penn State’s LionVision.