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Some things never change: Check out Penn State's 'new' 2023 football schedule

frank bodani, york daily record
·2 min read
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Even a league-wide scheduling overhaul won't fix the issue.

Yes, Penn State will open its Big Ten football season on the road yet again in 2023.

The conference announced revised football schedules for the 2023 season on Wednesday − one year before it grows with the addition of USC and UCLA.

There were no dramatic changes announced yet. Of course, that could all change before 2024. A reorganization of divisions, at the very least, is expected to be announced at a later date. Big Ten officials could eliminate divisions all together or break their 16 teams into "pods," based on geography and to help maintain rivalries.

Penn State football coach James Franklin had voiced his displeasure with opening its Big Ten season on the road, year after year. The Big Ten still did not fix the issue, even with a revised schedule announced this week.
Penn State football coach James Franklin had voiced his displeasure with opening its Big Ten season on the road, year after year. The Big Ten still did not fix the issue, even with a revised schedule announced this week.

For now, though, Penn State's upcoming 2023 schedule will feature only shifts in when it plays opponents.

It will still start with non-conference home games against against West Virginia (Sept. 2) and FCS Delaware (Sept. 9) − before traveling to Illinois.

That means the Lions will open the Big Ten portion of their schedule on the road for the eighth straight season and in 13 of the past 14. Head coach James Franklin and new athletic director Pat Kraft have voiced their displeasure with the odd and unexplained trend.

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Kraft called the quirk "unacceptable" last summer and said he talked to Big Ten officials to voice his displeasure. He then called it "incredibly frustrating and disappointing" in Wednesday's prepared statement.

The last time Penn State played its opening league game in Beaver Stadium was in 2015 against Rutgers.

Now, only the order of some opponents has been changed for next season. For example, the Lions' home game with Iowa was moved from Oct. 28 to Sept. 23. And the home game with Indiana was shifted from Oct. 7 to Oct. 28.

Penn State's bye week will now be Oct. 7 − a week later than originally planned. Its season also will end with a visit to Michigan State instead of one to Maryland.

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Penn State 2023 schedule

Here is the complete revised schedule (Game times and TV assignments will be announced at a later date):

Sept. 2 WEST VIRGINIA

Sept. 9 DELAWARE

Sept. 16 at Illinois

Sept. 23 IOWA

Sept. 30 at Northwestern

Oct. 7 Bye

Oct. 14 MASSACHUSETTS

Oct. 21 at Ohio State

Oct. 28 INDIANA

Nov. 4 at Maryland

Nov. 11 MICHIGAN

Nov. 18 RUTGERS

Nov. 25 at Michigan State

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football schedule 2023 release: Big Ten opponents, dates