The Penn State Nittany Lions went into James Franklin’s first season as head coach not expecting to play in a bowl game due to imposed sanctions from a scandal a few years prior. When the sanctions were removed on September 8, Penn State had more to play for and showed they were bowl-worthy by going 7-6 overall and defeating Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
In his junior year, Christian Hackenberg is looking to boost his nationwide recognition, along with his NFL Draft stock if he is to go down that path. After a successful freshman year, throwing for 20 touchdowns compared to only 10 interceptions, Hackenberg struggled last season, throwing three more interceptions than touchdowns. In addition, he was sacked 23 more times last year compared to 2013 under Franklin’s new system. But with some offensive line recruitment during the offseason, Hackenberg should be closer to his ’13 form.
With one of the most supportive fan bases in the sport, seeing a game at Beaver Stadium or seeing the support Penn State receives on the road will make any college football fan realize how strong the program is nationally. Hipmunk.com can get Penn State fans to any game, at home or on the road, with affordable flights from most major airline carriers, and discounted hotel rates near most colleges and all major airports.
Penn State matches up against quality opponents up and down their 2015 schedule. With information provided by TiqIQ.com, below are the three most expensive average ticket prices for Penn State games on the secondary market.
Most Expensive: 10/17/2015 | Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions | Ohio Stadium | Average Price: $372.25 | Get-in Price: $192
Penn State travels to the home of the 2014 National Champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in mid-November. Last season, Ohio State went into Beaver Stadium and barely escaped, winning 31-24 in double overtime. Seeing the Buckeyes win the National Championship had to be encouraging for Penn State, knowing they were a team that took them to the brink last season. It will be a tougher task winning on the road, but Hackenberg knows he can have the team in a close game.
11/21/2015 | Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Michigan Wolverines | Beaver Stadium | Average Price: $205.55 | Get-in Price: $99
Penn State went through a four-game losing streak from Week 5 through Week 8 that included a loss to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, where they could only muster up 13 points in an 18-13 defeat. The series between these two programs will feature an entirely new flavor as Jim Harbaugh left the NFL to coach his alma mater. Last season, Michigan finished above Penn State by one game in the newly formed East division. The Penn State tickets for the games against Michigan and Ohio State are their only two games where the average ticket price is over $200.
9/19/2015 | Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Beaver Stadium | Average Price: $167.58 | Get-in Price: $73
Penn State picked up a solid road win when defeating the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey last season. It was Rutgers’ first season in the Big Ten conference and they fared rather well, finishing tied for fourth in the East division and above teams like Michigan and Penn State. Furthermore, Rutgers defeated North Carolina in their bowl game to conclude the campaign. With Gary Nova gone from the quarterback position, Rutgers still has to figure out who will be under center this year, which will be determined this preseason.
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