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Schedule is out for 2018-19...

Aug 8, 2010
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Nittany Lion Wrestling Announces 2018-19 Schedule
Eight home duals highlight outstanding slate

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Sept. 17, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, winners of seven of the last eight NCAA Championships, has announced its 2018-19 schedule. Head coach Cael Sanderson and his squad will wrestle in 14 dual meets and two in-season tournaments in preparation for March’s Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

The Nittany Lions return seven All-Americans, including four grapplers who have claimed a total of seven NCAA individual titles. Penn State will host eight home duals this year, including four of its nine Big Ten match-ups. The Nittany Lions head into the 2018-19 season riding a 45-dual win streak dating back to Feb. 15, 2015. Penn State won its final dual of the 2014-15 season, went 16-0 in 2015-16, 14-0 in 2016-17 and 14-0 last year.

Penn State will open up the season at home in Rec Hall on Sunday, Nov. 11, by hosting Kent State at 2 p.m. The Lions own a 7-0 lead in the all-time series with Kent State, including a 27-15 win at the Virginia Duals on Jan. 8, 2011, in the last meeting. The Lions then head to the University of Pennsylvania for the Keystone Classic on Sunday, Nov. 18. Penn State won last year’s event with 190.5 points and crowned seven champions. The Lions close out November with a trip to Lewisburg, Pa., to take on the Bucknell Bison on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. Penn State is 2-0 all-time against Bucknell, including last year’s 36-6 win in Rec Hall on Nov. 12.

The Nittany Lions welcome Lehigh to Rec Hall on Sunday, Dec. 2, for a 2 p.m. match-up with its long-standing rival. Penn State has won eight straight against the Mountain Hawks, including last year’s thrilling 23-19 victory it the PPL Center in Allentown. Arizona State will make its first-ever appearance in Rec Hall on Friday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions and Sun Devils have met seven times to date, splitting the series 3-3-1. Every match-up has been at a neutral site. The Nittany Lions won the last match-up, a 19-16 victory on Jan. 20, 2001, at the National Duals held in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State returns to Chattanooga for the 2019 Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2, 2019. The Nittany Lions have won the Scuffle in each of its last seven trips to the event, including last year’s victory with 197.0 points, including six champions. The Big Ten schedule begins on Friday, Jan. 11, with a road dual at Northwestern at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central). The Lions own a 15-1 lead in the all-time series with the Wildcats, including a 45-3 victory in Rec Hall on Jan. 29, 2017, the last meeting between the two teams. Two days later, Penn State will welcome Wisconsin to Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 13, for a 1 p.m. contest. Penn State is 15-8 all-time against the Badgers, including the last match-up, a 33-11 victory in Madison on Jan. 27, 2017.

Sanderson’s squad welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Happy Valley on Sunday, Jan. 20, for a 1 p.m. dual in Rec Hall. Penn State owns an 8-7-1 lead in the all-time series, including the last meeting, a 27-14 victory on Jan. 8, 2017, in Lincoln. The Nittany Lions hit the road for two Big Ten duals the next weekend. Penn State visits Purdue on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. The Lions own a 16-1-1 lead in the all-time series, including last year’s 43-6 victory on Jan. 19, 2018, in Rec Hall. Penn State then heads to Indiana for a dual against the Hoosiers on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Penn State is 19-0-1 all-time against IU, including last season’s 44-3 victory in Rec Hall on Jan. 17, 2018.

The Nittany Lions will host the Michigan Wolverines in the Bryce Jordan Center the next weekend on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, Feb. 1-3. The date and time of the dual will be announced at a later date per the Big Ten. The dual will be the 2019 BJC Dual and will take place in the near-16,000 seat venue. The Nittany Lions own a 31-24 edge in the all-time series with Michigan, including last year’s 25-12 win in Ann Arbor on Jan. 12, 2018. Penn State then visits Ohio State on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, Feb. 8-10. The date and time of the dual will be announced at a later date per the Big Ten. The Lions own a 20-12 lead in the all-time series, including a 19-18 victory in a raucous Rec Hall on Feb. 3 last year.

The Big Ten dual season comes to a close the following weekend. Penn State hosts Michigan State on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions have a 21-9 lead in the all-time series, including last season’s 48-3 victory in East Lansing on Jan. 14, 2018. The Lions then hit the road for a dual at Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central). The Lions trail the Illini 9-8 in the all-time series but have won six straight. Penn State will host Buffalo on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. in Rec Hall in the season finale, with the event serving as senior day for Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 4-0 all-time against the Bulls, including last season’s 55-0 shutout win in Rec Hall on Feb. 18, 2018.

The post-season begins in Minneapolis, Minn., with the 2019 Big Ten Championships. The two-day event, which serves as the national qualifier for the conference’s 14 teams, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10. Penn State will then look to win its eighth NCAA title in the last nine years at the 2019 NCAA Championships. This year’s event takes place on March 21-23, 2019, in Pittsburgh, Pa., at the PPG Paints Arena.

The Nittany Lions return a talented line-up which includes seven returning All-Americans, four of whom have won a combined NCAA titles, other talented starters and talented group of younger wrestlers looking to earn a spot in the Lion’s dual line-up. Sophomore Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) went 32-7 last season with five pins, seven techs and 12 majors. He earned All-America laurels at 141 with a fifth place finish as a true freshman. Senior Jason Nolf (Yatesboro, Pa.), a three-time NCAA finalist and the winner of the last two 157-pound titles, went 26-1 last season with the lone loss an injury forfeit setback in late January. Nolf is 86-3 all-time with 45 pins, 22 technical falls and 10 majors. Junior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.) is the two-time defending NCAA Champion at 165 pounds and returns after his 25-2 season from a year ago. Joseph is 47-6 all-time at Penn State with six pins, eight techs and 12 majors.

Junior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) is a two-time NCAA finalist at 174 pounds and returns after his 32-1 season last year. Hall is 63-4 all-time with 25 pins, ten techs and nine majors and won the 2017 NCAA crown. Senior Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas) is, like Nolf, a three-time NCAA finalist and has won the last two NCAA titles at 184. Nickal was a perfect 31-0 mark. He heads into this year with a 90-3 career record, including 41 pins, nine techs and 17 majors. Senior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) was an All-American at 197 last season, going 24-5 overall and capping the season off with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships. Rasheed is 46-13 as a Lion with 20 pins, three techs and 11 majors. Senior Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) earned his second All-America honor last year with a seventh place finish at 285. Nevills went 30-7 a year ago and is 61-15 all-time at Penn State with 14 pins, four techs and 10 majors. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.) returns after a 16-2 run at 197 a year ago. Cassar went 8-1 in duals, including a 5-0 record in Big Ten dual meets. Cassar had five majors a year ago as well.

With season tickets anticipated to sell out once again, new fans are encouraged to call 1-800-NITTANY to have their names placed on a waiting list. If fans have previously been on the Waiting List, no action is necessary. The renewal process for season tickets will begin with renewal notices on Sept. 18.

Should any season tickets become available after the renewal period ends, individuals on the waiting list are ranked by Nittany Lion Club priority points and will be contacted in descending order. Season ticket renewals will be live at www.GoPSUsports.com/accountmanager on Tues., Sept. 18, along with information for the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland and additional BJC Dual single match tickets for season ticket holders. Each of the above items is available for patrons renewing season tickets only. Season ticket holders will receive email confirmation of the renewal date on Sept. 18 and hard-copy invoices will be mailed the week of Sept. 18 as well. The season ticket renewal deadline is set for Monday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. Online ticket management will open for transfer and resale on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Standing room only single event tickets for Penn State’s seven Rec Hall duals and single event tickets for February’s BJC Dual against Michigan will go on sale to Nittany Lion Club members on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. Season ticket holders may purchase Rec Hall SROs on Oct. 16 as well. The general public will be able to purchase Rec Hall SROs and BJC Dual singles on Thursday, Oct. 18., at 10 a.m. Season tickets will be mailed the week of October 23. The 2018-19 wrestling schedule’s dates and times are subject to change.



2018-19 SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER

Sun. 11 KENT STATE 2 p.m.

Sun. 18 at Keystone Classic, Philadelphia, Pa. All Day

Fri. 30 at Bucknell 7 p.m.

DECEMBER

Sun. 2 LEHIGH 2 p.m.

Fri. 14 ARIZONA STATE 7 p.m.

JANUARY

Tu.-Wed. 1-2 Southern Scuffle (Chattanooga, Tenn.) All Day

Fri. 11 at Northwestern* 8 p.m.

Sun. 13 WISCONSIN* 1 p.m.

Sun. 20 NEBRASKA* 1 p.m.

Fri. 25 at Purdue* 7 p.m.

Sun. 27 at Indiana* 2 p.m.

FEBRUARY

Fri.-Sun. 1-3 MICHIGAN* (date/time tba) TBA

Fri.-Sun. 8-10 at Ohio State* (date/time tba) TBA

Fri. 15 MICHIGAN STATE* 7 p.m.

Sun. 17 at Illinois* 2 p.m.

Sun. 24 BUFFALO 2 p.m.

MARCH

Sat.-Sun. 9-10 Big Ten Championships (Minneapolis, Minn.) TBA

Sat. 9 Session 1 -- Opening Round

Sat. 9 Session 2 -- Semifinals

Sun. 10 Session 3 -- Conso/Places/Championships

Thur.-Sat. 21-23 NCAA Championships (Pittsburgh, Pa.) TBA

Thur. 21 Session 1 -- 1st Round

Thur. 21 Session 2 -- 2nd Round/Consolations

Fri. 22 Session 3 -- Quarterfinals/Consolations

Fri. 22 Session 4 -- Semifinals/All-America Round

Sat. 23 Session 5 -- Medal Rounds

Sat. 23 Session 6 -- Championship Finals


* Big Ten Dual

All Dates and Times Subject to Change -- All Times EASTERN
 
12/14 is circled on my calendar! I'm hoping Mark is hyped!

I am also disappointed there is no Rutgers on the schedule. Outside of Iowa and tOSU, I wanted to wrestle Rutgers the most.
 
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Guess those Michigan tickets in my account *were* a sign of things coming soon. Season ticket renewals tomorrow! :D
 
Bo vs Conel first match of the season!
While excited for the match. I hate to have to see either of them take a loss. Conel quickly became my favorite non lion wrestler when he took out Moore not once but twice. I was sitting in the middle between Buckeye fans and Iowa fans. Talk about a kid getting hot and wrestling out of his mind for 2 days! One of the great feel good stories of the tournament. Unless of course you are a Buckeye....:D:D
 
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Thanks. That is actually a pretty decent home schedule. A lot of good individual matches, starting with Bo vs Conel as has been pointed out.
 
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Best part is that are very few conflicts with Lehigh's home schedule (particularly the big 3 of ASU, Cornell and VaTech), so I can do both team's season tickets this season.

Speaking of which, Lehigh's pre-break/break schedule is brutal! At Michigan, who will be looking to avenge last season's drubbing at the hands of Lehigh; at PSU; at Iowa; and Missouri, North Carolina, Minnesota and Virginia at the South Beach duals. Add to that the 3 home matches listed above and at OSU in the second half of the season and Lehigh has one of the toughest schedules in the country.
 
Best part is that are very few conflicts with Lehigh's home schedule (particularly the big 3 of ASU, Cornell and VaTech), so I can do both team's season tickets this season.

Speaking of which, Lehigh's pre-break/break schedule is brutal! At Michigan, who will be looking to avenge last season's drubbing at the hands of Lehigh; at PSU; at Iowa; and Missouri, North Carolina, Minnesota and Virginia at the South Beach duals. Add to that the 3 home matches listed above and at OSU in the second half of the season and Lehigh has one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Matter, for events at Grace Hall, how is access to the venue and parking? I've only been to Stabler Arena. Lehigh is so close, that as long as parking and access are not an issue, I'd go see a few duals a year.
 
Matter, for events at Grace Hall, how is access to the venue and parking? I've only been to Stabler Arena. Lehigh is so close, that as long as parking and access are not an issue, I'd go see a few duals a year.

It's not bad. On Saturdays and Sundays even easier because lots along Packer Avenue are available to the public. But I've never had an issue with street parking along or near Packer and it's a 5 minute walk to Grace from there (east on Packer to Taylor and then up the hill to Grace). Worst case is the Alumni parking pavilion further west on the campus, but even that is probably a 10 minute walk across campus (if a bit convoluted) from Grace. If you don't feel like walking the hills or negotiating the winding walking paths, there is a shuttle service from the Alumni parking pavilion. Or you can make it an easier to negotiate walk by walking north from the parking to Packer and heading east to Taylor and then up the hill.
 
12/14 is circled on my calendar! I'm hoping Mark is hyped!

I am also disappointed there is no Rutgers on the schedule. Outside of Iowa and tOSU, I wanted to wrestle Rutgers the most.
What a great birthday present to me............ ASU @ home. Birthdays don't mean much anymore to me But, this one will. Cool !!
 
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Just purchased Bucknell tickets. $20/each. Great opportunity to see the Lions in an extra (home-ish) dual this year.
 
Anyone know who will be at the Southern Scuffle? Could not find a team list, but looked at a few schedules.

Oklahoma State and Iowa State appear to be attending,

Some of the "bigger" schools that have attended in the past, however, are not attending -- Lehigh, Cornell, Missouri, Minnesota, UNC, Virginia, No. Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska will not be there.
 
Anyone know who will be at the Southern Scuffle? Could not find a team list, but looked at a few schedules.

Oklahoma State and Iowa State appear to be attending,

Some of the "bigger" schools that have attended in the past, however, are not attending -- Lehigh, Cornell, Missouri, Minnesota, UNC, Virginia, No. Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska will not be there.

What I've seen so far: Ok State, Air Force, Bakersfield State, Drexel, App State, Edinboro, Iowa State, Lock Haven
 
I love seeing ASU on the schedule with the potential for round 3 of Hall v. Valencia. The conference schedule on the other hand is honestly pretty disappointing. NW, IU, PU, and MSU should all come with a disclaimer "not safe for some young viewers." It sure would have been nice to have Iowa pay us back with an OOC Home Date this year...
 
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Have not attended PSU wrestling since I was a student a long time ago, just bought tics for Bucknell. Guessing the blue and orange is going to be pretty overwhelmed!
 
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I love seeing ASU on the schedule with the potential for round 3 of Hall v. Valencia. The conference schedule on the other hand is honestly pretty disappointing. NW, IU, PU, and MSU should all come with a disclaimer "not safe for some young viewers." It sure would have been nice to have Iowa pay us back with an OOC Home Date this year...

I know PSU traveled to Iowa for the OOC dual on Dec 21, 2013 (thus, back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 seasons), but do you recall why Iowa wrestled at PSU back-to-back in 2011 and 2012? Curious since I have seen a few PSU folks mention that Iowa owes PSU a home match. Anyway, since 2008, the matches between Iowa and PSU have been:

08: @Iowa
09: @PSU
10: @Iowa
11: @PSU
12: @PSU
13: @Iowa
14: @Iowa
15: @PSU
16: DNW
17: @Iowa
18: @PSU
19: Not scheduled
 
Have not attended PSU wrestling since I was a student a long time ago, just bought tics for Bucknell. Guessing the blue and orange is going to be pretty overwhelmed!

That night is one of two conflicts between PSU's and Lehigh's schedules. Lehigh has Princeton Nov. 30. Given the expected level of competition, I think I will save myself 4+ hours of driving and go to the Lehigh/Princeton match. Feb. 24 is other one, but it's tough to pass on saying farewell to the 3N's and Shakur.
 
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I know PSU traveled to Iowa for the OOC dual on Dec 21, 2013 (thus, back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 seasons), but do you recall why Iowa wrestled at PSU back-to-back in 2011 and 2012? Curious since I have seen a few PSU folks mention that Iowa owes PSU a home match. Anyway, since 2008, the matches between Iowa and PSU have been:

08: @Iowa
09: @PSU
10: @Iowa
11: @PSU
12: @PSU
13: @Iowa
14: @Iowa
15: @PSU
16: DNW
17: @Iowa
18: @PSU
19: Not scheduled
The Big10 provides the Big10 schedule as well as the "who is home when" detail.

The 15-16 season was the first without a PSU Iowa match since the 81-82 (the last time they had not wrestled) season. During that stretch with the 2011 and 2012 seasons being the exception the schools had alternated home and away. At no point did either school have a home meet advantage of more than 1.
The 2011 2012 blip was almost certainly due to a schedule redo with the July 1, 2011 addition of Nebraska to the Big10.

At the end of the entire conversation Penn State traveled to Iowa City for a non Big10 dual in 2013 and even a simpleton should be able to understand the next out-of-conference meet should be in State College.

The previous 2 cycles have seen the match not scheduled primarily because Brands has refused to travel to Penn State.
 
During that stretch with the 2011 and 2012 seasons being the exception the schools had alternated home and away. At no point did either school have a home meet advantage of more than 1.

Exactly. The series is even for home/away at this point. If Penn State travels to Iowa for a non-conference match, Iowa would have a home meet advantage of 2 (because next year's match is at Iowa) after next season's match.

So the logical thing to do is have Iowa come to Penn State for this proposed non-conference match to keep things even or close thereto.
 
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The Big10 provides the Big10 schedule as well as the "who is home when" detail.

The 15-16 season was the first without a PSU Iowa match since the 81-82 (the last time they had not wrestled) season. During that stretch with the 2011 and 2012 seasons being the exception the schools had alternated home and away. At no point did either school have a home meet advantage of more than 1.
The 2011 2012 blip was almost certainly due to a schedule redo with the July 1, 2011 addition of Nebraska to the Big10.

At the end of the entire conversation Penn State traveled to Iowa City for a non Big10 dual in 2013 and even a simpleton should be able to understand the next out-of-conference meet should be in State College.

The previous 2 cycles have seen the match not scheduled primarily because Brands has refused to travel to Penn State.

I know guys like the brands IRL and they dont go looking for an @ss kicking either.

Why come to PSU, where the wrestling world would make it the "super match" or next "match of the century....only to get your @ss kicked...because...this is Penn State its what we do.

#donttugonsupermanscape
#dontspitintothewind
#dontcometoHVwithaninferiorteam
 
I hope Iowa waits to schedule that non-con until they are ready.
 
I know PSU traveled to Iowa for the OOC dual on Dec 21, 2013 (thus, back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 seasons), but do you recall why Iowa wrestled at PSU back-to-back in 2011 and 2012? Curious since I have seen a few PSU folks mention that Iowa owes PSU a home match. Anyway, since 2008, the matches between Iowa and PSU have been:

08: @Iowa
09: @PSU
10: @Iowa
11: @PSU
12: @PSU
13: @Iowa
14: @Iowa
15: @PSU
16: DNW
17: @Iowa
18: @PSU
19: Not scheduled
Both are free on 12/21 this year. Make it happen.
 
I know guys like the brands IRL and they dont go looking for an @ss kicking either.

Why come to PSU, where the wrestling world would make it the "super match" or next "match of the century....only to get your @ss kicked...because...this is Penn State its what we do.

#donttugonsupermanscape
#dontspitintothewind
#dontcometoHVwithaninferiorteam
Brands doesn't spend enough time reading the Hawks message board. There is enough confidence on there to warrant a trip to Happy Valley.
 
Brands doesn't spend enough time reading the Hawks message board. There is enough confidence on there to warrant a trip to Happy Valley.


Be careful the ebb and flow of HR is part arch vilan two face and part multiple personality disorder. The acquisition of Spencer has been a bit of a tonic, but early last year many many HR respondents sang the blues deeply depressed they will never be able to catch Penn State, the Brands can't recruit, slush fund, yadda yadda. Even callato move on from the Brands bros.

Less than a year later - throw in a little Lee, a sprinkling of some transfers Desanto, Renteria, a pound of Cassi and top it off with a Warner, let it sit a at room temperature for a few months and they are convinced they have baked a national championship cake this year, with open discussions that they now out-recruit us.

I am amazed at the pace and quality of the total makeover but the pendulum is swinging wildly on their side from far too negative to far too positive right now.

All that said it certainly does appear Brands has punted twice now, both times avoiding a whippin'. There are names for folks who talk big but only challenge when the odds are stacked on your favor. I am disappointed the Hawks choose to punt this year, if they wanted it to happen it could have.
 
There are more obstacles than finding a mutual open date. There needs to be an open venue at Rec Hall or the BJC for one to coincide with the open date.

As much as I would like to see this match I'm not so quick to say it is simply a case of Brands just will not.
 
Be careful the ebb and flow of HR is part arch vilan two face and part multiple personality disorder. The acquisition of Spencer has been a bit of a tonic, but early last year many many HR respondents sang the blues deeply depressed they will never be able to catch Penn State, the Brands can't recruit, slush fund, yadda yadda. Even callato move on from the Brands bros.

Less than a year later - throw in a little Lee, a sprinkling of some transfers Desanto, Renteria, a pound of Cassi and top it off with a Warner, let it sit a at room temperature for a few months and they are convinced they have baked a national championship cake this year, with open discussions that they now out-recruit us.

I am amazed at the pace and quality of the total makeover but the pendulum is swinging wildly on their side from far too negative to far too positive right now.

All that said it certainly does appear Brands has punted twice now, both times avoiding a whippin'. There are names for folks who talk big but only challenge when the odds are stacked on your favor. I am disappointed the Hawks choose to punt this year, if they wanted it to happen it could have.
Their home schedule is weak this year, if they had made the trip a few years ago PSU would be on their home schedule this year.

With pre apologies to the two OSUs (Cowboys and Buckeyes) it seems really silly to me the two most prominent wrestling programs don't lace'em up every year. Especially considering they belong to the same conference, and one head coach full heartedly believes Penn State and Iowa should wrestle every year and the other coach supposedly believes that also.
 
There are more obstacles than finding a mutual open date. There needs to be an open venue at Rec Hall or the BJC for one to coincide with the open date.

As much as I would like to see this match I'm not so quick to say it is simply a case of Brands just will not.
You do not have to be quick to say it, but I will. The only reason they did not wrestle 3 seasons ago, and will not again this season is a failure to agree to where the match should be held, State College or Iowa City.
 
There are more obstacles than finding a mutual open date. There needs to be an open venue at Rec Hall or the BJC for one to coincide with the open date.

As much as I would like to see this match I'm not so quick to say it is simply a case of Brands just will not.
They can make it happen if they want it to happen. Wrestle at a neutral site and grow the sport.
 
They can make it happen if they want it to happen. Wrestle at a neutral site and grow the sport.
Columbus Ohio Nationwide Arena. Capacity 20,000. Ticket sells through Penn State and Iowa ticket offices with priority to the season ticket holders from each school. Set an indoor attendance record and listen to Ryan whine about not the way they would have handled that dealt hand in a positive to infinity manner.
 
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