University Park, Pa. — A traditional college football rivalry will resume in 2013 when Penn State and Syracuse will clash at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley, Syracuse Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross and CEO of New Meadowlands Stadium Company Mark Lamping announced today that the New Meadowlands Stadium will host the Nittany Lions and Orange on Aug. 31, 2013 in the first of a three-game series.
The long-time rivals also are working to finalize an agreement to play in 2020 and 2021. Syracuse will play at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 19, 2020 and the Nittany Lions will visit the Orange on Sept. 18, 2021.
"We are thrilled about the opportunity to play Syracuse at the New Meadowlands Stadium to open the 2013 season," Curley said. "I was very impressed when I visited the complex earlier this year and it will quickly be recognized as one of the nation’s premier sports facilities. We have had a long relationship with Syracuse and the Meadowlands and are excited about playing the Orange and returning to the site of many memorable Penn State games. This game will provide a great opportunity for some of our players to play close to home and for our fans and the 40,000 Penn State alumni in metropolitan New York City to see the Nittany Lions play in person."
Penn State and Syracuse have met 70 times previously, the second-highest total for a Nittany Lion opponent. Penn State owns a 42-23-5 series advantage, winning contests during the 2008 and ’09 seasons in the first meetings since 1990. The teams met every season from 1944-90.
Penn State has an 8-3 record in games played at the Meadowlands, with the last contest coming against Southern California in the 2000 Kickoff Classic. Starting with a 1979 game vs. the Orange, the Nittany Lions also have played Nebraska, Texas, Rutgers, Georgia Tech and Temple at the Meadowlands.
Penn State will clash with Alabama this season and in 2011. The Nittany Lions will play Virginia in 2012 and ’13 and Rutgers in 2014 and ’15. During the past decade, Penn State has had non-conference series with Miami (Fla.), Nebraska, Virginia, Boston College and Notre Dame, in addition to Syracuse.
"The Meadowlands has long sustained a rich history with college football, and we look forward to welcoming Syracuse and Penn State – two powerhouse programs -and their respective fans to the new Stadium in 2013," Lamping said. "This longstanding match-up comes highly anticipated, and we expect a memorable game that will only add to our growing tradition."
The New Meadowlands Stadium sets the standard for venue excellence, with state-of-the-art technology, comfort and amenities. With a full seating capacity of 82,500 the New Meadowlands Stadium is the third-largest stadium in the National Football League. Highlights include four massive 30′ X 118′ HD video display boards in each of the stadium corners; a 48" X 1810′ ribbon board that circles the interior bowl; more than 2,100 HD Monitors throughout the stadium; and 20 HD video pylons ranging in size from 20′ X 40′ to 20′ X 60′.
Outside the stadium, a 350,000-square-foot outdoor plaza will boast fan-centric activities and pregame entertainment zones. The new stadium will have numerous restaurants, wider concourses and more HD square footage than any other stadium in North America. A signature amenity of the stadium is the brand new rail line that drops off passengers directly in front of the stadium.
For more information about the new stadium, visit www.NewMeadowlandsStadium.com.
Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation’s No. 7 winning percentage over that span, winning four of their past five bowl games under Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions return 36 letterwinners for the 2010 season, including 13 starters (7 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 10 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium and visits 2009 national champion Alabama on Sept. 11 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN).