Amid Winterization Concerns, Penn State Would Play at Beaver Stadium if Higher Seed in New Playoff Format, Kraft Says

According to Penn State Director of Athletics Patrick Kraft, the Nittany Lions would play at Beaver Stadium no matter what if Penn State were to be the home team in the upcoming NCAA Playoff format.

The playoff field is scheduled to expand to 12 teams in 2024 and include on-campus competition, but the higher seeded team is not required to host at their home stadium. As it pertains to Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions’ home field is winterized not long after the conclusion of the home schedule to prevent pipes and other related infrastructure from breaking or becoming damaged in the cold weather. As a matter of example, the winterization has long been a challenge when it comes to the possibility of Penn State host the NHL’s Winter Classic series.

“The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded Nos. 1 through 4 and will receive a first-round bye. The other eight CFP teams would play in the first round (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7, No. 9 at No. 8) held at the higher seed on a campus site or another location selected by the higher seed.

“Make no bones about it, if we were to play a playoff game in three weeks, we would play a playoff game in here,” Kraft said during Penn State’s Rose Bowl media day at Beaver Stadium. “I don’t care what it would take. We would go flush the toilets and keep the water running for a month before. We’re going to play a football game in here.”

Kraft did not indicate any potential sites away from campus if Penn State were to host a playoff game somewhere other than Beaver Stadium. The ongoing NFL season complicates the fairly straightforward options of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia with similar issues in the surrounding New Jersey and New York areas flush with Penn State alumni.

In either case, Penn State’s ongoing future planning for Beaver Stadium does include some immediate areas of need, both for expanding the potential usage of Beaver Stadium beyond just football events.

“I do think there is a piece to that – that’s a reality that is coming, and it’s coming fast,” Kraft said of the playoffs and the general need for certain upgrades and renovations at Beaver Stadium. “I also think the work that would be done on Beaver Stadium allows us to use — we can use it more throughout the year as well. I think it’s not just solely football, but we’ve got to also find ways to help enhance the building and keep the life of the building. Our team is really working on how we can maximize Beaver Stadium more than seven days. So all of those things would play into any sort of renovation.”