Penn State Football: A Future Trip to Ireland? O’Brien Says It’s ‘Definitely in the Works’

It is no secret Penn State has been trying for some time to schedule a destination game in the nonconference season to offset a four-year bowl ban.

Ireland would certainly suffice, and it’s definitely on Penn State’s radar.

Seriously.

Coach Bill O’Brien told reporters as much Saturday night before speaking at a high school football banquet.

“We are definitely looking into playing in Ireland, no question about it,” O’Brien told reporters in Hershey on Saturday night. “We’re working on an opponent and we’re working with the Big Ten on that. So that’s something that’s definitely in the works.”

The NCAA sanctions prohibit the Nittany Lions from playing in the postseason until the 2016 season, but Penn State has been proactive in shaking up its schedule.

The university recently agreed to a matchup with Central Florida next season, replacing the Sept. 14 game against Virginia at Beaver Stadium. The two sides are discussing a return trip to Orlando in either the 2014 or 2015 season.

A trip to Florida would be nice.

But a trip to Ireland would be unprecedented for Nittany Nation.