For first-year head coach Matt Campbell’s Penn State football team, the second time inside Beaver Stadium this spring will be the charm. At least when it comes to Nittany Lion fans.
Penn State has already had one practice in Beaver Stadium. That was last Saturday — even as renovations continue — but this Saturday will be a much bigger deal. With a much bigger crowd, for what is being billed as the Blue-White Practice.
“We got into the stadium last week, which was huge,” Campbell said on Tuesday, in his final meet-the-press function until post-practice on Saturday. “And to be honest with you, you go in there, you see the construction, and you get a lot of guys that have never been in that stadium before.
“We were able to get in a really great practice. A lot of that practice had some driving team situations. Last Saturday, there were a lot of big eyes walking into that stadium and how powerful it feels to walk in there.”
That feeling this Saturday will be magnified by 120,000 eyes or so, as the Nittany Lions’ 15th and final practice of the spring will be open to the public. And it will be a practice. There will be stretching, drill work and then some 7-on-7 passing drills. But no live tackling. As Allen Iverson said, we’re talking ’bout practice.
With a roster that features dozens of players who were not at Penn State last season — which ended with a four-game winning streak to salvage a 7-6 record — as well as a mostly-new coaching staff (at least new to PSU), Campbell said he sees Saturday as a work day for his Nittany Lions.
“I think one of the neat things for our kids this time around is you’re going to get to experience what this fan base feels like and how special this place really is,” Campbell said. “And I think the opportunity to do that with our fan base this weekend, we can’t waste a great practice.
“I think these are critical reps for our football team. So I kind of see the first 20-25 minutes like what a normal practice would look like. A team stretch. And then, obviously, get ourselves a little bit of individual [work], inside run, a little bit of 7-on-7. But then the bulk load of the rest of the day will be driving” downfield.
ROCCO READY TO ROLL: Fans will get their first live glance of quarterback Rocco Becht — something that not even Campbell might have expected when he took the Penn State job in early December.
After Campbell, Becht will be the face of the 2026 Nittany Lions. At Iowa State, Becht started 39 consecutive games for Campbell and the Cyclones, making him the most experienced starting QB in all of major college football heading into the fall. Becht had offseason surgery to repair the labrum on his left (non-passing) shoulder. He also had a right shoulder sprain in 2025. Becht has been passing in non-contact drills throughout the spring, and he will continue to do so on Saturday.
“I think it’s really important that he’s made really great strides to being back,” Campbell said. “The biggest thing that’s been a positive is Rocco getting healthy.
“You’ll see him on Saturday with 7-on-7. That’s why you’ll get some 7-on-7 drives, because I want him to throw the football in the stadium with obviously our fans and everybody else out there.”
WEATHER OR NOT: According to AccuWeather, Saturday will be “cooler with occasional rain and drizzle. Rain gear will come in handy for the Blue-White Practice.” The expected high is 58 degrees, with 99% cloud cover, with winds gusting up to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 99% in the morning and 60% in the afternoon.
TEAM ARRIVAL: The traditional team arrival outside the south end tunnel zone will kick things off at 10:45 a.m. Gates A, B, C and E will be open at 11 a.m. Admission is free.
AUTOGRAPHS: A free pregame autograph session with the football team will be available to all fans on the concourse of the stadium, from 11 a.m. to noon. Fans are permitted to bring one item to be signed (in addition to a complimentary autograph poster), provided those items fit within a 12-inch x 6-inch x 12inch or smaller clear bag. Position groups will be located at the following locations:
Gate A — running backs, offensive linemen
Gate B — quarterbacks, receivers, special teams
Under SE — linebackers, defensive linemen
Under SF — tight ends, defensive backs
PARKING: Fans who had 2025 football season parking were sent a parking pass by Penn State for Blue-White as part of their 2025 season package. For fans who need to purchase a pass, they will be available on game day for $20 in the general lots and $30 in a preferred lot. No one-way traffic pattern will be in effect.
