Updated Jan. 22, 2025.
Penn State has a new opponent on its 2027 schedule.
According to a release from Delaware, the two programs “mutually agreed to cancel” a game slated for Sept. 11, 2027, leaving a hole in the Nittany Lions’ nonconference slate. Instead, Penn State will face Maine, according to a report by Matt Fortuna, while the Blue Hens will instead face another Big Ten team in Illinois.
The Fighting Blue Hens were an FCS program when the matchup was originally scheduled but have since elevated to the FBS level. Now, the Nittany Lions will once again play an FCS school in 2027 against the Black Bears, the first ever meeting between the schools.
Penn State and Delaware met for the first time in 2023, a 63-7 Penn State win, but the rematch is no longer happening and no future games are scheduled between the two schools. Per Fortuna, the Blue Hens will pay the difference in guarantee cost, indicating they initiated the change.
The Nittany Lions are scheduled to face Syracuse and Temple in nonconference play in 2027, meaning they’ll face one Power Four school, one Group of Five school and one FCS school. Their Big Ten slate includes road games at Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Purdue and Wisconsin and home games versus Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Washington.
