Penn State Football Headed to Outback Bowl, Will Face No. 21 Arkansas

Penn State will face No. 21 Arkansas in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, it was announced on Sunday afternoon.

It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Arkansas (8-4) marks the seventh ranked team Penn State (7-5) has faced this season. The Nittany Lions have won two games against ranked teams this season, defeating then-No. 12 Wisconsin in the season-opener and No. 22 Auburn in the third week of the season.

Penn State has since fallen to No. 3, No. 5, No. 6 and No. 12 over the course of the regular season.

The game will be Penn State’s fourth appearance in the Outback Bowl and first since 2011, when the Nittany Lions lost 37-24 to Florida. Penn State previously played in the bowl in 2007 (a 20-10 win over Tennessee) and 1996 (a 43-14 win over Auburn).

“I am immensely proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for the hard work they have put into the preparations and execution of this season,” said Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour in a press release. “This bowl is a great opportunity for our football family to be together one final time, while also representing our great University on a national stage. Tampa Bay is a tremendous location for our Penn State community to gather and support our student-athletes and program. Our deepest thanks to the Outback Bowl Committee and the Tampa Bay community for the invitation and eagerness to make this bowl experience top notch for our team. We are excited to see our Penn State family descend on Tampa Bay and passionately represent the Nittany Lions.”

“We are excited for our upcoming trip to Tampa Bay and to have the opportunity to represent Penn State in the Outback Bowl,” Nittany Lion coach James Franklin added. “I am thrilled for our guys to have one more month together as a family to prepare for Arkansas. Tampa Bay is a great destination for our loyal fan base, and we know they will be there in full force to help send this special group of seniors off on a high note. Thank you to the Outback Bowl Committee for this opportunity.”

Franklin is scheduled to speak to the media at about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Arkansas is 8-4 on the year with wins over four ranked teams, the highest being then-No. 7 Texas A&M while also taking No. 1 Alabama to the wire in a 42-35 loss on the road.

Arkansas is coached by Sam Pittman, who is in his second year with the Razorbacks.

OUTBACK BOWL GAME TICKET SALE TIMELINE

• Eligible Nittany Lion Club Members and Football Season Ticket Holders – online pre-sale requests are now available and run through Monday, Dec. 6 at 11:59 p.m.
• Student Nittany Lion Club – online pre-sale runs Monday, Dec. 6 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Penn State Students – online sale begins Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., pending availability.
• Alumni Association Members – online pre-sale requests run Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. – 11:59 p.m., pending availability.
• General Public – sale begins Thursday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m., pending availability.