SportsQuest
All games

Week 6, Sat, Oct 10, 7:30 PM local on NBC

USC Trojansat Penn State Nittany Lions

Beaver Stadium, University Park. Fly into PIT.

Build the quest

The matchup

On NBC

#18USC

4-1

Penn State

3-2

34% to winESPN's model66% to win
Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

USC is ranked 18th in the AP poll.

Penn State has won 3 of its last 5.

USC has won 4 of its last 5.

ESPN's model

ESPN's model gives Penn State a 66 percent chance at home.

USC

W42-26 vs SJSUW39-0 vs FRESW49-30 vs ULW42-35 @ RUTGL41-27 vs ORE
  • Passing YardsJ. Maiava, 110/157, 1,499 YDS, 14 TD, 2 INT
  • Rushing YardsK. Miller, 77 CAR, 412 YDS, 3 TD
  • Receiving YardsK. Dixon-Wyatt, 25 REC, 372 YDS, 3 TD

Penn State

W45-0 vs MRSHW27-9 @ TEMW55-13 vs BUFFL24-20 vs WISL34-13 @ NU
  • Passing YardsR. Becht, 57/93, 865 YDS, 9 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing YardsJ. Peoples, 37 CAR, 199 YDS, 2 TD
  • Receiving YardsK. Howard, 12 REC, 344 YDS, 2 TD

Win chances come from ESPN's model.

What we know about Beaver Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Downtown State College. Free CATA Blue or White Loop. Hotels, garages, bars and the Corner Room, with fare-free game-day loops to the Bryce Jordan Center beside the stadium.
  • South Atherton Street. CATA South Atherton Shuttle, $2.50 one way. Chain hotels with a game-day shuttle straight to the stadium.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Downtown State College along College Avenue, Allen Street and Beaver Avenue, with free CATA game-day loops to the stadium.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
SCE State College Regional Airport, just north of State College, with flights from Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles, Philadelphia and, from October 2026, Charlotte.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
CATA Blue Loop and White Loop. Bryce Jordan Center, next to Beaver Stadium. CATA South Atherton Shuttle to Beaver Stadium. Rideshare. Pegula Ice Arena or North Transit Station.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Lots open at 7 AM for noon kickoffs and 8 AM for all other kickoffs. You can't set up before your lot opens. Keep everything inside your 8.5 by 15 foot space. Tents and canopies up to 10 by 10 feet. No charcoal or wood fires and no kegs. No drinking in the lots while the game is on. RV lots open Thursday 6 PM to midnight, Friday 6 AM to midnight, and Saturday from 7 or 8 AM. RVs must leave by noon Sunday. Visitors without a pass can buy day-of parking at Lots 25 and 36, credit card only, at a price that varies by game. Advance single-game passes start at $90. Penn State sells hosted tailgate setups through REVELxp.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a clutch up to 5 x 8 x 1 inches. Medical, diaper and dietary bags are exempt from the size limit.
  • Cashless: Parking garages, the ticket office, merchandise and most concessions are cashless.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
The Penn State All-Sports Museum is in the stadium; its entrance doubles as the accessible gate near Gate B.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
One-way traffic patterns start 2.5 hours before kickoff. CATA game-day shuttles run until 1 hour after the game, and the free Blue and White Loops keep running after that to downtown hotels and garages.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't set up your tailgate before your lot opens, and don't bring a keg or a charcoal fire: both are banned. Day-of parking takes credit cards only.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Champs Sports Grill

    139 S Allen St., State College, PA

    Downtown sports bar that carries every major sports package and shows Penn State football, basketball and hockey.

    Away fans: sports bar with screens everywhere; the place to catch the other games of the day.

  • The Corner Room

    100 W College Ave, State College, PA 16801

    On this corner since 1855, first as a stage stop and then Hotel State College. A good game-morning breakfast.

    Away fans: a town landmark where everyone eats; friendly to visitors.

  • The Phyrst

    111 East Beaver Avenue, State College, PA 16801

    Live music every night of the year since 1966, with cheap drafts, shots and bombs.

    Away fans: post-game live music bar; mostly students and alumni.

Sidequests in University Park

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Photo40 points

    Old Main and its clock tower

    Penn State's first building, rebuilt in 1930 with stone from the 1863 original. Inside are Henry Varnum Poor's land-grant frescoes.

    Free. The day before

  2. Eat75 points

    A cone at the Berkey Creamery

    The largest university creamery in the US sits near Beaver Stadium. It sells 750,000 cones a year, so try Peachy Paterno. Don't ask them to mix flavors.

    $. The day before

  3. Tailgate100 points

    Tailgate in the Beaver Stadium lots

    Lots open at 7 AM for noon games, 8 AM otherwise, around a stadium that holds 106,304. Keep your setup inside your 8.5 by 15 foot space.

    $$. 4 hours before kickoff

  4. Outing65 points

    Hike Mount Nittany

    This mountain gave the Nittany Lions their name. Take the White Trail, the easiest route to the top.

    Free. The day before

Seats and views

Where each part of Beaver Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Lower level, end zoneLower level, corner, home sideLower level, home sidelineLower level, corner, home sideLower level, end zoneLower level, corner, visitor sideLower level, visitor sidelineLower level, corner, visitor sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, home sideUpper level, home sidelineUpper level, corner, home sideUpper level, end zoneUpper level, corner, visitor sideUpper level, visitor sidelineUpper level, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Lower levelLettered sections EA to EJUpper levelSections ending in U: EAU to EHU, WCU to WJU, NEU to NLU, SBU to SKUTap any part of the stadium to see its view.