Penn State’s Halloween date with Purdue comes with a price tag that looks a lot more like a weekday lunch than a Big Ten game. With the season going the way it has, that kind of bargain isn’t shocking.
Fans trying to get into Beaver Stadium for the Penn State-Purdue matchup can find tickets starting at $11 on StubHub. Vivid Seats has them from $11 as well, while SeatGeek is listing seats at $9. For a game between two 3-4 teams on Halloween, demand is understandably thin.
Penn State’s struggles under Matt Campbell’s first year have been well documented, and Purdue’s own season includes two Big Ten wins. Still, the Boilermakers haven’t beaten Penn State since 2004, when Purdue picked up the second of back-to-back wins and the later one came in State College. That history would make a home loss hard to picture for plenty of Nittany Lions fans, but as the source puts it, nothing is off the table until the final buzzer sounds.
Penn State enters Oct. 31 off a schedule that has already produced plenty of drama. The Nittany Lions opened with wins over Marshall, Temple and Buffalo before dropping four straight to Wisconsin, Northwestern, USC and Michigan. Now Purdue comes next, followed by games at Washington and at Maryland, plus home dates with Minnesota and Rutgers.
Penn State football 2026 schedule
Sept. 5 vs. Marshall, W 45-0
Sept 12 at Temple, W, 27-9
Sept. 19 vs. Buffalo, W, 55-13
Sept. 26 vs. Wisconsin, L, 24-20
Oct. 2 at Northwestern, L, 34-13
Oct. 10 vs. USC, L, 31-23
Oct. 17 at Michigan, L, 21-18
Oct. 31 vs. Purdue
Nov. 7 at Washington
Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota
Nov. 21 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 28 at Maryland
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Depth Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Ohio States quarterback room looks a lot different than the one fans expected to see heading into the season, and the ripple effects are hard to ignore. With starter Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ryan Day is expected to turn to true freshman Luke Fahey in the backup role, a move that instantly shines a light on just how young and unproven the depth chart has become behind center.
Former coach Urban Meyer has already raised the question many around the program are asking, wondering why five-star prospect Tavien St. Clair is not in position to back up Sayin despite his obvious talent. It is the kind of quarterback situation that can feel manageable in September and suddenly become a real concern if the Buckeyes need answers in a hurry, especially with a room made up mostly of true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and a senior transfer who has limited starting experience. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Stays In The Spotlight As USC Trip Brings Bigger Concern
Ohio State remains squarely in the national conversation after the Week 8 US LBM Coaches Poll placed the Buckeyes at No. 2, just behind Miami and ahead of a reshuffled top five that includes Georgia moving up to No. 3. For a program carrying playoff expectations every week, the ranking is less of a surprise than a reminder of how little margin there is at the top, especially with Oregon sliding out of the mix after a loss.
The bigger immediate issue is the trip to USC, where Ohio State is still waiting on a starting quarterback announcement expected soon. The Buckeyes have plenty of attention coming their way no matter how the poll looks, but the quarterback decision adds another layer to a game that already feels like a test of where this team really stands as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Final Tune Up Brought A Big Reason For Optimism
Ohio States final preseason test in Columbus gave the Buckeyes a useful snapshot of where this roster can go, and a few familiar faces made the evening feel bigger than a typical tune-up. In an 82-73 win over Butler, the Buckeyes got strong contributions from several key players, with Amare Bynum leading the way with 23 points while John Mobley Jr., LJ Smith and Justin Pippen all played important roles in the buildup to the regular season.
The night also carried a healthy dose of program history. Jon Diebler was back around the team, and former head coach Thad Matta was honored at halftime, adding some extra weight to an exhibition that already felt like more than just a warmup. For Ohio State, the performance offered reasons to feel encouraged, even if the bigger questions about how this group will mesh are still waiting to be answered when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]