STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 16, 2003 - For the second consecutive year, Penn State and Nebraska will collide in a primetime clash on ABC Sports, one of four kickoff times announced today for the 2003 Nittany Lion football season.

Penn State's September 13 contest at Nebraska will kick off at 8:00 p.m. EDT; 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and will be a split national telecast with Illinois at UCLA. Last season, the Nittany Lions thumped the Cornhuskers, 40-7, before an ABC split national audience and a Beaver Stadium record 110,753 fans.

Times also have been set for the August 30 season opener with Temple, the Sept. 6 renewal of the rivalry with Boston College and the October 4 Homecoming game with Wisconsin.

The Temple game will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium and be televised by ESPN+ on a syndicated basis. The list of stations carrying the contest will be announced closer to the start of the season. The Lions and Owls will be meeting for the first time since 1997, with Penn State holding a 30-3-1 series lead.

On Sept. 6, Boston College will travel to Happy Valley for the first meeting between the old rivals since 1992. ABC will televise the game to a regional audience at 12:00 p.m. The Lions lead the series, 19-2, but the Eagles won the last contest, 35-32. Penn State will visit BC on Sept. 11, 2004.

The following week, Penn State visits Nebraska for the first time since 1981. The Nittany Lions lead the series between the national powers, 7-5.

Wisconsin provides the opposition for Penn State's 84th Homecoming game on Oct. 4. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. The Nittany Lions won, 34-31, last year in Madison, but the Badgers lead the series, 5-3.

Penn State has appeared on television in 104 of its last 105 games, including the last 70 contests.

Future Penn State contests may be selected by the networks under the six and 12-day provisions of their contracts with the Big Ten.

Coach Joe Paterno's squad returns 35 lettermen and 12 starters for the upcoming season.

2003 Penn State Football Schedule

 Date Opponent Time
 August 30 Temple (ESPN+) 3:30 p.m.
 September 6 Boston College (ABC) 12:00 p.m.
 September 13 at Nebraska (ABC) 8:00 p.m.
 September 20 Kent State TBA
 September 27 *Minnesota TBA 
 October 4 *Wisconsin (TV TBA) 12:00 p.m.
 October 11 *at Purdue TBA
 October 25 *at Iowa TBA
 November 1 *Ohio State TBA
 November 8 *at Northwestern TBA
 November 15 *Indiana TBA
 November 22 *at Michigan State TBA

 * Big Ten Conference game. Times are Eastern.