STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 23, 2004 - Penn State is set for at least two ESPN national telecasts during the 2004 football season with the announcement of two kickoff times for the upcoming campaign.

Among the highlights of today's announcement will be Penn State's October 9 Big Ten home opener against Purdue, which will kick off at 4:30 p.m. and air nationally on ESPN. The teams will be meeting in Beaver Stadium for the first time since the Nittany Lions captured an emotional 22-20 victory over the eventual Big Ten champions in 2000.

The time also been set for the Sept. 18 contest with the University of Central Florida in Beaver Stadium. The UCF game will start at 12:10 p.m. and will be an ESPN Plus regionally syndicated telecast. Stations and regional sports networks carrying the game are to be announced. The Golden Knights will be led by new coach George O'Leary. The two schools have met once before, with the Nittany Lions winning in the 2002 season opener in Happy Valley.

The Big Ten had previously announced that Penn State's Sept. 25 visit to Wisconsin will kick at 4:45 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. CDT (5:45 or 6:00 p.m. EDT) and will air on ESPN or ESPN2.

Penn State has appeared on television in 115 of its last 117 games over the past 10 years.

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 32 lettermen and 15 starters for the upcoming season. The Nittany Lions will face eight teams that played in bowl games last season, including all four Big Ten home opponents: Purdue (Oct. 9), Iowa (Oct. 23, Homecoming), Northwestern (Nov. 6) and Michigan State (Nov. 20).

2004 Nittany Lion Football Schedule

 September 4 Akron TBA September 11 at Boston College TBA September 18 UCF 12:10 p.m. (ESPN Plus) September 25 *at Wisconsin 5:45 or 6:00 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2) October 2 *at Minnesota TBA October 9 *Purdue 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) (All-University Day/Varsity "S" Day) October 23 *Iowa (Homecoming) TBA October 30 * at Ohio State TBA November 6 *Northwestern TBA November 13 *at Indiana TBA November 20 *Michigan State TBA * Big Ten Conference game. Times are Eastern.