STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 2, 2004 - Penn State has set the kickoff time for the 2004 season opener with the Akron Zips marking the fifth game on the 2004 campaign in which the start time has been set for the Nittany Lions.

The Nittany Lions and Zips, meeting for just the second time, will open the 2004 season on Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Beaver Stadium. The game is likely to be televised with arrangements to be announced at a future date. The game will mark the second straight season Penn State has opened with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in Beaver Stadium.

Penn State is 1-0 all-time against Akron having rolled to a 70-24 victory over the Zips at Beaver Stadium in 1999. Akron returns 15 starters from a team that went 7-5 in 2003. Penn State is 12-1 all-time under Head Coach Joe Paterno against Mid-American Conference teams.

Times and television coverage have been previously set for four other Penn State contests. The Nittany Lions' Sept. 11 clash at Boston College will kick at 8:00 p.m. and will be aired by ABC Sports on a split-national telecast. The Sept. 18 contest with the University of Central Florida in Beaver Stadium will kick off at 12:10 p.m. and will air an ESPN Plus regionally. 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, and Penn State's Oct. 9 Big Ten home opener with Purdue will kick off at 4:30 p.m. and air nationally on ESPN.

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 3:30 p.m. September 11 at Boston College 8:00 p.m. (ABC) 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 TBA (Homecoming) 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.