Penn State football is undefeated going into its first bye week just before Oregon comes to town. While the Ducks hope to spoil the Nittany Lions' perfect season, Beaver Stadium will be filled with pandemonium for the 7:30 p.m. ET Big Ten battle.
However, not every Penn State fan can get the opportunity to attend what is one of the most desired tickets in sports.
With Beaver Stadium's slightly reduced capacity due to renovations this season and the added hype around a team tied for the second-lowest national championship betting odds on FanDuel (+650), it's not a surprise that getting into the stadium has become even tougher.
This hype spread throughout the student body, where the issues of obtaining tickets plague those still enrolled in classes at the university.
One factor adds even more anger to the situation: scalpers.
There has been a rising number of Penn State students choosing to sell their student tickets to help manage the increasing costs of college life, but these choices have uncertain consequences.
Student ticket prices continue rising and the marketplace is plagued with scammers who exploit the surge in demand, including posting fake listings on third-party sites or social media. Additionally, some possess tickets in the package for games that they will not attend, or never even planned to.
Penn State already implemented multiple changes to ensure a safer, more equal opportunity for students to obtain tickets. In 2024, they introduced a lottery system to replace the "first-come, first-served" model previously used. They launched their own resale marketplace shortly after.
The issues these systems were meant to prevent persist. At a time when Penn State football is at an all-time high, more ticket changes may be necessary for students.
A potential solution could adopt the credit system, which top SEC schools currently use for student tickets.
For example, students in Tennessee currently have to earn "T-Credits" for priority placement in the lottery system. In this model, tickets release on a game-by-game basis rather than as a single student package for the whole season.
These "T-Credits" are earned by attending various sporting events around campus, thereby increasing audience and student pride for spectator sports on campus that may not have previously received sufficient attendance.
This also ensures that the fans in the student section, week to week, are the most passionate. The "game-by-game" model promotes the fact that students only buy tickets for games they want to attend, rather than purchasing a package with games they won't go to.
With Penn State making massive investments in its athletic facilities outside of football, it should consider adopting this model. It's not just beneficial for football, it's beneficial for all Penn State sports.
Jeffery Field, the home of the men's and women's soccer teams, saw just under 1,500 attendees in 2024 on average, according to The Daily Collegian.
This figure would put attendance under 50 percent, which could change if a new system is implemented.
Ultimately, it is up to AD Pat Kraft to make these changes. If he wants to continue expanding the Penn State culture into other sports, it is something he should consider. Leveraging the success on the gridiron can help other athletics grow and to ensure the most passionate fans in the student section each week.