As the Nittany Lions get set to compete in the Grandaddy of Them All, the Penn State Alumni Association is preparing to help fans catch all of the action.
The Penn State Alumni Association will host a Rose Bowl pep rally from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. PST on Sunday, Jan. 1, for fans heading out to watch the game in California. The event, hosted at LA Live in Los Angeles, will feature the Penn State Blue Band, plus cheerleaders, the Lionettes, the Nittany Lion and a few more unnamed special guests.
Penn State’s Rose Bowl pep rally is free and open to all fans. Gates for the event will open at 2:30 p.m. PST at the intersection of Chick Hearn Court and Georgia Street. Parking options are available online.
Those who can’t attend the Rose Bowl pep rally in person are encouraged to RSVP on Facebook to get notified when the event is streaming online.
Although Penn State’s Rose Bowl festivities are largely slated for California, the Alumni Association will host watch parties across the country with the help of its affiliated groups and local chapters. Visit the Alumni Association’s online directory or Facebook event page to connect with local Penn State alumni and find a Rose Bowl watch party near you.
No. 11-ranked Penn State will face No. 8 Utah in the 2023 Rose Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2, at Pasadena’s stadium of the same name. The game will mark the Nittany Lions’ fifth all-time Rose Bowl appearance and their first since a thrilling 52-49 loss to USC in 2017 that capped off a Big Ten title-winning season. This year, following a tradition that dates back more than a century, the New Year’s Six-branded game won’t be played on New Year’s Day, which falls on a Sunday.
A strong showing of Nittany Lions fans is expected in Pasadena after Penn State sold out its ticket allotment in about three minutes, according to athletic director Pat Kraft. The stadium boasts more than 90,000 seats and set an attendance record with 106,869 fans in the stands for the 1973 Rose Bowl between Ohio State and USC.
Kickoff for the 2023 Rose Bowl is set for 5 p.m. EST on ESPN. Play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler, color analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Holly Rowe will get the call as the Nittany Lions and Utes clash.
Unlike last year’s Outback Bowl, Penn State is expected to head to Pasadena with most of its starting players. So far, only cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver Parker Washington have opted out of the game and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, the team’s leading receiver, will also skip the Rose Bowl and focus on training for next year’s draft.
