Getting any notification from ESPN is thrilling with sports finally making a comeback, but the Big Ten's announcement is worth celebrating around Nittany Nation! Around 9AM on Wednesday, August 5, the Big Ten Conference released the 2020-21 football schedule with home and away games listed.

Big 10 Conference

Week 1 kicks off Labor Day weekend on September 5th with Penn State facing off against Northwestern at Beaver Stadium. There is no word currently on whether fans will be allowed in the stands in limited numbers but season ticket holders will likely take precedence and will be notified on Thursday, August 6th with more information.

In addition to conference-only play, each team's schedule includes two bye weeks (shown in solid blue) and four weeks built in overall to prepare for any last minute rescheduling. December 5th, the tentative Big Ten Championship, can be pushed back as far as December 19th if absolutely needed.

According to ESPN Senior Writer Adam Rittenberg, the conference released COVID-19 procedures for athletes that includes "twice-weekly testing" and will utilize a "third-party laboratory to conduct centralized testing" to emphasize the conference's commitment to consistency regarding its approach to keeping athletes, coaches, and other personnel safe during a rather unique 2020 season. Players from around the league have also voiced suggestions regarding safety measures.

So what does all this mean to us Penn Staters? If all goes well, this schedule release is the first step of football's return to Happy Valley! There's no replacing that feeling of standing shoulder-to-shoulder during the whiteout game against Ohio State, but watch parties offer great alternatives to gather safely and still have fun. Football at Penn State is no joke, so why not celebrate those gameday moments with a few friends around plates of food?

While the Big Ten's schedule release is a major milestone, there are still critical questions surrounding how a 2020 season may be played during COVID-19. Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren stated clearly in a recent letter, "Consistent with our collective need to be adaptable to changes in circumstances and evolving medical knowledge, even issuing a schedule does not guarantee that competition will occur." The conference gave Penn State and other teams the green light to begin training camp this Friday, August 7th providing that no outbreaks occur.

Despite the uncertainty, there's no shame in hoping for our Nittany Lions to take the field this fall. We may have to shout the famous chant from our dorms or apartments, but WE ARE and we will get through this!