When was it...

The Kickoff Classic on 8/25/1996 at Giants Stadium (Meadowlands) vs USC

PSU won 24-7

Thanks, I thought it was a bowl game, but I do remember that game.

Technically, the Kickoff Classic was a bowl game since is was sanctioned as a pre-season bowl by the NCAA.  I don't recall any end of season bowls that extended invites before the season started.

Pretty close Bob,

The kick off classic was sponsored by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. It initially tried to sponsor a end of season bowl game called the Garden State Bowl which it held for 4 years. Lack of attendance caused them to cancel the bowl game. They then started the kickoff classic in in 1983 as the first game of the season with marquee matchups. Not technically considered a bowl game. The first Kickoff Classic was between #4 PSU and #1 Nebraska which Nebraska won 44-6.

PSU played in 4 of the 20 Kickoff Classic games, 1983 #4 PSU and #1 Nebraska which Nebraska won 44-6, 1991 #7 PSU vs #* Ga Tech which PSU won 34-22, 1996 #11 PSU vs #7 USC which PSU won 24-7 and the final time in 2000 #22 PSU vs #15 USC which PSU lost 29-5

Rule changes by the NCAA regarding season opening 'extra games' brought an end to the series in 2002, as well as similar games, such as the west coast-based Pigskin Classic and the midwest-based Eddie Robinson Classic.

Thanks for posting, I enjoyed doing the research and learned something!

Thank you right back atcha, Navylion.  The info you found in doing your research brings back memories.

Appreciate all your posts and usually agree with your comments!

Thanks Bob!

I don't know where I got the idea that it was a bowl game (not the KOS) that PSU was invited to. Seems like  It was at the beginning of the season and they were invited to one of the Florida bowls and accepted.  Sounds cray, maybe its the new meds I'm on.

Also there was another one the pigskin classic. The only time Penn State was in it was against Arizona and PSU smoked them.

Was it the block buster bowl lioninsa? I remember something like that.

Blockbuster bowl I think

It was Stanford or Florida st I believe lioninsa. It was a long time ago lol

Yeah Southern, It may have been the Blockbuster Bowl.  Can't recall exactly the circumstances , I know it was one of those Florida bowls.

Stanford?