Penn State's bowl destination is set.
Announced Sunday afternoon, the Nittany Lions (10-2 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) will take on Washington (10-2 overall, 7-2 Pac 12) in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The game will be played Saturday, Dec. 30 at University of Phoenix Stadium, kickoff set for 4 p.m. EST.
Both Penn State and Washington will appear as part of the New Year's Six group of bowl pairings as at-large bids, finishing No. 9 and No. 11, respectively.
Penn State has most recently played in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 1997, topping Texas, 38-15, to improve to 11-2 and finish No. 7 in the country.
Penn State and Washington, of course, have a history away from the field dating back to a College Football Playoff decision following the 2016 season.
Though the Nittany Lions finished winning the Big Ten title, their 10-2 overall record was deemed less than Washington, who claimed the fourth spot in the CFP to face Alabama in the national semifinal.
On the field, the two teams last played following the 1983 season, the Nittany Lions winning 13-10 in the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This season, the pairing pits some interesting matchups, the Nittany Lions owning the nation's No. 7-ranked scoring offense at 41.7 points per game against Washington's No. 6-ranked scoring defense, surrendering just 14.5 points per game.
Additionally, among the two-loss teams in college football, the Nittany Lions (-2 points per game) and Huskies (-7 points per game) have two of the lowest losing margins.
Penn State will be considered the home team for the game, wearing its traditional home uniform.
Penn State head coach James Franklin and Washington's Chris Petersen will meet with the media via teleconference later Sunday afternoon.
Dating back to a first appearance in 1977, the Nittany Lions topping Arizona State 42-30, Penn State football has appeared in the Fiesta Bowl on six different occasions. The Nittany Lions are 6-0 in those games, twice winning national championships there in 1982 and 1986.
Ticket information for Nittany Lion Club members is posted below. The most inexpensive tickets currently posted on Stubhub are listed at $90 each.
