Good morning, State College.

At Beaver Stadium, Lion Ambassadors lead the S-Zone tradition by arranging hundreds of blue and white T-shirts into a block letter S that unites students on every home game — it shows true Penn State pride.

The practice extends to other sports events as students come together to celebrate the school spirit.

Three Penn State meteorology students forecasted clouds, wind, and rain for NASA and NOAA pilots during a research campaign from New York to North Carolina to help measure greenhouse gases—data used to produce three‑day forecasts.

Penn State rose to No. 26 among national public universities and No. 59 overall in the 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking—rising four spots in both groups—while remaining the top public university in Pennsylvania, and 14 undergraduate programs earned top-25 ratings.

The university also ranked No. 21 among Association of American Universities public institutions.

The Penn State School of Public Policy hosted its first Local Government Expo on Sept.

20 at the new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building — more than 50 students met local government leaders and took part in a hands-on policy simulation. Local officials led a career fair that gave students a real look into public service careers.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said residents must register to vote by October 20 for the November 4 municipal election—if already registered, voters can check their status online or update their details for a mail ballot.

Andrew Patterson has been named director of Penn State’s Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis and he will build on the center’s strong work in studying how environmental chemicals affect health — aiming to enhance research, training, and community well-being.

After losing games to Maryland 3—1 and Lafayette 3—2 over the weekend, Penn State field hockey dropped to No. 20 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll.

The Nittany Lions, with a 4—3 record, will host Michigan State at home at 4 p.m. Friday.

Penn State men’s hockey named Dane Dowiak as team captain for the 2025-26 season and Jared Crespo as alternate, replacing Simon Mack—Dowiak, who scored 20 points last season, becomes the 12th captain and the team will open its season against Arizona State on October 3 at 9 p.m.

Penn State men’s basketball named four team captains for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday — junior forward Saša Ciani, freshman guard Kayden Mingo, senior forward Josh Reed, and redshirt sophomore guard Eli Rice — and they will lead the team when it takes the court for its season opener on Nov. 3 at the Bryce Jordan Center. Ciani, a transfer from Xavier and Illinois Chicago, Mingo as the highest ranked recruit, Reed from Cincinnati, and Rice returning after an injury are expected to boost the team’s performance.

Penn State staff debated if fans should storm the field if the Nittany Lions beat Oregon in a White Out game on Saturday — noting that fans have not stormed the field since the 2016 win over Ohio State.

Some argued that a field storm would mark a rare, exciting moment while others said it could hurt the team’s reputation.

Penn State Men's Hockey announced its 2025-26 team captains on Tuesday, naming forward Dane Dowiak as the 12th captain and defenseman Jarod Crespo as the alternate captain—after last season's leaders left the team and Dowiak earned honors in the NCAA Tournament Allentown Regionals. This new leadership marks a fresh start for the team as it prepares for the season.

The Penn State women’s hockey team, coming off a historic 31-win season and an AHA Championship, will begin its 2025-26 season tomorrow against No. 9 St. Lawrence at Pegula Ice Arena and is ranked No. 8 in the USCHO Preseason Poll.

The team, led by Tessa Janecke and Katie DeSa, is loaded with talent and new recruits — setting up its strongest shot yet at chasing a national championship.

The Sadies Acoustic Performance

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The State Theatre — Ticket information available — Enjoy a special acoustic night featuring the eclectic roots sounds of The Sadies.

Alice Peacock & Jessica Willis Fisher Live Concert

8-11 p.m. — The State Theatre — Ticket pricing varies — Enjoy an evening of soulful melodies and inspiring stories with two talented singer-songwriters.

Iris DeMent Concert

8-11 p.m. — The State Theatre — $ — Experience the inspirational sounds of Iris DeMent as she confronts modern challenges with heartfelt music.

Coyote Island Live Performance

7-10 p.m. — Manny's Performance Space — From $11.99 — Experience the musical journey of Mike O’Hehir and his unique sound.

Chatham County Line Concert

8-11 p.m. — The State Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience a genre-bending blend of bluegrass, folk, country, and rock from this acclaimed band.

Live Performance by Los Microwaves with Chaki The Funk Wizard

7-10 p.m. — Manny's Performance Space — From $10 — Experience a unique blend of post-punk and synth pop from this iconic band with live tracks from the early 80s.

Rumbo Tumba Concert

7-10 p.m. — Manny's Performance Space — From $10 — Experience a captivating electroacoustic performance by Argentine multi-instrumentalist Facundo Salgado.

Puuluup with Other Arts Ensemble

7-10 p.m. — Manny's Performance Space — From US$11.99 — Experience the innovative sounds of Puuluup, a dynamic duo of talharpa enthusiasts.

Air1 Worship Now Tour featuring Phil Wickham

7-8:30 p.m. — Bryce Jordan Center — Tickets available — Experience an uplifting night of worship with top Christian artists Phil Wickham, Charity Gayle, and Josh Baldwin.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Football Game

3:30-6:30 p.m. — Beaver Stadium — Check local listings for ticket info — It's Homecoming as the Nittany Lions take on the Wildcats in a thrilling Big Ten matchup.