The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show: Penn State vs. Auburn

Nonsensical fun as #10 Penn State prepares to host #22 Auburn in prime time.

Follow the show & podcast: https://www.statecollege.com/obligatory-psu-pregame-show/

There could have been a letdown, a hangover, a loss of focus coming off the exciting, but exhausting road win the week before or an excess of emotion finally playing before the home crowd once again. But credit James Franklin, his staff, and his players, because it never happened. The Nittany Lions took care of business against defending MAC champion Ball State and will now carry their top-10 ranking into a hotly-anticipated matchup with the Auburn Tigers under the lights with College GameDay in town and the White Out back with a vengeance.

To start out, the guys take a few moments to appreciate what it meant to have fans back in Happy Valley and Beaver Stadium for the first time in nearly two years before turning their attention to takeaways from the win over Ball State. This week’s stop on the Central Pennsylvania Tasting Trail is Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, an award-winning local winery committed to sustainable operations that’s a great spot to hang out and relax on weekends. Penn State Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford plays Russian Roulette with his own credibility by joining the show to talk about away game tailgates, Football Letter Live, and more. Keith “Goon” Conlin returns to swap stories with Noble about the 1996 Outback Bowl win over Auburn. Then Brandon, Kevin, Mailman, and Chris preview the #10 Nittany Lions’ huge primetime matchup with #22 Auburn and give their score predictions + Mike the Mailman looks ahead to some of next weekend’s best gambling plays in his weekly Trends to Treasure segment.

More About Obligatory:
Entering its sixth season, The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau is a TV “tailgate” full of the fun, camaraderie, and passion - from joy to heartbreak and back again - that make Penn State football the healthy obsession of students, alumni, and fans. For every loyal Nittany Lion who can’t be there in person, it’s the next best thing: A weekly dose of Happy Valley to kick off the football weekend. The show’s lovable cast of loyal Penn Staters features former Penn State and NFL defensive tackle Brandon Noble, beloved campus icon Mike the Mailman, former Onward State managing editor Kevin Horne, and five-time Sam’s Club member Chris Buchignani.

Filmed from some of the most iconic college bars and recognizable locations in Happy Valley, each weekly episode features not just lively commentary on the games, but also tourism features, town and campus interest stories, visits to sites on the Central PA Tasting Trail, and some sports wagering tips from Mike the Mailman. Our show thrives because it is different. It is engaging because it allows viewers to enjoy a spontaneous, frivolous, and contagious peek into a world that feels an awful lot like four guys simply enjoying themselves while talking college football. The on-field exploits of the Nittany Lions are the focus, but the chemistry between the show’s hosts and the raw honesty stemming from their genuine love of school, team, and place are what distinguish Obligatory from the usual cookie cutter fare.

Penn State football fans can find The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show each week through our key cable affiliate partners:

Next Level Sports (6pm Friday / 9am Saturday)

AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh (3pm Friday / 9am Saturday)

NBC Sports Philadelphia PLUS (9pm Friday)

NESN National (8:30pm Friday; 8pm Friday NESN PLUS)

MASN Sports (7AM & 11AM Saturday)

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