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don't have to do anything. We don't have to empty our pockets. We jump on a bus and we go. So we certainly want to play that game. "And it's a big game. It's another game for us, but it's a big game because it's a rivalry game, in-state." Franklin was less pessimistic about the long-term future of the series, but he acknowledged that the Big Ten's insis- tence on playing a nine-game confer- ence schedule reduces Penn State's flexibility. The Atlantic Coast Confer- ence only plays eight league games, which gives Pitt four slots for noncon- ference games to Penn State's three. "That factors into scheduling philoso- phies," Franklin said. "That has an im- pact on it, and I don't think there's any doubt about it. … You look at a lot of the teams that are playing these historical rivalry games, and a lot of those schools and a lot of those conferences are play- ing eight games. The SEC is playing eight games. The ACC is playing eight games. That creates some challenges. "I could see us possibly doing a neu- tral-site game with them. I think that's a possibility. You know, we could have discussions. But we've got to be creative about it. … With us having a ninth con- ference game and them having eight, there are some problems with home- and-home." Penn State's nonconference schedul- ing formula is to play three home games in odd-numbered years when it hosts only four Big Ten opponents, and two home games in even-numbered years when five Big Ten teams will visit Beaver Stadium. The upcoming home-and- home series against Virginia Tech, Auburn and West Virginia were set up in accordance with that plan. The Lions will travel to Virginia Tech next year, Auburn in 2022 and West Virginia in 2024. They will play host to the Tigers in 2021, the Mountaineers in 2023 and the Hokies in 2025. The remaining noncon- ference slots will be filled by visiting op- ponents from outside the Power Five conferences. Pitt, too, is reviving a dormant rivalry against West Virginia, with the Backyard Brawl set to come back as a four-game home-and-home series beginning in 2022. The Panthers also have an annual P E N N S T A T E R S I N T H E N F L * TEAM PLAYER (SEASONS) Arizona Cardinals.............................. A.Q. Shipley (8) C Atlanta Falcons................................. Jack Crawford (8) Baltimore Ravens..............................Trace McSorley (R) Buffalo Bills........................................ Ryan Bates (R) Carolina Panthers............................. Chris Hogan (7; played lacrosse at Penn State) Chicago Bears.................................... Allen Robinson (6) Dallas Cowboys................................. Sean Lee (10), Connor McGovern (R) IR Denver Broncos................................. DaeSean Hamilton (2) Detroit Lions....................................... Jesse James (5), Amani Oruwariye (R) Green Bay Packers............................ Adrian Amos (5) Kansas City Chiefs............................ Jordan Lucas (4) Los Angeles Chargers.......................Trevor Williams (4) Los Angeles Rams.............................Nick Scott (R) Miami Dolphins.................................. Mike Gesicki (2), Mike Hull (4) IR New York Giants................................ Saquon Barkley (2) C, Grant Haley (2), Nate Stupar (7) Philadelphia Eagles.......................... Shareef Miller (R), Miles Sanders (R) San Francisco 49ers......................... Robbie Gould (15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers................... Chris Godwin (3), Carl Nassib (4), Donovan Smith (5) Tennessee Titans.............................. Austin Johnson (4), DaQuan Jones (6), Cameron Wake (11) Washington Redskins.......................Troy Apke (2) PRACTICE SQUAD Detroit Lions....................................... Jason Cabinda (2) Pittsburgh Steelers........................... Marcus Allen (2) San Francisco 49ers......................... Kevin Givens (R) * As of opening day | C: captain | IR: injured reserve Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans boast a league-high three Penn Staters each. Four teams – Dallas, Miami, Philadel- phia and San Francisco – each have two PSU alums. Fi9een-year vet Robbie Gould, an All-Pro place kicker with San Francisco, is Penn State's elder states- man, while Cameron Wake of Tennessee is in his 11th season and Sean Lee of Dal- las is in his 10th. Seven players from Penn State's 2018 squad are now on NFL rosters. Ryan Bates (Bu8alo Bills), Trace McSorley (Baltimore Ravens), Shareef Miller (Philadelphia Eagles), Amani Oruwariye (Detroit Lions), Miles Sanders (Philadel- phia Eagles) and Nick Scott (Los Angeles Rams) are on active rosters, while Kevin Givens (San Francisco 49ers) started the season on the practice squad. Additionally, seven former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching sta8s: Tom Bradley (Pittsburgh, defen- sive backs); Gary Brown (Dallas, running backs); Bobby Engram (Baltimore, tight ends); Al Golden (Detroit, linebackers); D'Anton Lynn (Houston, assistant sec- ondary), Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Denver, o8ensive line) and Paul Pasqualoni (Detroit, defensive co- ordinator). ■ PRACTICE SQUAD TEAM PLAYER (SEASONS)

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