Ugh. Trying to make sense of Penn State's awful loss to Illinois even as a road trip to Columbus to face Ohio State awaits.
There are bad losses. There are frustrating losses. There are embarrassing losses. And then there’s the ludicrous debacle of Penn State’s 2021 Homecoming 20-18 9 OT loss to Bret Bielema’s 2-5 Illinois Fighting Illini, quite possibly the worst, most ridiculous loss in the history of Nittany Lions football. But at least the team now gets to limp into Columbus to face Big Ten juggernaut Ohio State and rumors linking James Franklin to every open Power 5 job are a daily distraction! The cast-plus-one attempts to salve the wounds with some fresh Happy Valley Fall air on the Axemann Brewery’s outdoor porch while enjoying a few Blue Stripe beers, trying to put in context the gut punches of the past and those that likely still await.
StateCollege.com’s own Ben Jones rides sidecar for the entire show as the guys pick up the pieces after a baffling loss and look ahead to what will surely be a difficult night game against college football’s top offense at Ohio State. We once again share a sneak preview for the Centre Film Festival, an annual event that will bring celebrity guests and films of all types and genres to Happy Valley all next week. Brandon, Kevin, Mailman, Ben, and Chris give their score predictions for the imposing trip to Columbus + 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 / 6am Saturday)
NESN National (8:30pm Friday; 8pm Friday NESN PLUS)
MASN Sports (7AM & 11AM Saturday)
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