A huge outdoor game could be coming to State College, Pennsylvania. According to reporting from the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Jess Myers (via columnist Charley Walters), Penn State hockey is reportedly preparing to announce an outdoor game against Big Ten foe Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

“A little birdie tells me to expect an announcement later this week of a @MSU_Hockey at @PennStateMHKY outdoor game at 106k-seat Beaver Stadium,” Myers wrote Monday on X.

The Nittany Lions are scheduled to face the Michigan State Spartans at home in a two-game series o January 31 and February 1, with the outdoor tilt speculated to take place on the latter of those two dates.

“The rumors may be true about the outdoor game. @PennStateMHKY
never plays hockey on a Sunday. But wait. Does that mean… PENN STATE HOCKEY OUTDOOR WHITEOUT,” Penn State CommRadio’s Matt Becker teased on X.

Beaver Stadium can hold over 106,000 fans for a college football game. If the school were to host an outdoor game there and sell out the event, it would beat the record for the highest-attended outdoor hockey game in North American history.

The 2014 NHL Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at the University of Michigan currently holds that record with an official attendance of 105,491. “The Big House,” as Michigan Stadium is called, has a capacity of 107,601.

It’s unclear if Beaver Stadium will be able to hold it’s traditional capacity as the school is currently completing the first phase of a $700 million revitalization project. Temporary bleachers have been installed along the upper bowl to accommodate fans that will attend the upcoming football season, beginning with the Nittany Lions’ home opener against Nevada on August 30.

IS IT READY? Temporary west side bleachers at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, three weeks before the Nittany Lions’ season opener Aug. 30 vs. Nevada. WATCH up-close: pic.twitter.com/izppNZlNWt

— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) August 10, 2025

An extra layer of spectacle could also be added to the potential clash of college adversaries with fans getting a special look at Nittany Lion forward Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft. McKenna reportedly spurned the Spartans in his decision to play college hockey in State College instead of East Lansing. McKenna will notably be facing off against Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, who committed to Michigan State in July.

The NCAA is no stranger to outdoor hockey games. In fact, the Big Ten Conference hosted four of them at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in January. Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Michigan all participated in men’s contests while the Buckeyes and Badgers faced off in the only women’s match to take place there.

If officially announced, the Feb. 1 matchup would be just Penn State’s second appearance at an outdoor game. Michigan State, on the other hand, is more experienced in the elements with six prior engagements.