Penn State’s lengthy and storied bowl historical past is such that there aren’t many bowls the Nittany Lions haven’t performed in or opponents they haven’t performed towards.

This 12 months’s Peach Bowl gives the exception.

The No. 10 Lions (10-2) will go to the Peach for the primary time ever and match up with No. 11 Mississippi (10-2). The colleges have by no means met.

The recreation is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 30, within the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is midday, and ESPN will televise.

“It’s pretty cool that Penn State has never played in the Peach Bowl,” James Franklin mentioned at a press convention Sunday night.

He was a bit shocked to study that, Franklin mentioned, “especially for a program like Penn State.”

Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin known as it “an unbelievable matchup,” pitting the Big Ten vs. the SEC.

Both groups have solely misplaced to Top-10 groups, PSU falling to No. 1 Michigan and No. 7 Ohio State and Ole Miss shedding to No. 4 Alabama (24-10) and No. 6 Georgia (52-17).

The recreation will function Penn State’s nationally-ranked protection towards the Rebels’ prolific offense.

State led the nation in whole protection (223.2 yards per recreation), which represents the bottom whole of any group courting again to 2011.

Ole Miss ranked within the nation’s top-20 in scoring offense (34.8 factors per recreation) and whole offense (455.4 yards per recreation). Quarterback Jaxson Dart was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award after finishing 65 p.c of his throws for two,985 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Quinshon Judkins led the bottom recreation with 1,052 speeding yards and 15 touchdowns. Through two seasons, he’s rushed for two,619 yards and 31 TDs.

“I have a lot respect for Ole Miss from my time in the SEC (three years at Vanderbilt), and for Lane,” Franklin mentioned.

The recreation will mark Penn State’s 52nd bowl recreation and ninth beneath Franklin, who’s 4-4 in postseason video games at PSU.

The Lions’ general postseason report is 31-19-2, and so they’re 25-24 all-time towards present members of the SEC.

A win would allow Penn State to change into the primary program in school soccer historical past to win each bowl recreation that contains the New Year’s Six.

Kiffin, 48, is in his fourth season at Ole Miss, the place he’s compiled a 33-15 report. Kiffin beforehand coached at USC, Tennessee and Florida Atlantic and has a profession report of 94-47. He was 5-15 in elements of two NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders (2007-08).

Upperclassmen who plan to go to the NFL, particularly in the event that they’re projected as high-round draft picks, generally decide out of bowl video games.

Franklin mentioned that dedication has but to be made amongst Penn State gamers. Kiffin mentioned he didn’t anticipate any opt-outs.

New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who arrived in State College on Saturday, will observe apply and be in pre-bowl conferences however is not going to take an lively teaching position towards Ole Miss, Franklin mentioned.

Co-coordinators Ja’Juan Seider and Ty Howle shared the playcalling duties for the final two video games since Mike Yurcich’s Nov. 12 dismissal and can proceed to take action for the bowl recreation, Franklin mentioned.

While Kotelnicki will function the offensive coordinator subsequent 12 months, it’s not but been decided who will coach the quarterbacks, which Yurcich additionally dealt with.

Franklin and offensive analyst Danny O’Brien have coached the quarterback place since Nov. 12.

Fans wishing to attend this 12 months’s Peach Bowl can go to the bowl’s ticket market at https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/tickets.

Penn State season ticket holders can go to gopsusports.com for buying alternatives.