As the 2026 Penn State football season approaches, the popular pregame show "Nittany Game Week" is set to return for its sixth year, boasting a significant expansion in both reach and viewership. The show, which features former Nittany Lions coaches Tom Bradley and Jay Paterno, hosted by FOX43 Sports Director Todd Sadowski, will now broadcast to more than 24 million people across eight states: Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Virginia. This marks a substantial increase from previous seasons, driven by the addition of FOX 29 Philadelphia to the Nittany Game Week Network and a new partnership with Reach TV, which will air the show in 90 U.S. airports, including 48 of the top 50.
The show's expanded footprint is a testament to its growing popularity and importance to Penn State fans, who have embraced the program as a year-round destination for exclusive content. Beyond the traditional pregame analysis, "Nittany Game Week" offers scouting reports, "Impact Interviews," fan questions, and game-day photo submissions, and it continues through May to cover the entirety of Penn State athletics. According to Jay Paterno, "We give Nittany Lions fans the kind of insight you can't get anywhere else. Tom and I bring decades of experience, our guests bring unique perspectives, and with Todd, we're able to preview the game while telling the stories that make Penn State athletics so special."
The show's schedule for the 2026 season begins on Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, with broadcasts on various networks across the eight-state area. Friday airings include 6:30 p.m. on FOX43 WPMT in York/Harrisburg/Lancaster, PA, and 10:00 p.m. on DelMarVa Sports Network in Salisbury, MD. Saturday broadcasts start early, with 6:00 a.m. on WSEE-TV The CW in Erie, PA, followed by 7:30 a.m. on FOX 29 WTXF in Philadelphia, PA, and 8:00 a.m. on WNEP2 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA. The lineup continues with 8:30 a.m. on FOX 8 WWCP in Altoona/Johnstown/State College, PA, and 9:00 a.m. on both FOX43 WPMT and WYFX in Youngstown, OH. Additional airings include 9:30 a.m. on FOX 53 WPGH in Pittsburgh, PA, FOX 8 WWCP, BIG FOX WYDC in Elmira/Cortland, NY, and FOX & NBC 9 WTOV in Wheeling, WV, followed by 11:00 a.m. on DelMarVa Sports Network and 11:30 a.m. on ABC 16 WNEP and ABC 23 WWCP.
The show's hosts bring a wealth of experience to the broadcast. Tom Bradley, captain of Penn State's 1978 team and a former defensive coordinator, was named AP Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2005 and inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Jay Paterno, who coached at Penn State for 17 years, led top-ranked recruiting classes and coached two Big Ten MVPs. Todd Sadowski has been a fixture in Pennsylvania sports media for over two decades, anchoring coverage at FOX43 since 2000. The show's content is also available online via its YouTube channel and digital platforms, ensuring fans can access it anytime, anywhere.
The expansion of "Nittany Game Week" reflects the increasing demand for in-depth, insider coverage of college football, particularly for a program with the passionate following of Penn State. By broadening its reach to include major markets like Philadelphia and airports nationwide, the show is poised to engage a wider audience, reinforcing its role as a key source of pregame analysis and storytelling for Nittany Lions fans. For more information, visit the online press kit at JayPaterno.Onlinepresskit247.com and the public site at JayVPaterno.com.
