Northwestern football will open new $900 million stadium vs. Penn State on Friday, Oct. 2

Northwestern’s new Ryan Field will debut on Oct. 2 against Penn State, 100 years to the day that its former home hosted its first game.

The $900 million stadium, which is funded almost exclusively by the Ryan family, won’t be quite ready for the Wildcats’ season opener against South Dakota State on Sept. 5 or its second nonconference contest on Sept. 19 against Colorado, the school announced Tuesday. Those games will be played at Martin Stadium, the lakeside facility the Wildcats have used the past two seasons.

The university opted for a nationally televised Friday night game against a Big Ten opponent to show off its new digs.

“The opener against Penn State presented by Fox Sports provides us with an extraordinary stage to showcase the incredible stadium and the culture that head coach David Braun has established,” Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said in a statement. “We appreciate the dedication and support of our fans and campus community, and we look forward to welcoming them to the nation’s greatest college football stadium that will elevate the student-athlete experience and bring us together in powerful and memorable ways.”

The new Ryan Field will be completed by mid-September. The former Ryan Field, which was known as Dyche Stadium for nearly 70 years, debuted Oct. 2, 1926, when Northwestern played South Dakota. Northwestern’s new Ryan Field features 35,000 seats sloped at an upward angle tilted toward the playing surface to bring fans closer to the field. Every seat has cushioned chairbacks and is covered by canopies to prevent inclement weather from disrupting the fan experience.

“It’s premium for everyone,” said Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development. “The idea that you’re just gonna stick people on benches and put them in those bleeds, there’s fatigue with that. People want to be treated respectfully. They work hard for their money. They’re there for this special moment. So this idea is to create a premium experience for everyone, not the haves and have nots, not sky boxes for some and benches for everybody else. It doesn’t foster community.”

Northwestern beat Penn State 22-21 last year at State College, Pa., which prompted the firing of Penn State coach James Franklin the next day. Both teams finished 7-6 with bowl victories. The Nittany Lions are led by former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, while Braun hired former NFL and college head coach Chip Kelly as his offensive coordinator.