With the 21,500+ student section sold out this past week, here’s a current look at Penn State ticket prices in the second market.

Current demand for the non-conference portion of the schedule is simply nonexistent. The Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois games cost an average of $77 on secondary markets, barely an increase from the actual cost of the tickets.

Compared to some of the other marquee out of conference games this season:

$54 for Oklahoma / Miami (FL)? The same Oklahoma Sooner squad that just played in the National Title game? Does that mean at $65, people expect higher demand for the Penn State / Temple game than the Oklahoma / Miami matchup?

As expected, the USC / Ohio State clash will demand some of the highest prices this season with USC / Notre Dame not far behind.

If you have any inclination to attend a Penn State game this season, buy your tickets now. Prices will only increase from this point on as the season looms closer.

Now that student tickets are paperless and attached to ID cards, scalping them will be a near impossibility. Students no longer have to deal with those shady scalping-for-a-living dealers that circle Beaver Stadium like vultures looking for students to rip off.

Just a few years ago, I had to deal with one of them in order to buy a student ticket for a friend who lost hers on the walk to the Stadium. It was less than 30 minutes til kickoff, and this scalper simply would not cave despite being offered over a $100 for an Akron ticket. Sure, student tickets have rocketed in demand in recent years due to the popularity of the student section, but to blatantly milk the students for pure profit was a disgusting sight especially when this scalper and his posse were clearly not students. Luckily I saw a group of student headed towards the stadium with a student ticket raised up high. Both the scalper and I dashed towards him and as the scalper attempted to low ball the student by offering $40 for a ticket he wouldn’t sell for over $100 just two minutes earlier, I interrupted him and offered the kid $110, the same amount I was willing to pay the scalper earlier.

It was never about money, I had plenty, and was willing to spend it. I was simply disgusted at how these scalpers operate and leech onto students in recent years. I’m glad the $110 ended up in another students’ hands. Its about time Penn State finally dealt with student ticket scalping, and not a moment too soon. For future tickets, I’ll stick to the secondary market or deal directly with students and fans themselves.