Actor Keegan-Michael Key who once served as a guest coach for Penn State’s spring football game and famously resembles head coach James Franklin, is back in Happy Valley.
Key, who earned his Master of Fine Arts from Penn State, will serve as the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay tomorrow before the highly anticipated showdown between Penn State and Ohio State.
This marks Key’s fourth appearance on the popular show, his last being the Penn State–Ohio State clash in 2018.
Key will join the GameDay crew outside the Bryce Jordan Center as Penn State hosts its first top-5 matchup at Beaver Stadium in 25 years.
Alongside ESPN’s College GameDay, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will also be broadcasting on campus – the first time both shows have aired live from a Penn State game.
Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast outside the Bryce Jordan Center’s Gate B from 10-11:30am EST before moving to Beaver Stadium, while College GameDay will air from Gate C from 9-11:30am, then transition to the stadium as well.
For Key, Penn State football holds a special place, dating back to his early years.
In a 2018 interview following his guest coaching role in the Blue-White Game, Key shared how he became a fan. Born in Detroit, he explained that family friends in Pennsylvania introduced him to Penn State football.
When he later chose to pursue a graduate degree at Penn State, the university’s nostalgic draw made it a top choice.
“A part of my journey that is interesting is my parents’ best friends were Pennsylvanians, so as a small child I watched Penn State football,” Key said back in 2018.
“When I had the opportunity to do my graduate studies here, it ended up being one of my top choices for nostalgia reasons. I am glad it all played out that way because I ended up going to a high-level university for what I was studying.”
While studying at Penn State, Key’s passion for the university’s football culture grew as he formed connections with members of the team through an acting class he taught.
“I taught acting for non-majors here and so I had constant and personal contacts with the football team. I already had a sense of liking football and Penn State football so having that personal connection with the players meant a lot to me and resonated with me, so it has been a big part of my life.
“When James came in, he really infused this new energy, and we have started a friendship because we are in like minds on what a student-athlete is. I get very excited when I see him. I get very excited when his students get privileges for having better GPAs.
“It’s lovely that academics are as important to him, so that is where some of the love comes from. When I was here to be the Grand Marshal for Homecoming it was really interesting because someone said to me, ‘You look a little like the new head coach,’ and the rest is history.
“I’ll take it. If our genes are similar in some way, shape, or form, is one more thing that brings me back to the program and gives me a sheer love for the program, so be it.”
Key is clearly passionate about Penn State and its historic football program. It’s always a good thing whenever the College GameDay celebrity guest picker is someone who actually knows and loves college football.
Having said that, some fans are not too pleased with Key being the choice and feel ESPN could have done much better…
“Penn state really doesn’t have a single other option? This dudes done it like 8 years straight. The joke stopped being funny 7 years ago. Not good!”
“We already had an unfunny guest a few weeks ago in Eugene..”
“Gosh, how original. Not only a repeat trip but repeat picker. How original.”
“Seriously? Get Pat Feiermuth, Marcus Allen, Lavar Arrington, Grant Haney or Trace McSorely.”
“Who?”
“He’s the picker every time they go here, can’t find anyone else hahahaha.”
“Should have gotten Chad Powers.”
Regardless, tomorrow’s game is undoubtedly one of the biggest of the entire college football season. Many fans wish it was played at night in front of the legendary Penn State “White Out.”
However, Big Noon Kickoff on FOX will have to do … One thing is for sure: the high-stakes rivalry clash is sure to draw a monster TV rating.
What are your thoughts on Key being chosen to be the celebrity guest picker? … Is there someone else with Penn State ties who you would have preferred?
More importantly, what is your prediction for the game? … Is this the year Franklin and Penn State finally knock off the Buckeyes???