Penn State’s Tiny Airport Left SMU Fans Taking Private Jets to Game Scrambling

The State College airport wasn’t built for this.

The Penn State Nittany Lions mascot preforms during the first half against SMU. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Things didn’t get off to a great start for No. 11 SMU in their first-round playoff matchup against No. 6 Penn State, with the Mustangs falling into a 28-0 hole in the first half thanks in large part to a string of turnovers.

But for some SMU supporters, the struggles began long before kickoff. Per Ross Dellenger at Yahoo Sports, private jets carrying SMU donors were diverted from the State College airport to Williamsport instead, leaving passengers to take an unexpected bus ride across the Keystone State.

Several jets carrying SMU donors were diverted from the State College airport to Williamsport. They’re in a shuttle (party bus!) en route to the game & will arrive an hour after kick.

Photo by donor Bill Armstrong (bottom left). There's Craig James on right, drink cup raised. pic.twitter.com/p8zyL8EXAg

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 21, 2024

Apparently, the State College airport is not all that big, and was unable to handle the influx of private jets that SMU fans were bringing north for the game.

The State College Regional airport is full and that diverted a bunch of private jets from SMU to Williamsport.

A few billion dollars are in a 32-person bus to Penn State and will miss the first quarter.

— Mike Craven (@CravenMike) December 21, 2024

Given the way the game started, there’s a good chance that the SMU supporters in question had more fun on the bus ride than they did once inside Beaver Stadium.

If they have to find a bright side in all of this, at least they probably have better seats for the game than the team’s band does.

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