Northwestern will open the new Ryan Field with an expanded student section after the university added 500 seats for the Friday, Oct. 2, home game against Penn State.

Northwestern Athletics said on X on Saturday, Sept. 26, that the additional seats were added because of overwhelming demand. Students who attended the Welcome Home to New Ryan Field Party on Wednesday, Sept. 23, can claim tickets starting Monday, Sept. 28.

The Oct. 2 game is the first at the $875 million stadium on Central Street. It also marks the 100th anniversary of the original Ryan Field, then called Dyche Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.

Every Northwestern student attends games free, according to the university's athletics site. The 500 additional seats expand the student section known as the Wildcat Wall inside the 35,000-seat venue.

The Sept. 23 welcome event featured a pep rally with head coach David Braun and former defensive lineman Joe Spivak, performances from the Wildcat Marching Band and Spirit Squad, and student tours of the facility. Bienen first-year Jack Rahija, a Wildcat Marching Band member, told the Daily Northwestern after walking through the stadium: "It's genuinely worth the hype. I walked in, and I thought I was in an NFL stadium."

The new Ryan Field seats 35,000, down from 47,000 at the old stadium. The privately financed facility, funded largely by NU benefactor Patrick Ryan, features a cantilevered design with a canopy covering every seat. Each seat has armrests and cupholders.

Penn State entered the week ranked No. 13 in the AP poll but dropped out entirely after losing to Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 26, according to ESPN. Northwestern is 2-1 after falling 29-23 at No. 5 Indiana on Friday, Sept. 25. Quarterback Aidan Chiles threw two touchdowns to Griffin Wilde and ran for a third in the loss.

The stadium's opening week also brought a new affordability push. As we reported Friday, Sept. 25, Ryan Field announced $25 tickets for teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers and other public servants, with up to 500 seats set aside per home game.

After Penn State, Northwestern's home schedule includes Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 10, for Homecoming, Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 24, Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 28.