University of Central Florida (UCF Knights) face Penn State in their 2014 Season opener in GAA HQ on the 30th August 2014.

Ireland of course has its own vibrant American Football scene. The IAFL, under the remit of the Irish American Football Association (IAFA) plays adult, full contact American football using NCAA rules – those used in major college football in the USA.

2013 was a busy year for both teams with UCF completing the most successful season in their history and winning the American Athletics conference outright and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Penn State welcomed new Head Coach James Franklin in early 2014 following Bill O’Brien’s departure to the NFL Houston Texans.

The Croke Park Classic is the first in a series of American College Football games for Dublin, the teams will compete for the Dan Rooney Trophy named after the former US Ambassador to Ireland and Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Outside of GAA games at Croke Park, the event is set to be the biggest sporting event of the year and features a series of citywide events and activities.
It’s shaping up to be a great battle of these two giants of American College Football this August. It will be be the first time that UCF and Penn State have played outside the United States guaranteed to bring huge fanfare and significant travelling support.

Croke Park Stadium has been at the heart of Irish sporting life for over a hundred years. Boasting a capacity for 82,300 people, the stadium is the home of Gaelic games and the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).