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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana coach Bill Lynch wanted to expand his program's recruiting base. The cash and a chance to play at an NFL stadium helped, too.

The Hoosiers announced Wednesday that they've agreed to move next season's home game against Penn State to FedExField, home of the Washington Redskins, for $3 million.

"It's a great opportunity for our program from the financial end of it, and it's a great opportunity to play at FedExField," Lynch said. "We've not actively recruited that area, but we have talked about it, so we think it's a win-win."

The Hoosiers will be required to sell 7,000 tickets in a stadium that seats more than 91,000.

Penn State, meanwhile, will play a road game Nov. 20, 2010, in an area where it has a strong fan base. The Nittany Lions have 13 players on the roster from Maryland, four from Virginia and five from Delaware.

It's the first time they have played in metropolitan Washington since an Oct. 2, 1993, visit to Maryland.

Penn State officials said Indiana was approached by a third party about moving the game, and the Hoosiers contacted Penn State in the late spring or early summer to discuss the possibility. The deal apparently was completed a few days ago with the Redskins paying out the $3 million.

"This game will provide a great chance for some of our players to play close to home and for our fans and the more than 40,000 Penn State alumni in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. to see the Nittany Lions play in person," Penn State athletic director Tim Curley said.

It's not the first time Indiana and Penn State have played in an NFL stadium. The Nittany Lions beat the Hoosiers 27-24 at the now-demolished RCA Dome in October 2000, and are 12-0 in the series between the schools.
Indiana officials said they will try to add a nonconference home game in 2010.

FedExField has hosted other college games, including the 2004 BCA Classic between Virginia Tech and Southern Cal that drew 91,665 fans. It also will host Boise State and Virginia Tech on Oct. 2, 2010.

But Indiana sees this as more than just a moneymaking opportunity.

"We believe that this will be an outstanding, bowl-like experience for our student-athletes, provide us with added recruiting visibility on the East Coast, and will serve as a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes to spend time in and around the nation's capital," Glass said in a statement.

Indiana visits Penn State on Nov. 14 this season. It will be Senior Day for the Nittany Lions.