The PNC Big 33 Football Classic is losing a little bit of its luster this year.

Recently, the NCAA passed new legislation permitting colleges and universities to pay for summer school for incoming freshmen -- meaning the "Super Bowl of High School Football" will be without some of the best prep-football talent in Pennsylvania and Ohio for the interstate game.

Since the original 34-player Pennsylvania team was released in the winter, five players have already withdrawn from the team due to their enrollment in summer classes. The Ohio team has lost six of its original players.

"Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and keep working hard," head Pennsylvania coach Bob Palko said.

This year Penn State recruits Knowledge Timmons, Sean Lee, and Kevin Kelly will be the school's only representatives in the contest, and are playing to end a two-year Pennsylvania losing streak. Two years ago, the Keystone State got thumped in an embarrassing 30-7 loss. Last year Pennsylvania lost a close 34-30 decision, partly thanks to Ohio State sophomore Ted Ginn Jr., who was the key factor for opposing Ohio.

"The winds of change are blowing," Game Director Mickey Minnich said. "I hope that the changes don't dim enthusiasm."

The Big 33 used to take place in

August, but due to constant NCAA amendments, it moved to July. Next year, it will move from July to June.

In recent years, players have been allowed to graduate in December and enroll in college in January, further decreasing each team's roster. Last year, Penn State linebacker Dan Connor did not play, and this year new recruit Justin King will not play because he's been enrolled at Penn State since January.

The scholastic all-star football game, founded in 1957, highlights Pennsylvania and Ohio's high school football players every summer in Hershey.

Big 33 alumni include former Nittany Lions Matt Millen and John Cappelletti, and former and current NFL players Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Tony Dorsett and Ben Roethlisberger, among many others.

Although Minnich is trying his best to ensure that the game has a future, if the NCAA keeps changing its rules, high school all-star games could become obsolete, he said.

A recent decision by the NCAA Football Committee to permit Division I schools to add a 12th game to the schedule has caused many universities to favor early enrollment for recruits, which gives new players time to acclimate to their new schools. The shift could indicate that interest in the Big 33 tradition is waning, however. Some Division I schools are now playing on Friday nights, traditionally the exclusive territory of high school football.

"It's mostly due to TV deals and money. I don't necessarily agree with it," Palko said. "Traditionally, high school games have been on Friday and colleges on Saturday."