On a typical football Saturday, sleep-deprived fans are "tailgating with the best" long before noon.

Hours later, these blue-and-white-clad students will continue the festivities in search of the hottest bar, frat or party.

Penn State students brag they party harder than other college students -- and perhaps they do. According to the Princeton Review, Penn State is the second best party school in the nation.

This year, the Princeton Review's 2007 Best 361 Colleges awarded Penn State the silver medal in the category for best party school.

The second-place status is 11 spots higher than what Penn State received last year, edging out West Virginia University and falling just behind The University of Texas at Austin.

Robert Franek, author of the 2007 edition of Best 361 Colleges, said the ranking is the result of an 80-question survey given to more than 115,000 students.

In the survey, students were asked about their alcohol and drug use, study habits and the popularity of the greek system.

"Students' experiences at a college are not going to end in a classroom," Franek said. "The purpose of this book specifically is not for administrators at a college, but for college-bound students and their families, so that they know there is an active social scene at Penn State University."

Franek said he hoped the book would make students just a bit more savvy when attending college open houses or visits.

Tyrone Parham, Penn State University Police assistant director, said he questions the way that the Princeton Review compiled their list, but is aware of the social atmosphere here at Penn State.

"I know we do have an environment and culture here that encourages people to party, and certainly there's a heavy peer influence here," he said.

He said he understands that not all students will eliminate alcohol consumption from their lives, but that smart drinking is encouraged at Penn State.

"The educational message is a priority," he said. "The other part is strict enforcement. We have a zero tolerance for alcohol and we enforce the underage very rigorously."

Tysen Kendig, Penn State spokesman, said the university doesn't place much merit on the survey's results.

"Be it athletics or just something in the water, there's an inherent school spirit that exists here," Kendig said. "It's good to know that students enjoy their time here."