MSU could lose more than just a football game when it goes up against Penn State next week.

The ninth annual MSU-Penn State Challenge launched Monday, but officials say blood drive donations are lower than expected.

“A lot of people haven’t been coming out,” said David Bosman, the challenger’s chairman.

The planning committee for the challenge had estimated a collection of 1,960 pints of blood - 300 pints more than last year.

Bosman said “Defending Our Title, Defending the Blood Supply,” had a low turnout Monday at Bailey Hall, Communication Arts and Sciences Building and the Red Cross Donor Room, 1800 E. Grand River in Lansing.

“Maybe people had a bad Monday,” Bosman said. “We’re just getting concerned.”

The blood drives are sponsored by ASMSU, Residence Halls Association, Capital Area Transportation Authority and Case Hall student government. ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

Bosman said locations across campus are the same from last year, when MSU beat the Nittany Lions by collecting 1,548 pints of blood.

One of Monday’s participants was chemistry senior Elizabeth Russel, who received a T-shirt, bottle of water and first aid kit.

Linguistics freshman Jacob Elsenheimer said he plans to donate blood, but can’t get around to it this week.

“I was thinking about it,” he said. “I just saw the flier the other day.”

Elsenheimer said he gives blood because it helps out the community.

“I wanted to get a couple of guys from our floor to go do it,” he said.

But some students say they don’t plan on participating in the event.

Andrea Aldenbrand said she has donated in the past, but won’t have time to make it to any of the 16 campus blood drives during the week.

“I just have too many things to do this year,” the international relations senior said.