We’re 15 Saturdays away from the White Out, when Oregon visits Beaver Stadium for a prime-time kickoff that’ll air on NBC’s “Big Ten Saturday Night” — a matchup that’ll play a big early season role in shaping the conversation around the best team in conference and the best team in the nation.
With the 12-team College Football Playoff it’s not a game that’ll prevent the loser from advancing to meaningful postseason play, but it’ll at least be something to talk about.
There’s a little to talk about this far in advance of the game, too.
Here’s my list …
• First, thankfully the White Out is set. That means no whiney, when-will-it-happen complaints from the more needy members of the Penn State fanbase as the season approaches.
• Second, thankfully the White Out will be at night. That means no whiney it’s-a-noon-kickoff, Big Noon games-stink complaints from the more needy members of the Penn State fanbase. All the whining last season felt less like anticipation and more like entitlement, so this season that’s out of the way.
• Penn State has won five White Outs in a row and has a 10-6 record in full-stadium White Outs.
• Those five victories have all kicked off at 7:30 p.m. or later, but none of the opponents was as strong as Oregon might be this season. As a refresher the victories have come against Wisconsin (2024, 35-6), Iowa (2023, 31-0), Minnesota (2022, 45-17), Auburn (2021, 28-200 and Michigan (2019, 28-21).
• Despite anticipation from blue-and-white faithful, Penn State-Oregon might not be the most-watched game of the day on Sept. 27, or even the most-watched game in its timeslot that day. Alabama visits Georgia at the same time, with that game airing on ABC.
• The White Out might be the best thing Penn State Athletics does each year — even though fans do much of the work by bringing the expected energy while the athletics folks get the credit. Still, the athletic department deserves credit for planning, bells and whistles and, of course, the fireworks.
• The White Out probably does not rank as a tradition for me (and kudos to my friend Russ for pointing this out, a fellow old guy who feels the same way). It’s a happening, an event, and a beneficiary of abundant hype and praise. For me, Penn State traditions would be the Blue Band’s pregame march, the simple blue-and-white uniforms and so much more. Traditions happen every week, generation to generation, not just once a season. Again, though, the White Out is impressive.
The Best Traditions in College Football according to Field Rush Ajay & Sky 👀
— Field Rush (@thefieldrush) June 9, 2025
What did they miss? 🫨 pic.twitter.com/OqzzEl7XJf
• If the game were a tradition, setting a date for it would be independent of opponent or start time. Penn State would simply “own” the promotion, set a date and move forward.
• The White Out certainly works as a public relations and recruiting tool. It’s energetic and impressive — something that produces wonderful vibes in person and compelling visuals for anyone watching from.
• Only one White Out game has started at noon (Nov. 21, 2015, vs. Michigan).
• Only three others have started earlier than 7:30 p.m. Those were: Sept. 10, 2011, vs. Alabama (3:30 p.m.), Oct. 27, 2012, vs. Ohio State (5:30 p.m.) and Oct. 12, 2013, vs. Michigan (5 p.m.)
• It’s hard to believe the White Out game is a revenue driver on a level that’s different from any other big game or night game. After all, the stadium seats the same number of people no matter the game and many hotels or rental units require a two-night minimum no matter the opponent. It’s a great argument about financial impact; it just does not seem obviously different than any other home game. Although fans probably due consume more alcohol, and generate more money, for a night game compared to a noon game.
• Michigan and Ohio State have been the most common White Out opponents, with four games apiece.
• Full-stadium White Outs started in in 2007, and have been conducted annually, not counting the 2020 covid-impacted season when there was a White Out in name — but without fans.
• Student section White Outs provided the foundation for the eventual stadium-wide effort. Those started in 2004 with a game against Purdue.
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