The atmosphere at Beaver Stadium during the Penn State White Out is renowned not only in the Big Ten but across the entire landscape of college football. This iconic tradition, which began with the student section in 2004, has evolved into a thrilling spectacle that fills the stadium with over 100,000 fans dressed in white. The first full-stadium White Out took place in 2007, and its legacy continues as the No. 6 Oregon Ducks prepare to face the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
As the Ducks gear up for the highly anticipated matchup, Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledges the challenge posed by the White Out environment. “That’s part of what makes college football fun is it’s a real one to get to go play in,” Lanning stated. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the game rather than the occasion, noting, “We’ve got a great atmosphere here; it’s been an asset for us, and I’m sure they’re counting on it being an asset for them.”
The White Out tradition encourages all Penn State fans to don white apparel, whether it’s a T-shirt, shirt, or sweatshirt, creating a striking visual effect that’s become synonymous with Nittany Lions football. The tradition has garnered enough attention to have its own Wikipedia page, showcasing its significance in the realm of college sports. Penn State coach James Franklin once remarked, “A ‘White Out’ game day is something you don’t really understand unless you can come experience it for yourself.”
The Nittany Lions boast an impressive 11-6 record in full-stadium White Out games. Notably, five of their six losses have come against top-15 ranked teams, including powerhouses like Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State. One of the most memorable moments in college football history occurred during the 2019 White Out against Michigan, where the deafening crowd noise forced the Wolverines to call a timeout before their first play, contributing to a 28-21 victory for Penn State.
In preparation for the intense atmosphere, Lanning and the Ducks plan to practice with the song “Mo Bamba” playing, simulating the noise that awaits them in Happy Valley. “We’ll do everything we can to be prepared for that environment for sure,” he said, adding humorously, “I don’t love that song.” Meanwhile, Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher expressed excitement about experiencing the White Out firsthand, stating, “You play football for a lot of reasons, but those big games and those big spots, you can’t beat it.”
While noise levels may impact Oregon's defense, they are less of a concern when the Nittany Lions are on offense. However, players like edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei recognize the challenge ahead, describing it as potentially “the loudest stadium I’ve been in.” He added, “I feel confident in our team... It’s a blessing to go out on that kind of stage and play ball.”
Under James Franklin's leadership, Penn State has achieved a record of 8-3 in White Out games, with six consecutive victories. The Nittany Lions have also triumphed against top teams such as Michigan and a then-No. 2 Ohio State. Franklin has urged the fan base to create an unparalleled atmosphere, stating, “We need this place rocking. We want to make it clearly obvious to everybody what is the most challenging and difficult environment to play in all of sports, let alone college football.”
The upcoming clash between No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) and No. 3 Penn State (3-0) promises to be a thrilling encounter, reminiscent of last year's Big Ten Championship game. Here are the game details:
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 Time: 4:30 p.m. PT Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA TV Channel: NBC/PeacockFans can watch the game live for free with Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial), or stream it live on demand with Peacock. Other streaming options include DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers), with Sling also offering a college football season pass. However, availability may vary outside of the Pacific Northwest.
