Penn State’s White Out game is set for Saturday, Nov. 9 against Washington, the university announced Monday. A university source confirmed to The Athletic that the game’s start time will be 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. ET.
The marquee event that also has become Penn State’s biggest recruiting weekend of the season will come one week after Ohio State travels to Beaver Stadium. The uncertainty of being able to have the Ohio State game on Nov. 2 at night made this decision more difficult than usual. Opting to have the White Out, or at least most of the game, played at night forced Penn State to move away from Ohio State, its first choice for the White Out.
Penn State will use the helmet stripe theme for the Ohio State game. This will be the third time it’s done such a theme which will put most of the stadium in white while select sections on the East and West sides will wear blue to mimic the look of the team’s helmet. A kick time for the Ohio State game has not been announced.
When Big Ten newcomer UCLA plays at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 5 sections of the stadium will be alternated between fans wearing blue and white for the stripe out. Kick time is not set for that game either.
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At least Penn State didn’t make the White Out game against Illinois, right?
There’s no question that the White Out is not being used for the biggest home game of the season this year. However, the majority of Penn State fans who have participated in surveys from the athletic department, and even those who participated in The Athletic’s fan survey this month, said they prefer the White Out to be at night, regardless of opponent. The visual spectacle looks better against the night sky. The challenges associated with getting high school prospects to campus for a Saturday game at noon as opposed to 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. could also detract from some of the value of the White Out. The majority of fans are getting what they want, which is always important.
Still, if it was up to me, I would’ve picked Ohio State for the White Out. Lean into the biggest game on the schedule. Go all out, fully recognizing that White Out crowds are different than usual ones. Granted, some of that craziness has to do with a day full of tailgating that likely won’t happen if Penn State plays Ohio State at noon, but the Nittany Lions will need everything to try and spoil the Buckeyes’ season in November.
Should Penn State lose the previous week to Ohio State the feeling among the fanbase going into the White Out might be different. It could feel like a bit of an emotional letdown. However, in this new era of college football and with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, one loss won’t spell the end of the season.
This was a tough call and surely fans will be rowdy for Ohio State regardless of kick time or what color shirt they’re wearing. The helmet stripe does feel like a fine second option for the biggest home game of the season.
Which other kick times are set?
Much of Penn State’s schedule is still being pieced together. Here’s where things stand at the moment.
- Aug. 31 at West Virginia; Noon, Fox
- Sept. 7 vs. Bowling Green; Noon, BTN
- Sept. 21 vs. Kent State; TBA
- Sept. 28 vs. Illinois (Homecoming); 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 5 vs. UCLA (Stripe Out); TBA
- Oct. 12 at USC; TBA
- Oct. 26 at Wisconsin; TBA
- Nov. 2 vs. Ohio State (Helmet Stripe); TBA
- Nov. 9 vs. Washington (White Out); 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m.
- Nov. 16 at Purdue; TBA
- Nov. 23 at Minnesota; TBA
- Nov. 30 vs. Maryland; TBA
(Photo: Dan Rainville / USA Today)
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Audrey Snyder has covered Penn State since 2012 for various outlets, including The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Patriot-News and DKPittsburghSports. Snyder is an active member of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM) and is the professional adviser for Penn State’s student chapter. Follow Audrey on Twitter @audsnyder4
FAQs
The Penn State football program, which had incurred severe sanctions after the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, received good news Monday when the NCAA ended the Nittany Lions' postseason ban and scholarship limits.
How many decibels is the Penn State White Out game? ›
Beaver Stadium (Penn State Nittany Lions)
Known for its “White Out” themed games, when every fan is encouraged to wear white to give the impression that an actual blizzard is about to blow over the field, Penn State's Beaver Stadium can also party like its 1999—to the tune of 122 decibels.
What is the Penn State helmet stripe game? ›
When Ohio State makes the trip to Happy Valley on Nov. 2, Penn State will be hosting its "Helmet Stripe Game," which is similar to the "White Out," but four sections of Beaver Stadium wear blue, mimicking the "stripe" in PSU's helmet. Quote. Penn State Football.
Why did Penn State not get the death penalty? ›
(CBS) Tuesday NCAA president Mark Emmert said he and the executive committee decided against imposing a suspension of play, the so-called "death penalty," on Penn State following the child sex abuse scandal because, "it was too blunt an instrument."
What was the Penn State football scandal? ›
The Penn State child sex abuse scandal concerned allegations and subsequent convictions of child sexual abuse committed by Jerry Sandusky, an assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, over a period of at least fifteen years.
Why is Penn State wearing numbers on their helmets? ›
1968. Once former head coach Joe Paterno took the reins from Engle, Penn State's uniforms got one of its most iconic additions with numbers added to the helmets. Even though the numbers made a brief debut in 1961, they were quickly taken off and not permanently implemented until 1968.
What does black stripe on helmet mean? ›
Once gone, the scarlet stripe that lines the gray helmet is seen. According to OSU's definition, "The black stripe is a symbol of buying in to the program and conducting yourself the right way on and off the field. Having the black stripe removed is a notable distinction and a cause for celebration."
Why does Penn State have pink jerseys? ›
The uncommon color scheme paid homage to the university's original colors, which were selected by three student representatives of varsity athletic programs in 1887. That year, the football team ripped off an “undefeated” 2-0 campaign in the black and pink threads.
What do people at Penn State call themselves? ›
Penn State's school colors
The colors blue and white are fundamentally tied to our shared identity of being Penn Staters since adoption in 1890, representing our community's pride and strong roots across Pennsylvania and beyond.
What do Penn State fans yell? ›
The “We are” chant during football games in Beaver Stadium is one of the most iconic symbols of Penn State football. As the chant goes, one side of the stadium shouts “We are” and the other responds with “Penn State”. But this tradition isn't only used during games.
Although Penn State students never officially adopted Coaly as a mascot, they held him in high esteem nonetheless. "Old" Coaly figured in many colorful undergraduate tales and became so beloved by students that after his death in 1893, his skeleton was preserved as a relic of Penn State's past.
Why did Penn State players opt out of bowl game? ›
The Nittany Lions played short-handed because All-American Olu Fashanu and All-Big Ten picks Chop Robinson, Kalen King and Johnny Dixon opted out of the Peach Bowl to protect themselves from injury. Their absences might not have decided the outcome, but they surely didn't help Penn state against a very strong opponent.
Can Penn State go to a bowl game? ›
Penn State will make its Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl debut, while Ole Miss will play in the Bowl for only the third time in its history, after defeating Georgia Tech 41-18 in the 1971 game and falling 42-3 to TCU in 2014.
Why was Ohio State banned from bowl games? ›
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and other penalties on Tuesday for a scandal that involved eight players taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.
How many Penn State players are not playing in the bowl game? ›
Just one player, All-America defensive end Chop Robinson, has announced plans to opt out of the bowl game.
