Penn State to host White Out game vs. Washington: Did Nittany Lions get it right? (2024)

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.

Did Penn State get it right?

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)

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