Penn State’s White Out is usually sold as one of college football’s biggest stagecraft nights - a sea of white, a deafening Beaver Stadium, a program wrapped in spectacle. This year, though, the backdrop is a little different. The Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s matchup with USC on a two-game losing streak, which makes the buildup feel unusual even by White Out standards.
That hasn’t dimmed the excitement for the newcomers, especially the players who are about to experience it for the first time.
Tight end Benjamin Brahmer said the atmosphere has already been described to him in ways that make it sound almost unreal.
“To see the crowd, see how loud they get, and feed off that energy, it’s going to be a cool experience,” Brahmer said Wednesday. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, so I’m excited.”
Brahmer said teammates have told him the scene is “surreal” and that running out there feels like something out of a movie.
“I’m juiced to get out there and feed off that energy from the crowd,” Brahmer said.
Penn State’s roster includes more than 50 returning players, so the first-timers haven’t had to rely entirely on imagination. They’ve had veterans around them to explain what Saturday night can turn into.
Offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh is one of those veterans. He’ll play in his fourth White Out, and he’s seen the experience from both sides of the result. Even after being part of one of the more anticipated White Outs in recent memory against Oregon last season, Donkoh said the night still ranks among his favorite moments every year.
“I told them, when we run out of the tunnel, soak it all in,” Donkoh said. “It’s going to be a movie scene out there. It’s definitely one of the coolest things that I’ve ever been a part of.”
Still, Donkoh said the key is not letting the spectacle swallow the assignment.
“Embrace it and lean into it when there’s opportunities to lean into it, but don’t get caught up in that,” Donkoh said. “At the end of the day, we’re there to play football and play at the highest level.”
Kicker Ryan Barker, who has also been through multiple White Outs, made the same point from a different angle. For the players seeing it for the first time, he said, the challenge is keeping the noise around the game from becoming a distraction.
“I think the most important thing is just eliminating the distractions,” Barker said. “A lot of guys will be experiencing that for the first time. So that’s kind of just been my message to all of the guys who are experiencing this for the first time, just keep the main thing the main thing.”
Saturday also brings a first White Out for Matt Campbell, though his job extends well beyond the sideline. He’ll also be greeting recruits during one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the season.
“It’s such an unbelievable opportunity to showcase this community and showcase the fan support, the community, what this place means, and how special it is to play football here at Penn State,” Campbell said. “It continues to showcase how special it is to play here at Penn State.”
Penn State and USC are set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday in Happy Valley. For the Nittany Lions, the night carries obvious football stakes: end the skid, avoid a third straight loss to begin Big Ten play, and get back on track. But it also offers a chance to reconnect with a fan base that has watched the season shift quickly over the past two weeks.
Donkoh said a packed house would mean plenty.
“It would mean that the fans still care about us, still love us, still give us their support,” Donkoh said. “I know the defense especially feeds into that, feeds into the crowd pouring into them.
I look forward to it a lot, and it’s gonna be fun. It always is.”
In Other News...
Penn State Faces Two Big Concerns Before White Out Vs USC
Penn State spent part of the week clearing the air before a White Out showdown with USC, and the messaging from the podium was pointed enough to show where the pressure points are. A press conference with head coach Matt Campbell, defensive coordinator DAnton Lynn, quarterback Rocco Becht, offensive guard Cooper Cousins and linebacker Cael Brezina gave the usual game-week mix of injury updates and self-scouting, with receiver Koby Howards status drawing attention as the Nittany Lions continue to manage their depth.
Just as notable was the tone around the offense and defense after the Northwestern game, where the conversation turned to quarterback play, overall offensive struggles and what this teams identity needs to look like going forward. On the other side of the ball, the defense is still sorting through challenges that were exposed in that recent trip, and with USC coming into a White Out atmosphere, Penn State does not have much margin for lingering issues to linger much longer. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State White Out Just Became A Snapshot Of This Teams Pressure
The White Out is still one of the biggest scenes in college football, but this years version at Beaver Stadium is carrying an unusual edge. Resale prices have dropped sharply in recent days, reflecting how quickly the mood has shifted around Penn State after an 0-2 start in Big Ten play and a pair of recent losses. What is usually a premium ticket has become a barometer for the pressure building around a team that entered the season with much different expectations.
Matt Campbell acknowledged the struggle and said the focus has to be on growth and improvement, even as the program leans on the same fan base that has made the White Out a signature event. The contrast is hard to miss: a national showcase still capable of drawing attention, paired with a season that suddenly feels more fragile than it did a few weeks ago. How Penn State responds on that stage will say a lot about where this team is headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Alumni Are Making Early NFL Noise For Multiple Teams
Penn States NFL footprint was hard to miss in the latest round of games, with several former Nittany Lions turning up in key moments for their new teams. Jahan Dotson found the end zone for the Atlanta Falcons, Pat Freiermuth hauled in a touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Mike Gesicki scored for the Cincinnati Bengals, giving the program another reminder that its alumni keep showing up on Sundays.
The defense joined the party, too, as Odafe Oweh delivered a sack and forced fumble for the Washington Commanders. Tyler Warren emerged as one of the Indianapolis Colts top targets, while Theo Johnson added a touchdown for the New York Giants, a spread of production that reflects how widely Penn State talent is already being trusted across the league. [Read more 🡒]