UNIVERSITY PARK — College football wouldn’t be college football without its traditions. It’s part of what separates it from other sports.

Week four of Penn State’s 2025 season features one of the sport’s most storied and iconic traditions: Penn State football’s

White Out game.

“I’ve been to everyone,” said longtime Nittany Lion fan Brian Heckert, of Reedsville. “My first reaction at the first White Out was ‘we really pulled off this White out.’ It was an amazing sight to see for the first time.”

The countdown is on in Happy Valley, and it’s not for just another game on the schedule.

In a few short hours, Beaver Stadium will again transform into a sea of white as 110,000-plus fans pack into one of the largest venues in the country for Penn State’s annual White Out game.

This year’s opponent, Oregon, brings both talent and national attention to Beaver Stadium. The No. 3 Nittany Lions will host the No. 6 Ducks under the lights, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. in a game that promises a playoff-like atmosphere. But for the players, especially those who’ve lived and dreamed of this night, it can’t come soon enough.

“It’s a blessing to go on that field and play in front of diehard fans like that and play in this environment of football,” said safety Zakee Wheatley. “This is what we all dreamed of. So I’m just really telling (the younger players), take it all in. When you walk out that tunnel, you’re not going to have a million of these moments, so take it all in.”

This year’s White Out will be Wheatley’s last after the veteran defensive back opted to return for his senior season, and the moment carries emotional baggage for.

No player on the active roster has lost a White Out game, with Penn State claiming victory in each of the last six occasions. But that streak will be put to the test against the highest ranked White Out opponent since 2018, when the undefeated Ducks look to play spoiler.

The Nittany Lions are relying on what’s widely regarded as one of the best atmospheres in college football, hoping to come away with their highest ranked win since beating No. 2 Ohio State in 2016.

The White Out has been described as “the best atmosphere in college football.” All White Out games are showcased with an advanced fireworks display lining the east and west ends of Beaver Stadium.

During these games, Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400” is often played after a big play, and rapper Sheck Wes’ “Mo Bamba” is normally played on the first defensive snap of the game to drive up the intimidation factor.

While speaking to the media ahead of the matchup, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was asked about the environment the Ducks are heading into and if the team is playing “Mo Bamba” at practice.

“It’ll play. It’ll play a couple times. We’ll do everything we can to be prepared for that environment for sure,” Lanning said. “I don’t love that song.”

How did the White Out begin?

It started with one initiative: boost the fans’ experience.

The Nittany Lions’ White Out tradition was started by Guido D’Elia, who was at the time a Penn State marketing and branding consultant.

In 2004, to try and draw extra excitement for the team in what was a down year for the program, the Penn State Athletic Department asked students to wear white to the upcoming game against Purdue.

More than 20,000 students participated and, despite losing the game, it was deemed a success. Students were again asked to wear white to the following game against Iowa in what is considered to be one of the program’s worst outings. Although the “wear white” participation was about the same as it was in the previous game, the crushing 6-4 loss resulted in a drop in popularity of the event. A final attempt was made for the final game of the season against Michigan State.

This time, however, the Athletic Department decided to change strategy with a “Code Blue” dress code and extended it to all fans in the stadium. Students were sent from dorm to dorm to spread the word to maximize participation. Penn State won 37-13 thanks to a 28-point third quarter off the back of a plethora of Spartan interceptions. Despite finally getting a win, the Code Blue tradition did not stick and students went back to wearing white the following season. Even though the 2004 season had three games with dress codes, only the game against Purdue is counted as an official White Out.

White Out, big wins

The White Out would be cemented in 2005 with an upset win over rival Ohio State. The crowd was the second largest in Beaver Stadium history at the time, which many believe helped Penn State win.

For the 2007 game against Notre Dame, the all-white dress code would be officially extended to all spectators, not just the student section. This was the first of only three White Outs to feature a non-conference opponent, with the others being Alabama in 2011 and Auburn in 2021. From 2012 to 2019, the game alternated between Ohio State and Michigan.

Perhaps the most influential White Out was Penn State’s 24-21 upset win over No. 2 Ohio State in 2016, which is regarded by many as the best game in Penn State football history. The pivotal play, Grant Haley’s blocked field goal return in the 4th quarter, was voted as the best Penn State play of the century.

Their White Out rematch two years later, a 27-26 loss, broke the Beaver Stadium attendance record, edging out the previous record (the 2017 White Out against Michigan, a 42-13 victory) by less than 70 attendees.

‘We need this place rocking’

In 2024, the White Out was against Washington officially but Penn State head coach James Franklin called for “White Out energy” against ranked Illinois to create the same effect.

“We need this place rocking,” Franklin said of today’s game. “Need to have a distinct home-field advantage. I’m expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen. This is a four-quarter, one play at a time game that we need to be on our feet, screaming a collective battle cry in the stadium. So we’re going to need everybody’s help.”

This matchup is one of the most anticipated games of the season. Between it being a White Out, a Big Ten championship rematch and the meeting between two top-10 teams, this is shaping up to be a must-watch event. A win would put either team in strong contention to compete for another Big Ten title.

“This may be the most anticipated White Out,” Heckert said. “Look for the attendance to be a top five.”

And the outcome? “Close game with PSU running game taking over in the second half of the game for the win.”