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UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State Athletics has announced game day themes for the 2026 football season presented by PSECU.
This year's Penn State White Out, against USC on October 10, will be the 19th full-stadium edition. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on NBC's Big Ten Saturday Night with broadcasts on NBC and Peacock.
Penn State will also play its 11th annual Stripe Out game, against Marshall, and fifth Helmet Stripe game. Kickoff time and television network are to be determined for the homecoming and helmet stripe clash against Wisconsin. Kickoff will be no later than 5 p.m.
2026 Penn State Football Game Themes:
Sept. 5 - Marshall (3:30 p.m. ET – FS1): Home Opener & Stripe Out - Purchase Tickets
The Marshall game is presented by Onvo.
Penn State will open its 140th football season and 67th season in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State will play its 11th annual Stripe Out.
Each section will be coordinated in either all blue or white clothing to create a stripe effect at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. A map can be found here.
Additional game initiatives: Youth Sports Day, Youth Spirit Day, Faculty/Staff Appreciation, Health Care Appreciation
Sept. 19 - Buffalo (noon ET – BTN): THON Game - Purchase Tickets
The Buffalo game is presented by GIANT.
Penn State Football will be partnering with THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.
THON has raised more than $273,000,000 in its history to benefit Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in the fight against childhood cancer.
Families and THON volunteers will be invited to the game.
Additional game initiatives: Youth Sports Day, AG Day, Educator Appreciation, Health Care Appreciation
Sept. 26 - Wisconsin (time and network TBD): Homecoming & Helmet Stripe - Purchase Tickets
The Wisconsin game is presented by Penn State Health.
Penn State will host its 106th homecoming game. The Nittany Lions hold a 75-25-5 record in front of the alumni crowd, including wins in 16 of the last 20 games.
Penn State Homecoming will celebrate the 2026-27 Guide State Forward award winners during the game.
The annual Homecoming Parade will return to campus and downtown State College on Friday night, Sept. 25.
For the fifth time, West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium will have a “helmet stripe” stadium layout.
To complete the look, the majority of West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium will wear white, while a select sections on the East and West side of the stadium will wear blue, to resemble one of Penn State’s classic helmets. A map can be found here.
Additional game initiatives: Youth Sports Day, Faculty/Staff Appreciation, Health Care Appreciation, Educator Appreciation
Oct. 10 - USC (7:30 p.m. ET – NBC and Peacock): Penn State White Out - Purchase Tickets
The USC game and the Penn State White Out is presented by Miter Brands.
The game will be featured on NBC's Big Ten Saturday Night.
All fans are encouraged to sport white attire to ensure a Penn State White Out for the clash with the Trojans.
Official 2026 Penn State White Out gear is coming soon.
The Nittany Lions are set to host their 19th full-stadium Penn State White Out.
The tradition began with a student section White Out in 2004 and expanded to a full-stadium White Out against Notre Dame in 2007.
Penn State holds an 11-7 record when the full stadium wears white.
This will mark the eighth regular season matchup between Penn State and USC.
It will be USC's first visit to Happy Valley since 1994, a 38-14 Penn State victory.
Additional game initatives: Educator Appreciation, Health Care Appreciation
Oct. 31 - Purdue (time and network TBD): All-U Day - Purchase Tickets
The Purdue game is presented by Slaymaker Rentals.
The annual All-University Day celebration will include involvement of student representatives from all Penn State Commonwealth Campuses during halftime.
Additional game initiatives: Faculty/Staff Appreciation, Health Care Appreciation, Educator Appreciation
Nov. 14 - Minnesota (time and network TBD): Military Appreciation - Purchase Tickets
Penn State will also honor the men and women who have bravely served our country by dedicating a game to them when the Nittany Lions take the field against Minnesota.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets to be donated to military members and their families through the “Seats for Servicemembers” program. To support the “Seats for Servicemembers” program visit here or call 1-800-NITTANY.
ROTC elite, active duty, veterans and military families will be honored during the game.
Military Appreciation Day activities are presented by SRS Distribution.
Nov. 21 - Rutgers (time and network TBD): Senior Day - Purchase Tickets
The Rutgers game is presented by Highmark.
Nittany Lion seniors will be introduced for the final time at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium to highlight Senior Day festivities, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association.
Other seniors associated with the program, as well as member from band and spirit, will also be recognized.
Additional game initiatives: Youth Sports Day, Parents & Family Weekend