The atmosphere on Saturday night should be electric.
'We need this place rocking': James Franklin sends message to fans ahead of Penn State's White Out game against Oregon originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Penn State Nittany Lions will play their 18th full-stadium White Out game on Saturday when they host No. 6 Oregon at Beaver Stadium.
The Nittany Lions always have one of the best home-field advantages and atmospheres in college football, but it gets taken to another level each year for the White Out game.
With Penn State ranked No. 3 in the country, this will be just the second time the Nittany Lions' White Out game will feature an AP Top 10 matchup, and Penn State coach James Franklin wants to make sure the fans make the atmosphere something no one's seen before.
James Franklin Sends Fans a Message
Nittany Lions' fans never seem to disappoint when it comes to showing up and showing out for their football team. This season, there's a sense around Happy Valley that it could be the year Penn State gets back to the top of college football.
With national championship aspirations, you can expect fans will already be more than motivated for the White Out game on Saturday. However, Franklin made sure of that this week by challenging the fans.
"We need this place rocking. Need to have a distinct home-field advantage. I'm expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen.... We want to make it clearly obvious to everybody what the most challenging environment to play in is, in all of sports, let alone college football," Franklin said. "I know a good portion of our fans like to sit down, except for third downs, the red zone, and what they consider critical times of the game.
PENN STATE VS. OREGON IS OFFICIALLY A NIGHT WHITE OUT GAME
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) May 29, 2025
OUR BEAUTIFUL WHITEOUT HAS THE BIG GAME BOOKING
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"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."
Through three weeks, Penn State has taken care of business but hasn't played anyone that has given the nation any added confidence that this year will be the year. Now, the Nittany Lions get their first big test of the year.
Franklin has a history of losing the big games, and now he's leaning on his home fanbase to be the 12th man on Saturday to push Penn State to victory.
"Urban Meyer always has, kind of, discussions and debates on what's the hardest place to play in college football," Franklin added. "I think he usually says between Penn State White Out at night and LSU night games. So we want to make it clearly obvious to everybody what is the most challenging and difficult environment to play in, in all of sports, let alone college football."
Penn State holds an 11-6 record in full-stadium White Out games, including a six-game win streak.
— CFB Tracker (@MatchupTracker) September 22, 2025
Will you be watching the White Out on Saturday night? 🦁⚪️ pic.twitter.com/66y1EowRF7
Penn State has won six straight White Out games, and eight of the last nine. However, the last loss came to Ohio State in 2018. That was also the last time a White Out game opponent was ranked inside the Top 6 in the country, as Oregon will be on Saturday night.
Neither the Nittany Lions or the Ducks have really been tested yet this season, and Saturday night's White Out game will certainly fit into that category.
Time will tell which historic college football program will come out on top, but one things for sure, the atmosphere won't disappoint.
Category: General Sports
