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The Penn State Nittany Lions recently announced their home game day themes for the 2024 season, including the annual White Out game.
The great debate amongst Nittany Lion fans came to an end today as the university announced who would be the feature game, in arguably one of college football’s greatest attractions, the White Out.
Big Ten Conference newcomer Washington will be Penn State’s ninth different opponent in the all-stadium White Out on Nov. 9. Penn State selected Washington over Ohio State, who has been a White Out opponent four times (five overall), and was strongly thought of to be the this year's opponent.
The prevailing notion was FOX most likely wanting to make the Ohio State game subject to Big Noon Kickoff, the consensus is that the White Out shines brightest in prime time. Opting for Washington will allow the game to be on NBC’s Big Ten Saturday Night. CBS aired the 2023 White Out where Penn State shut out Iowa 31-0.
2024 Penn State Game Day Themes
Sept. 7: Bowling Green, THON Game
Sept. 21: Kent State, Military Appreciation Day
Sept. 28: Illinois, Generations of Greatness Game
Oct. 5: UCLA, Penn State Stripe Out
Nov. 2: Ohio State, Helmet Stripe
Nov. 9: Washington, White Out
Nov. 30: Maryland, Senior Day
Key Takeaways
The Penn State administration should be applauded for selecting Washington. The consensus around campus all preseason was hoping the opponent would not be Ohio State, and in turn, not a noon kickoff. The debate waged between Illinois, UCLA and Washington.
Washington having just participated in the College Football Playoff National Championship, and the Huskies having their own color theme in “Purple Reign” allows this to be a potential clash down the line. Overall Penn State has won its last four White Outs, and six of the last seven. The last opponent to conquer the White Out was Ohio State in 2018, 27-26.
Having attended a daytime White Out—vs. Alabama in 2011—it isn’t the same at night. There is something to be said when the crowd is going nuts and "Mo Bamba" or "Kernkraft 400" is blasting from the Beaver Stadium speakers in the veil of the night. That is one of the great visuals in sports.
One of my favorite newer traditions is the Generations of Greatness game, where Penn State wears a throwback that collects various parts of Penn State’s rich history. At this year's game (Sept. 28 vs. Illinois), Penn State will honor the 12-0 1994 team. Behind an offense that averaged 43.8 points per game with quarterback Kelly Collins, running back Ki-Jana Carter, wide receiver Bobby Engram and tight end Kyle Brady, the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten championship and defeated No. 12-ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
During college football’s 150th anniversary, ESPN named the 1994 Nittany Lions as the No. 16 team of all time and the highest-ranked team to not win a national championship. ESPN conveniently had Nebraska's 1994 team one spot higher at No. 15.
Ohio State gets the Helmet Stripe game, which would be a stunning visual in prime time.time. There is a good chance this will be FOX’s Big Noon game over the Oregon Ducks visiting the Michigan Wolverines on Nov. 2.
I have never been a fan of the Stripe Out, I don’t feel Beaver Stadium has the proper aesthetics to make this work. Maybe try a checkerboard for once?
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