Looking at Penn State’s most memorable White Out games

Since its inception in 2004, a White Out at Beaver Stadium has been unlike any experience in college football.

Penn State players have talked all week about what it means to them. Nittany Lion fans have expressed their feelings on social media. James Franklin even said the only thing he likes better than Christmas is a White Out.

With No. 2 Penn State hosting No. 19 Michigan on Saturday, it’s time to take a look back at the best White Outs in a short-but-electrifying history.

5. 2014: No. 13 Ohio State 31, Penn State 24 (2 OT)

For the past few years — every time the White Out rolls around — this controversially officiated game is brought up. Penn State fans will always remember getting a terrible call not once, but twice, on the night of Oct. 25, 2014.

On the Lions’ opening drive, a Christian Hackeberg pass that clearly hit the ground first was ruled an interception on the field — and then upheld. Of course, the replay wasn’t reviewed due to an equipment malfunction. Then, later in the first half, Ohio State snapped the ball three seconds after the play clock ran out — and no delay of game penalty was called. Sean Nuernberger drilled a 49-yard field goal.

Penn State showed resolve, scoring 24 unanswered points — the last of which came in overtime. But the Buckeyes prevailed on their national title run.

This game was gut-wrenching for Penn State fans, but that’s what makes it still stick out years removed.

4. 2008: No. 12 Penn State 38, No. 22 Illinois 24

Remember when Illinois was good at football?

It’s been quite some time, but when Penn State hosted the Illini in 2008, it was an important game. Juice Williams, Arrelious Benn and Illinois were coming off a trip to the Rose Bowl — and this White Out win helped the Nittany Lions get to their own “Granddaddy of Them All.”

Penn State fans can mostly thank Derrick Williams for the season-propelling win. The triple-threat speedster had a rushing, receiving and returning touchdown — the last of which opened the fourth quarter and put Penn State up by two touchdowns. Williams totaled 241 all-purpose yards in a dominating evening.

Penn State went on to share the Big Ten title with Ohio State, and it was the Nittany Lions’ White Out triumph over Illinois that helped push them there.

3. 2013: Penn State 43, No. 18 Michigan 40 (4 OT)

With 45 seconds to go in regulation down by a touchdown at Penn State’s own 20-yard line, Hackenberg went to work.

The sophomore quarterback had two completions right off the bat to cover 43 yards — but it was his third that’d go down in Penn State lore. Hackenberg heaved a 36-yard pass to Allen Robinson. The future NFL wideout jumped up and came down with it along Penn State’s sideline, causing bedlam at Beaver Stadium.

Hackenberg — seconds after completing one of the most memorable passes in Beaver Stadium’s existence — dove forward on a QB sneak to send the insane game into overtime.

On the 182nd snap of the game, in the fourth overtime, Bill Belton bounced a two-yard run outside and found paydirt. He raised his arms in the air as the Beaver Stadium patrons celebrated the conclusion to an absurd night.

2. 2005: No. 16 Penn State 17, No. 6 Ohio State 10

After winning just three conference games the previous two seasons, the Nittany Lions needed this one — they needed to show that they were capable of beating top squads, capable of making a run at a Big Ten and national title.

Penn State proved that on one of the greatest nights in program history.

The Nittany Lions edged Ohio State in a slugfest. Paul Posluszny had 14 tackles, and Tamba Hali brought down Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith for a game-clinching strip-sack in the fourth quarter — a freeze frame that so many Nittany Lion fans have forever saved in their memory.

Rushing touchdowns by Williams and Michael Robinson were the difference offensively, both of which came in the fourth quarter.

It was the first time Penn State had defeated a team ranked that high since handling No. 4 Arizona in 1999.

“Everyone feels that Penn State is back,” Penn State linebacker Dan Connor told the Associated Press at the time. “We’re back on the map.”

Sound familiar?

1. 2016: Penn State 24, No. 2 Ohio State 21

At the end of this one, Beaver Stadium’s sea of white completely covered the green grass. The Penn State players — written off after a 2-2 start and an embarrassing loss to Michigan — celebrated with thousands who hopped the railing. James Franklin, joined by athletic director Sandy Barbour, was led off the field in ecstasy.

Every Penn State coach, player, cheerleader and fan left Beaver Stadium on Oct. 22, 2016, absolutely out of breath and with a smile on their face. In what might’ve been the grandest upset in program history, the Nittany Lions — like they did in 2005 — showed the country they were back in a big way.

Marcus Allen’s field goal block and Grant Haley’s 60-yard scoop-and-score gave Penn State the decisive 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter. It’s a play that’ll go down in the Penn State books with Gregg Garrity’s catch in 1982 Sugar Bowl and Ki-Jana Carter’s 83-yard touchdown run in the 1995 Rose Bowl. It was the key play in a game that helped propel Penn State to new heights under Franklin.

The win — one led by Saquon Barkley and the Nittany Lion defense until Haley’s score — is without question the greatest White Out game ever. It led Penn State to where it is today, inching toward the College Football Playoff with a No. 2 ranking.

This story was originally published October 18, 2017 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Looking at Penn State’s most memorable White Out games."