But it’s not just the game itself that makes a Saturday White Out so unique. Tens of thousands of fans who can’t find tickets — the cheapest one on StubHub was $776, two hours before kickoff — are simply content to tailgate in parking lots and spill out of bars downtown.
The atmosphere is electric from before sunrise until hours after the calendar turns to Sunday. On Saturday, before Penn State took on Oregon, students started lining up around 6:30 a.m. for ESPN’s College GameDay on the lawn of Old Main. Most fans were tailgating by the early afternoon ahead of the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
There’s nothing quite like a Penn State White Out. Here’s what a Saturday’s like during such a game, starting with bleary-eyed students at College GameDay, continuing to tailgates and then culminating in the game itself, which Penn State lost 30-24 in double-overtime.
ESPN’s College GameDay
The crew of ESPN’s College GameDay sits in front of Old Main on Penn State’s campus, ahead of Saturday night’s Penn State vs. Oregon college football game, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. They’re wearing white as a nod to the Nittany Lions’ annual White Out. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State fans, many of them students, gather Saturday morning for ESPN’s College GameDay on the lawn of Old Main on the Penn State campus. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Fans hold up signs during ESPN’s College GameDay as it films at Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
From left to right, College GameDay analysts Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and Steve Coughlin “Stanford Steve” hand an oversized check to William and Carson Albright during Saturday morning’s Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Albright kicked a 33-yard field goal to win. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Penn State legend LaVar Arrington high-fives fans on his way to the set of ESPN’s College GameDay, which set up on the lawn of Old Main on Penn State’s campus on the morning of Sept. 27, 2025. Arrington was the guest picker for the show and, unsurprisingly, he went with the Nittany Lions. Allen Kee ESPN Images
ESPN’s College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee takes off his shirt and cracks open a beverage after picking the Nittany Lions to beat Oregon on Saturday at the set of College GameDay on the lawn of Old Main at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Around Town/Tailgating
An Oregon flag and a Penn State flag hang outside of Appalachian Outdoors as fans fill the sidewalks along Allen Street before the game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Fans fill the patio at Bill Pickle’s Tap Room before the Penn State and Oregon football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Fans tailgate before the Penn State football game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A small tailgate spread in a parking lot outside Beaver Stadium ahead of the Penn State vs. Oregon game on Sept. 27, 2025. Josh Moyer jmoyer@centredaily.com
A tailgate cooks up lobster tails before the Penn State and Oregon football game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Andrew Starr makes a pass to fans walking by his tailgate outside of Beaver Stadium before the Penn State game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A student waves a stuffed duck in the air as the Nittanyville campers wait to be let into Beaver Stadium for the Penn State football game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State Blue Band drum major Ellie Sheehan high-fives a young fan as they wait for the Penn State football team to arrive at Beaver Stadium for the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Young fans hold up a sign as they wait for the Penn State football team to arrive at Beaver Stadium for the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Game
Fireworks go off as the Penn State football team runs out for the White Out game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The sun sets behind the temporary stands on the west side of Beaver Stadium before the White Out Penn State football game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A fan claps along with the Penn State Blue Band in their pregame show on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Penn State student section sings the alma mater before the White Out game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Penn State student section cheers during the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 in the White Out. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Penn State Lionettes dance during the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
A young fan cheers during the Penn State White Out game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Fans cheers during the Penn State White Out game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
The Penn State student section during the White Out game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar walks off the field in frustration after an interception ended the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
Penn State football coach James Franklin stands with his arms around his daughter after the loss to Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM.
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