The Penn State White Out game always produces one of the most electric atmospheres in the country each college football season. Beaver Stadium is packed to the brim with over 100,000 fans wearing white, waving towels, and screaming at the top of their lungs.
While the entire stadium is dressed in white, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin recently explained why, despite numerous requests, the Penn State uniforms for this weekend’s White Out game against Oregon might not match what the crowd is wearing.
James Franklin Declines Uniform Request for Penn State White Out
When fans hear about the Penn State White Out, most probably assume it means the entire stadium will be wearing white and that the players will be too.
However, on the “Pat McAfee Show,” James Franklin explained that the Nittany Lions will not be wearing white despite fans’ frequent requests. He said the contrasting uniforms not only look better but also create a challenge for the opposing quarterback while giving Penn State’s signal-caller an advantage.
“Everybody always wants us to wear white jerseys for the white out..
The reality is you want the blue contrasting uniforms” ~ @coachjfranklin #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/R0nztKkRpi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 26, 2025
“So everybody wants us to wear white with the whiteout, but the reality is, you want the contrast,” Franklin said. “So you got the black sky, you got the white crowd, and then you got the blue contrasting uniforms. It’s great for quarterbacks to, the white would just blend it all in.”
It’s a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Penn State’s uniform decision and answers a question fans have asked for years. Franklin’s explanation makes sense because if the entire stadium is white, it would be difficult for Drew Allar, Penn State’s quarterback, to locate receivers in white against an all-white background.
So when the Nittany Lions host Oregon for what should be the best matchup of the weekend, expect the players to be wearing blue.
Oregon will not only have to contend with the noise in Beaver Stadium, which is expected to be filled to its capacity of 106,572 screaming fans, but with the Ducks wearing white, quarterback Dante Moore will also face the challenge of locating his receivers against an all-white background.
Penn State and Oregon enter the game undefeated, but neither has faced a real test this season. The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 3 in the country, and Oregon is No. 6, so a win for either team would help solidify their status as championship contenders.
Penn State hosts the Ducks for the annual White Out game on Saturday, September 27. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on NBC.
