Penn State\u2019s White Out is known as one of the best environments in all of sports, and with under 100 days until Week 1 kicks off, it\u2019s nearly time for it to pick its opponent for the annual theme.<\/p>\n
The Nittany Lions\u2019 home schedule saw a bit of a drop off in level for 2025, leaving just two viable opponents for the White Out \u2014 Oregon and Indiana.<\/p>\n
Oregon<\/p>\n
Penn State found itself back in the Big Ten championship for the first time since 2016 last season, but it ran into then-No. 1 Oregon and fell to its new conference foe in a 45-37 thriller.<\/p>\n
The Nittany Lions will get their chance at revenge, when the Ducks travel to Happy Valley on Sept. 27. The contest marks the first Big Ten game on Penn State\u2019s schedule, and with Oregon slated to be one of the top teams in the country yet again, it should be the easy choice for the White Out.<\/p>\n
Of course, television deals make picking an opponent for the highly-anticipated spectacle all that more difficult. Fox reportedly has first pick at three Big Ten matchups for 2025, and the network has already chosen Texas at Ohio State as one of them.<\/p>\n
Other notable conference games include Penn State at Ohio State and the Buckeyes\u2019 annual rivalry matchup against Michigan, but the Nittany Lions\u2019 contest against Oregon is likely also in contention for one of the two remaining automatic Big Noon Kickoff slots.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Penn State defensive players attempt to block an extra point kick during the Big Ten championship football game between Penn State and Oregon in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Ducks beat the Nittany Lions 45-37.<\/p>\n
Kate Hildebrand<\/p>\n
If Fox keeps its hands off the coveted Big Ten championship rematch, NBC would likely pick the game up as its primetime matchup for that week, making Penn State\u2019s White Out choice a no-brainer.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s still the possibility NBC opts to broadcast a different game that week, even though most of the options aren\u2019t appealing outside of Ohio State at Washington. In that case, Fox would snatch Oregon at Penn State for Big Noon.<\/p>\n
Even if that happened, however, it\u2019s still the clear choice for the spectacle. The Happy Valley faithful showed during the Nittany Lions\u2019 College Football Playoff matchup against SMU that noon White Outs can work, and they\u2019re going to have to if the university wants fans in the stands throughout the contest going forward.<\/p>\n
Last season, Penn State picked Washington as its White Out opponent. It seemed like a good pick considering the success the Huskies had in 2023, but it ended horribly \u2014 the game was only broadcast on Peacock, was over by halftime and the stands had emptied out by the middle of the third quarter.<\/p>\n
The Nittany Lions should be careful to not make the same mistake by picking a game featuring a team that did well in 2024 but is set for a drop off in 2025. Selecting Oregon is a no-brainer, and should be done whether the game kicks off at noon or 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Indiana<\/p>\n
White Out games belong at night, and while Oregon is expected to be Penn State\u2019s best home opponent, there’s a chance that game will be featured on Fox\u2019s Big Noon Kickoff.<\/p>\n
Not only are the Ducks a first-time conference opponent for the Nittany Lions this season, but this matchup projects as the best Big Ten game on Sept. 27, and it\u2019s even the rematch of last season\u2019s Big Ten Championship. All these reasons make it seem like this game will be picked by Fox.<\/p>\n
As such, the best opponent for the White Out would be Indiana on Nov. 8. With Fox reportedly getting first choice at three games for its noon slot this upcoming season, it\u2019s very hard to imagine that Penn State-Indiana would be one of them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Michigan wide receiver Peyton O’Leary, left, reaches for a first down while being tackled by Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo\/AJ Mast)<\/p>\n
AJ MAST<\/p>\n
Even if Penn State-Indiana is available once Fox gets its turn in the pecking order for Nov. 8 games, Oregon at Iowa and Washington at Wisconsin \u2014 both of which are first-time Big Ten matchups \u2014 are also playing that Saturday, so there\u2019s some other quality options to pick over the Nittany Lions\u2019 game.<\/p>\n
While Indiana might not project as Penn State\u2019s best home opponent, it\u2019s still a good-enough matchup that\u2019s worthy of a White Out.<\/p>\n
The Hoosiers are coming off of an 11-2 campaign last season, which included a berth in the College Football Playoff. They made some key additions to attempt to replace the production lost from last year\u2019s squad, like bringing in Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to 2025, Indiana\u2019s win total over\/under is set at 8.5, according to FanDuel. Prior to their game against Penn State, the Hoosiers\u2019 notable opponents are Illinois, Iowa and Oregon.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s possible Indiana will come into Happy Valley with just one loss, and if that happens, it would be expected that Indiana is ranked. Even if they have two losses, the Hoosiers could still be in the tail end of the top 25, and a Big Ten opponent with a 7-2 record is, by no means, a pushover.<\/p>\n
Indiana isn\u2019t Oregon, but it still offers the Nittany Lions a quality home opponent with a better chance of the game being played at night.<\/p>\n
MORE FOOTBALL COVERAGE<\/p>\n