It's big. It's loud. It's a dramatic scene in a hallowed venue, so powerful that the broadcast crew goes silent as the music roars, the band dances and the Nittany Lions strain to be let out of the tunnel.
The narrative before the game will be all about how intimidating that scene is, how the noise and energy of the White Out will destroy Oregon's concentration and send Dan Lanning and the Ducks scurrying back to Eugene as the team that can't win big games.
The fourth quarter retrospectives will be a referendum on their legitimacy as a contender. The blowout loss in the Rose Bowl is certain to be brought up., win or lose.
6 DAYS
— THE PENN STATE MAFIA (@PennStateMafia) September 21, 2025
2021 post Covid lockdown, Nittany Nation was in their seats rocking Beaver Stadium 60 minutes before kickoff. Atmosphere was absolutely electric. Need it to be even crazier than this. Be in ur seats early, be drunk, and let's be the F&C%ING DIFFERENCE. Love u all pic.twitter.com/Yx3R1pX1St
Dan Lanning, Coaching Record:
Against unranked teams: 28–0
Against ranked teams: 10–6
Against Top 5 teams: 1–4
Lanning has been a beast when he has a talent advantage, adequate against ranked teams but he's faltered against opponents with equal or greater talent. In his defense, that sample size is small and it includes four games from his first two years as a head coach.
James Franklin Coaching Record:
Against unranked teams: 87-16
Against ranked teams: 17-26
Against Top 5: 1-15
Against Top 10: 3-18
Both coaches wear the label "he can't win the big one," much in the way Kirby Smart and Ryan Day once did, fairly or not. Hasn't doesn't mean can't.
Meanwhile, Penn State fans are massively content that the Ducks will fold in Happy Valley like Washington did last year or Auburn did in 2021.
Oregon QB Dante Moore says he will talk with Broncos QB Bo Nix about playing in the White Out. Nix played in the 2021 White Out while still at Auburn.
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) September 21, 2025
Nix went 21-37 for 185 yards in the 28-20 Penn State victory #WeAre #PennState https://t.co/Czpicn4t5c pic.twitter.com/Xr0umfiY1p
Duck fans take great pride in Autzen as an intimidating stadium atmosphere, so they can't really fault this gleeful energy around the power of the White Out. But as a storyline it's given too much weight. Yes, it's one of the iconic scenes in college sports, and Lanning and his 4-0, No. 6-ranked squad will have to steel themselves mentally for the noise and distraction it presents.
The true challenge, however, remains a PSU defense that features Zane Durant, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Tony Rojas, Amare Campbell, A.J. Harris and Zakee Wheatley. In three starts against Nevada, Florida International and Villanova this group has allowed just 5.7 points a game while racking up 29 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
They've limited their three Tomato Can opponents to 3.59 yards per play, fourth in the nation. Opponents average 2.83 yards a carry when they try to run the football. Durant is tough to move, and Rojas and Campbell swarm.
Dennis-Sutton is so quick off the ball it looks like he knows the snap count. Harris has posted a 40.2-inch vertical and a 4.54 40, one of the few cornerbacks who can match up with Dakorien Moore physically.
Penn States defense 📈 No one can match up 1v1 across the board 😤 pic.twitter.com/FAII41vVEF
— State Media (@StateMediaPSU) September 5, 2025
Crowds give themselves too much credit. The truly intimidating thing about playing Penn State is that they are a great football team, as talented and experienced defensively as the Ohio State squad that rolled the Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl.
If Lanning and the Ducks want to smash that narrative, they'll need a better plan and a better mindset for their third crack at a Jim Knowles defense. In a matchup of No. 6 at No. 2, execution matters way more than fan trash talk.