Penn State White Out games at night are some of the most intimidating, difficult settings to play in college football. For head coach James Franklin, though, he wants fans to make a statement that it's not only one of the toughest places to play, but that it's the toughest.
During Monday's press conference, Franklin pointed to Urban Meyer's frequent debate as to which environment is the hardest to play in college football. He said that Beaver Stadium makes the cut, at least in the top two, specifically for White Out night games.
Top two with LSU night games isn't enough for Franklin looking ahead to the Week 5 contest again Big Ten foe Oregon.
He challenged fans to make the environment the most difficult to play in all of sports, not only in college football. It shouldn't be difficult for blue and white fans to make that possible. Franklin said he wants fans on their feet constantly. A first down, a punt, or a kickoff should have the same energy as nail-biting plays and scoring opportunities.
"I know a good portion of our fans like to sit down except for third downs and red zone and what they consider critical times of the game, but I'm challenging everybody," Franklin said to reporters. "This is a four quarter, one play at a time — first [down], second down, third down, fourth down, punts, kickoff coverage — that we need to be on our feet, screaming a collective battle cry in the stadium."
"I'm expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen." 🔊
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 22, 2025
James Franklin is no stranger to White Outs, and he's challenging @PennStateFball fans to bring the noise at all times Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/uzgCT21JwC
If fans deliver, they have the potential to make it nearly impossible for the Ducks (4-0) to scrape out a win. Though it'll be a close battle regardless, the Nittany Lions (3-0) need to have all the momentum and energy on their side consistently throughout the night.
Penn State is currently favored on Saturday and held a tight lead in odds since the preseason. Now as days tick away and the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game rematch is at arm's reach, Penn State holds a 3.5-point lead in favor of winning its first big time game of the season, according to FanDuel's odds. An electric Beaver Stadium environment will surely help out with that too, and Franklin's challenge doesn't seem hard for fans to successfully complete.
"We need this place rockin'. We need to have a distinct home field advantage," Franklin said. "We always do, but I'm expecting this to be an environment like no one has ever seen."