Yesterday, Penn State athletics announced the date of the White Out and Stripe Out games, as well as the rest of 2016's game themes. The White Out will be against Ohio State, who barely edged out a 31-24 overtime win in the 2014 edition of the White Out en route to a National Championship.
That game is best remembered by Nittany Nation as one stolen from the Lions by the casual ineptitude of the Big Ten officials working the game. An interception that never should have been ruled as such and a field goal that never been allowed to be attempted gave Ohio State a win that left most Penn State fans just a wee bit salty. Now, the Nittany Lions will have their chance at revenge on October 22.
Speaking of revenge, the Temple Owls have to leave the stadium they share with a team Philadelphians actually care about and travel to Happy Valley this upcoming season for the second annual Stripe Out. On September 17, Penn State will look to avenge the somewhat shocking 2015 season opening 27-10 loss. That game, more than maybe anything, will be remembered for just how hapless the Penn State offense looked under John Donovan.
John Don's now at a nice farm upstate, and Joe Moorhead's offense promises far more potency. Nyeem Wartman-White, who was lost for the season to injury that day, will surely be fired up. The Stripe Out, which debuted as a major success in a 28-3 beatdown of Rutgers last season, will again accent the Beaver Stadium crowd with designed blue and white overlays.
The two Outs join Homecoming (October 8 against Maryland) and Senior Day (November 26 against Michigan State) as the major event days of the 2016 football calendar.