As the anticipation for Penn State’s upcoming White Out against Oregon builds, head coach James Franklin met with the media on Wednesday following the team’s practice.
Franklin touched on the impact of the event on a macro level, offensive line chemistry and a key factor in Saturday night’s game.
White Out hype
While the matchup itself carries enormous on-field importance, Franklin also emphasized what the White Out means to the university, the players and the community.
“First of all, a normal game in Beaver Stadium is special, right? We are blessed and fortunate, and do not take for granted that we, on a consistent basis, will get about 106,000 fans here,” Franklin said.
The expectation is another strong showing from the Nittany Lion faithful, likely surpassing 110,000 on Saturday. Franklin described the White Out as a “special event” and a “bucket list” item for not just Penn State fans, but sports enthusiasts nationwide.
He also spoke about the impact it has on the local economy, flooding hotels and restaurants with visitors for the weekend.
But within the program, Franklin downplayed the hype, emphasizing standard preparation and the 1-0 mentality.
“Our guys recognize what this is, but it’s been business as usual,” Franklin said. “We talk all the time about eliminating distractions. This is one of those weeks.”
Chemistry up front
The offensive line wasn’t a concern for Penn State entering the season, given the team returned five players with at least five starts from last year’s squad. However, the early showings against Nevada, Florida International and, to a lesser extent, Villanova, left something to be desired.
One of the issues came from communication, with the unit struggling to account for every defender and failing to get push into the second level. Some of that stemmed from movement on the right side of the line, with Anthony Donkoh, who started 11 games at right tackle last season, kicking inside to right guard.
With Donkoh and right tackle Nolan Rucci lining up together for the first time, it was always going to take a few games to find rhythm. According to Franklin, the group is beginning to settle in and find its identity.
“Just building chemistry between those guys. Obviously, at the beginning of the season, that was new. It’s not new anymore,” Franklin said. “They’re a veteran group, and we’ve got to approach it as such.”
Rucci finished the season strong at right tackle after Donkoh went down with injury against Minnesota, but he hadn’t maintained that level of play throughout Penn State’s nonconference action. Franklin, though, said he’s headed in the right direction.
“Rucci also is getting back to playing how he was at the end of last season, which was at a really, really high level,” Franklin added. “So I think we’re in a much better place.”
That improvement will be tested against an aggressive Oregon defensive front that thrives on creating pressure and disrupting rhythm.
The money down
If there’s one area Franklin believes could swing Saturday’s game, it’s third downs on both sides of the ball. While explosive plays and special teams moments may get the headlines, Franklin made it clear that the ability to extend drives — or shut them down — will be a decisive factor in how this game unfolds.
On offense, the Nittany Lions’ success depends heavily on staying on the field. Franklin emphasized that every first down gained isn’t just a new set of downs — it’s also an opportunity to unlock more of the playbook.
“Every time you get a first down, that’s three more plays. That’s a possibility for three more touches for your playmakers,” Franklin said. “You can call all your cool stuff, but also just more opportunities by creating first downs.”
Defensively, Franklin was equally clear: Getting Oregon off the field on third down is essential to disrupting the Ducks’ tempo and rhythm, which they used effectively to pour 45 points on Penn State in last year’s Big Ten championship game.
