Penn State enters Saturday night’s White Out against Oregon facing more than just another early-season test — this is the game James Franklin’s program has to win. The Nittany Lions have lost 14 straight regular-season matchups against top-10 opponents, a drought that hangs over every big-stage kickoff in Happy Valley.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt put it bluntly on The Joel Klatt Show: “Penn State has to win this game. I don’t think Oregon has to win this game. Penn State has to win this game.”
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The White Out crowd has been the remedy before. Penn State is 13–8 all-time in official White Outs, with six straight wins since 2019 by nearly 22 points per game. Beaver Stadium has produced unforgettable moments — including the 2016 upset of No. 2 Ohio State — and will again provide one of college football’s most intimidating atmospheres.
Quarterbacks in the Spotlight
How Franklin’s team handles the moment may come down to the quarterbacks. Drew Allar has been efficient through three games — 626 yards, four touchdowns, one interception — but Penn State still hasn’t put together the type of explosive passing performance that makes defenses respect the air attack. “Where is the game where you take an inferior opponent and throw it for 300 yards? We don’t see it,” Klatt said.
Oregon will counter with sophomore Dante Moore, who has nearly 1,000 passing yards and six touchdowns in four games. He also has four interceptions, but his ability to extend plays gives the Ducks another dimension. Klatt sees the potential: “I think Dante Moore is going to be built for this… I think that he’s going to play well,” though he noted the White Out environment could test him like nothing before.
Ground Game Could Decide It
If Penn State doesn’t find more balance through the air, the running backs will need to deliver. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen have combined for 452 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and both already rank among the program’s top 10 all-time rushers.
That duo will face an Oregon front still proving it can stop the run after Northwestern had success earlier this season. “They better have that figured out because Penn State will threaten them with the run game,” Klatt warned.
Klatt’s Pick
Klatt expects a classic: “I think this is going to come down right to the very end… In a classic backed by their fans and that environment, I think Penn State wins the game. I think they win it by a point.”
His final score: Penn State 31, Oregon 30. Still, he hedged slightly for bettors: “If you’re telling me I can take points with Oregon, I’m going to do that. I’ll take the 3.5 with the Ducks.”
Penn State hasn’t just been searching for a breakthrough — they’ve been haunted by the absence of one. With Allar’s development, Moore’s first true road test, and two elite running backs ready to take over, Saturday night sets up as a chance to rewrite the narrative.