Onward Debates: Was Washington The Right White Out Opponent?

On Monday, Penn State football announced its November 9 matchup against Washington will be the annual White Out game.

However, the game seems unlikely to start at night. Former Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg uploaded a video suggesting it will kick off at 3:30 p.m.

The choice rubbed some the wrong way, as Penn State’s showdown against Ohio State on November 2 will likely be a much tougher game. So, two of our writers debated whether or not picking the Huskies was the right choice.

Nolan Wick: It Should’ve Been Ohio State

Don’t get me wrong, this is not intended to disrespect Washington.

However, the 2024 Huskies will be much different from the team that reached the National Championship last season. Head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama, 30 players transferred elsewhere, and 10 were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Amid the turnover came Jedd Fisch from Arizona, who brought an impressive resume along with 28 incoming transfers. Washington could be decent, sure, but it won’t be nearly as good as Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are in national championship-or-bust mode right now. They added seven transfers, including former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and five-star Alabama safety Caleb Downs, plus former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator.

While Ohio State is always going to be a scary team, this one has the potential to be the best we’ve seen in the Ryan Day era so far. That makes having Beaver Stadium’s best atmosphere of the season against the Buckeyes all the more important.

Penn State has lost its last seven games against Ohio State. I understand wanting to have the White Out at night, but if that’s not going to happen either way, then why wouldn’t it be against by far the best and most important team on the schedule?

Even if the Washington game were to end up being at night, I still think having the White Out against Ohio State should’ve been the way to go. The stakes are higher against a virtual lock for the College Football Playoff, and the matchup is more important to the fanbase.

Joe Lister: Washington Is Good Enough

Listen. I’m old enough to remember the days when we all thought Illinois was going to be the White Out .

All things being equal, Washington isn’t the best pick. I don’t think there are many folks out there who would tell you Ohio State was a bad White Out opponent.

However, all things are not equal. Ohio State, presumably, will be a noon kickoff. Penn State made it pretty clear this wasn’t what it wanted, but that’s how the world works these days.

Nolan’s right: Washington isn’t the same team it was a year ago. Jedd Fisch is a darn good head coach, but he’s not good enough to rebuild this program back to what it was last year by the time November 9 rolls around. However, that doesn’t quite matter. If this game can fall in the afternoon at the earliest, it will absolutely be worth it to make Washington the White Out.

In my mind, Penn State only had three teams it could make the White Out opponent: Ohio State, Washington, and UCLA. Ohio State obviously provides a rivalry factor, while Washington and UCLA let Penn State flex the White Out on new Big Ten teams.

Since UCLA and Washington have about the same chance of kicking off at 3:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., it most makes sense to play the team that will be better (suck less): Washington.

Sure, Washington isn’t ideal. However, not every White Out can be or should be Ohio State. After playing Minnesota and Iowa the last two years, I know not to take decent White Out opponents for granted. Playing Michigan or Auburn every year would be great, but that just doesn’t necessarily need to happen.

Welcome to the Big Ten, Washington. I hope you’re ready to meet me and 107,000 of my loudest friends.