Penn State football announces White Out, Stripe Out games for 2023 season

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that Penn State will open its 2023 season under the Beaver Stadium lights against West Virginia. But it won’t be the annual White Out.

Penn State’s game against Iowa on Sept. 23 will get the White Out treatment, the Nittany Lions announced Monday. The game will air on CBS and kick at 8 p.m.

CBS is entering its first year of a new seven-year deal with the Big Ten, during which it will air seven select games in various time slots. Beginning in 2024, CBS will present a marquee Big Ten game every week in its traditional 3:30 p.m. Saturday slot.

The only other kick time that has been announced is the season opener against West Virginia. It will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on NBC, which is also in its first season broadcasting primetime Big Ten games.

Iowa isn’t necessarily the biggest game on the home schedule this season. That would be Michigan’s visit on Nov. 11, which will be a Stripe Out at Beaver Stadium.

But head coach James Franklin made it clear last year that the Nittany Lions, understandably, prefer a night game for a White Out. The Michigan game will in all likelihood be featured on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff.”

“For us, our White Out has typically been a night game with the fireworks, and the white t-shirts and clothing on the backdrop of the black sky,” Franklin said. “It’s pretty special. … The data said that most people want a night game.”

Here are all of Penn State football’s themes:

Sept. 2, West Virginia: Helmet stripe game

Sept. 9, Delaware: THON; Spirit Day; Youth Sport Day

Sept. 23, Iowa: White Out

Oct. 14, UMass: Homecoming, Generations of Greatness

Oct. 28, Indiana: Military Appreciation Day; Seats for Service members

Nov. 11, Michigan: Stripe Out

Nov. 18, Rutgers: Senior Day; All-U Day