Penn State vs. Ohio State: How to watch, what to look for in COVID-19 'white out'

York Daily Record

A Penn State football "white out" game in Beaver Stadium is made to look and feel unlike any other in college football, and far beyond.

"I want them to be able to see us from the moon," PJ Mullen, the university's athletic director of marketing, said with a laugh. "I want them to see the fireworks and hear us from the moon ..."

That's how it was before COVID-19 nearly canceled Big Ten college football — and eliminated paying fans from several of the nation's largest stadiums.

Now, Mullen and his production crew are in charge of re-fitting what's known as "the best atmosphere in college football."

Fireworks go off inside of Beaver Stadium prior to Penn State's 2019 "white out" game against Michigan. This year's prime-time clash with Ohio State will have an historic feel: only a few hundred fans because of the pandemic.

Saturday will be quite a first pandemic-reality test for Mullen and his production crew: orchestrate the scene around the prime-time, nationally-televised "white out" game with Ohio State.

They won't be able to work the pageantry of the pregrame tailgating, bands and orchestrated team arrival outside the stadium.

Mostly, they won't have 110,000 fans packed inside one of the largest stadiums in the world. That includes the nation's largest and arguably most raucous student section.

They must now represent the expected scene without trying too hard to replicate it. The foundation will be a slick presentation of videos on the giant boards (mixing traditional cuts with fan-submitted creations) combined with pumped-in noise, music and recordings from the Penn State's Blue Band.

The crowd will be reduced to a few hundred family members of players, coaches and staff — and an untold number of fan cardboard cut-outs, preferably adorned in white.

Mullen said his crew has worked with Penn State's School of Theatre in creating artificial crowd noise. Listen for cowbells, "We Are" chants and crowd reaction riffs during the ABC telecast and the university's pre-game virtual program.

Count on Zombie Nation and the The Lion King soundtrack welcoming the team into the stadium.

"We'll still go for that cherry-on-top approach," Mullen said of the production. "It's not about being as loud as possible but making the atmosphere work for that bowl and the people who are in there."

And work, of course, for the millions watching on TV from somewhere else.

Penn State officials know they can't possibly create a true "white out" feel, which routinely disrupts, if not intimidates opponents. Last year, the noise forced Michigan to call a timeout before it could even run its first play.

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer recently said a typical "white out" crowd is worth a 7- to 10-point advantage for the Lions.

That home-field advantage won't be there on Saturday. But Penn State officials promise to provide a taste of what always makes this night special.

"If you close your eyes," Mullen said, "maybe for a second, it will feel like home."

How do I watch?

TV:Tune into ABC Sports for the opening kickoff at 7:44 p.m. Chris Fowler will do play-by-play with Kirk Herbstreit on analysis. Maria Taylor will report from the sideline.

Radio: WSBA 910 AM, WHGB 1400 AM; Sirius/XM 83

Watch online: Check out the ABC Live Stream

Listen online:Penn State Sports Online Audio

Weather: Dry with temperatures dropping into the 30s by halftime. Winds light and variable.

Series: Ohio State leads, 21-14 and has won seven of the last eight.

Betting line: The Buckeyes are a 12-point favorite

Rankings: Penn State dropped to No. 17 in the Amway Coaches poll; it's No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.

Marquee match-up: This will be the fifth-straight prime time meeting between these two teams in Beaver Stadium. The last four games in this series have been decided by a combined 16 points.

He's a record-breaker: Junior Pat Freiermuth of Penn State set a program record last week for tight ends with his 16th career touchdown catch. He had previously been tied with Mike Gesicki.

Halloween memory: Penn State played its first night game on this date in 1942 at New York’s Polo Grounds. The Lions beat New York University, 42-0, in heavy rain.

Penn State

Head coach: James Franklin (56-24, 7th season at Penn State; 80-39, 10th season overall)

Last three seasons

2019: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten)
2018: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
2017: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten)

2020 schedule

10/24 at Indiana, L, 35-36 (OT)

10/31 OHIO STATE

11/7 MARYLAND

11/14 at Nebraska

11/21 IOWA

11/28 at Michigan

12/5 at Rutgers

12/12 MICHIGAN STATE

12/19 Big Ten Champions Week

Top performers

So. RB Devyn Ford (20 carries, 69 yards; 3 receptions, 11 yards)
Jr. WR Jahan Dotson (4 receptions, 94 yards, TD)
Jr. TE Pat Freiermuth (7 receptions, 60 yards, TD)
Jr. QB Sean Clifford (24-of-35 passing, 238 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 17 carries, 119 yards, TD)
Sr. DE Shaka Toney (7 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks)

More recent PSU coverage

Ohio State

Head coach: Ryan Day (2nd season, 17-1 record)

Last three seasons

2019 record: 13-1 (9-0 Big Ten)
2018 record: 13-1 (8-1 Big Ten)
2017 record: 12-2 (8-1 Big Ten)

2020 schedule

10/24 NEBRASKA, W, 52-17

10/31 at Penn State

11/7 RUTGERS

11/14 at Maryland

11/21 INDIANA

11/28 at Illinois

12/5 at Michigan State

12/12 MICHIGAN

12/19 Big Ten Champions Week

Top performers

Sr. RB Trey Sermon (11 carries, 55 yards)
So. WR Garrett Wilson (7 receptions, 129 yards, TD; 2 punt returns, 23 yards)
Jr. WR Chris Olave (6 receptions, 104 yards)
Jr. QB Justin Fields (20-of-21 passing, 276 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; 15 carries, 54 yards, TD)
Sr. LB Pete Werner (7 tackles, 1 TFL)