After a quick pit stop in SEC country, No. 14 Penn State football is 3-0.

The Nittany Lions easily dispatched Auburn 41-12 and looked quite good doing so. Although the game got into blowout territory in the second half, things stayed lively down on the plains throughout the whole day.

Our staff was in Alabama for Saturday’s festivities and noticed plenty of exciting things throughout gameday.

SEC Atmosphere Impresses

Jordan-Hare Stadium had never hosted a Big Ten team before, and it made sure to put on quite a show for Penn State’s visit. The on-field fireworks were a cool addition and left some smoke when the game started

The pregame routine was awesome, and all 87,451 fans in attendance (minus those in blue and white) were screaming their heads off. I’ve never been on the field for a White Out, but this was up there with what it was like being in the student section in 2019 and 2018. Nothing will top the infamous Michigan timeout, though.

Auburn also had a special video package prepared for its video board, which it said is the biggest in college football. It included clips from last year’s White Out and a video of Joe Burrow saying Jordan-Hare got louder than Beaver Stadium. But, on Saturday, things got quiet pretty quickly.

Is That A Real Eagle?

There was a real-life eagle that flew out of a cage and landed on the field. It was honestly a very impressive play by the eagle, and it arguably showed more mobility than TJ Finley did in the pocket all afternoon.

Penn State should probably acquire a lion.

Penn State Fans…Take Over? 

There was a lot of Twitter chatter about Penn State fans being well-represented in Auburn the day before the game, and the Nittany Lions faithful truly showed out.

Enemy territory pic.twitter.com/TRPTmvataI

— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 17, 2022

It was an impressive Penn State turnout and was on a similar level to the showing by Tigers fans last year at Beaver Stadium. It’s very fun to have two groups of passionate and generally respectful fans that travel well face off in a home-and-home like this.

But, by the end of the game, it was all blue and white. “We Are” and even “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!” chants broke out in Jordan-Hare. Penn State’s celebration on the field was one for the ages and had a lot more juice than usual. It’s not every day you win on the road in the SEC.

Walk in yo trap, take over yo trap pic.twitter.com/B3WjeTBP46

— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 17, 2022

It's hard not to be all smiles after that one pic.twitter.com/AhXxUBCQ54

— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 17, 2022

The Iconic Hedges Are So Very Sharp

Auburn’s had plenty of field stormings over the years, and the hedges that line the stadium have never stopped fans from getting from the bleachers down onto the turf. I assumed they were soft and acted like cushions. I was wrong.

They are incredibly sharp and hurt very badly. I can’t imagine the adrenaline required for fans to swim through the shrubs.

Skybar Is Broken…In A Good Way

Despite warnings from a few friends and journalists, we decided to check out Skybar, which is probably the most popular late-night option in Auburn. I was warned that it was like “Champs on top of the Phyrst, mixed with Chumley’s,” which sounded impossible but ended up being weirdly accurate.

This bar had multiple floors, and the top was a rooftop scene with a projector, tiki torches, and plenty of ~string lights~. It was unlike any college bar I’ve been to, save maybe for Ethyl & Tank in Columbus, which still is only two floors.

At first, I wanted to hate it because it wasn’t State College, but it ended up being a fun time. However, the drinks seemed very pricy given the circumstances. Two beers and a shot of tequila (I was playing catchup after covering the game, sorry) ran me $22. Still, I found myself yearning for a rooftop lounge in Happy Valley.

Thank You, Auburn Strategic Communications

We had quite the credential switch-up on last-minute notice, and the Auburn football strategic communications team was incredibly friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Thank you, Shelly Poe and the rest of the crew for hosting Onward State!