The 2022 White Out is in the books, folks.

Penn State blew out Minnesota 45-17 under the lights at Beaver Stadium in front of a crowd of nearly 110,000 fans. For some, it was their first White Out experience as a student. However, for many, this was the last time they experienced a White Out as a student.

Some of our seniors took some time to reflect on their last White Out as Penn State students.

Kyra Cunningham

Although I wish the White Out was against a better team, it was still a fun game. Night games make the tailgate atmosphere even better, and overall it was a perfect day. I was surrounded by my best friends and family, and it didn’t hit me until the fourth quarter that it was my last White Out as a student. It’s sad, but it gives me a great reason to come back as an alum. My brother and I were saying that the White Out is a top-five day of the year, so I will definitely be back sooner rather than later.

Adam Babetski

Although I heard a lot about the White Out before I came here, the experience more than lived up to my high expectations. I don’t know if Minnesota was worthy of being a White Out opponent, but it was nice to go out with laughter. There is something incredibly satisfying about screaming so loudly with 109,000 of your friends that the other team false starts half a dozen times. The only thing I wish I was able to see was a White Out against Ohio State, but going 3-0 against Michigan, Auburn, and Minnesota is good enough for me. The infamous “Mo Bamba” timeout in 2019 is something that I’ll never forget.

Alysa Rubin

It doesn’t feel like my last White Out as a student has come and gone. Although I’ve only gotten four as a student (two in the student section and one on the field), I’ll forever be grateful to have been a part of the Greatest Show in All of College Football. I won’t lie: yes, I did cry when the fireworks were launched off of Beaver Stadium’s suites and press box, and yes, I did cry when everyone sang the Alma Mater.

Watching State College fill with fans on Friday night for the Homecoming Parade and line Curtin Road before the game on Saturday is something I’ll never forget. Being able to capture my last White Out as a photographer for Onward State was truly an honor. Whether I’m on the sidelines or in the stands, I know this won’t be my last White Out at Penn State.

Sam Fremin

My final White Out was a bit sad, especially having missed one because of the COVID-19-affected season. When joining Onward State’s football beat, I was nervous about the prospects of losing my last White Out as a fan. But the view from the box, the experience of being on the field, and interviewing players and coaches was fun. After experiencing the chaos of my two White Outs in the student section and seeing the safety issues from my vantage point, I’m somewhat glad to have sidestepped the reported disorganization.

Colleen Nersten

I entered the stadium two hours before kickoff and unfortunately almost had an Astroworld-type experience because of security. I really wish I could say something cute and sappy about my final White Out experience, but I was scared for my life, which ruined the rest of the game for me.

But, prior to the actual game, I had a great time! The weather was beautiful, the vibes in the tailgate lots were awesome, and downtown was bustling with fans and alumni. There’s something really wholesome about watching freshmen be so belligerent and excited about Penn State football, and I was glad to see that that energy is still alive.

Grace Cunningham

This is my experience.

Dana Nunemacher

If you ever mention the word “White Out” around me, then you will totally hear the story of how I got thrown up on by a drunk man during the 2014 White Out. I will then typically follow up with the flex of storming the field in 2016. 2014 and 2016 Dana would explode if she knew that she was spending her senior year White Out as the public relations director for Penn State Homecoming. This was the best week of my life and to end it on the field with 15 of my best friends means the world to me.

Seeing so many passionate alums come back home to celebrate their school during the greatest show in college football warms my heart. It does bring a tear to my eye knowing I will be joining the alumni family in a little under two months.I have heard of many students not having an enjoyable experience during the game on Saturday. I truly hope Athletics is able to fix this continuing problem to ensure that future Nittany Lions can experience this once in a lifetime event.

Owen Abbey

The last White Out couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a beautiful fall day with no cloud in sight. When the sun set, the cool air made it peak football weather. Everything about this game felt like the perfect culmination to a four-year journey of football games and experiences.

Whether I was watching Michigan lose, the destruction of Idaho, or a terrible nine-overtime loss to Illinois, I always knew these would be the memories that stuck with me. The White Out is an experience like no other, and besides watching Duke and UNC play basketball in person, nothing can top it. It’s one of the experiences I’ll miss the most, and the one I will always recommend to students even thinking about coming to Happy Valley. There’s just no place like it.

Zach Donaldson

As a super senior, I attended my fourth and final White Out, and this one was a bit different from the previous three. This year, I’m covering the football team, and I spent my White Out in the press box. The view was incredible and it was interesting to get to actually see everything from the phenomenal view that the press box provides. It was also different because this time I was fully sober! But it was just as electric, if not even more so.

The press box was continually shaking throughout the game as the sea of white sent waves throughout the stadium, and it gave me an exclusive and unique White Out experience. Although, I don’t know if there was a signature moment that stands out like the timeout that Michigan called before the game even started, or, in my opinion, Joey Porter Jr.’s pick-six that was unfortunately called back…or the infamous 4th and 5. But it was an overall obliteration of the Minnesota Golden Gophers that provided some memorable highlight-reel plays and gave Penn State, James Franklin, and Sean Clifford a much-needed bounce-back victory.

Devon Craley

I’ve always said that the White Out is the single best event in the world, and Saturday’s win over Minnesota didn’t disappoint. No, it wasn’t Michigan, Ohio State, or even Auburn, but the atmosphere Saturday night was unbelievable. I’ll be at plenty of White Outs in the future, but knowing that I’ll never be in the student section again for it is a little upsetting. I’ll enjoy these last few games in the student section a little more than I would normally knowing they’re my last, but taking a moment to soak in the White Out one last time before leaving beaver stadium was very bittersweet. The White Out is and always will be the single greatest event in the world.

Gabe Angieri

I hadn’t really thought about this being my last White Out in the student section until I sat down to write this. My mindset this semester has been very much “go go go,” and I really haven’t stopped to reflect or appreciate these moments. Despite the game being incredibly underwhelming (thanks, Minnesota), the atmosphere was electric, and the all-day marathon was a ton of fun.

I was able to tailgate for seven hours in beautiful weather with some of my closest friends (shoutout Mr. and Mrs. Marzano for an incredible tailgate, as always). It doesn’t get much better than that. I wish I slowed down to enjoy it a little bit more.

I’ll definitely be back for plenty more White Outs as a washed-up alum.