After his team’s 56-0 victory over Kent State last week, James Franklin called for “White Out energy” against Illinois.

Even though it’s not the official ***** Out, the energy surrounding Penn State’s game against is an exciting prospect for its players. Drew Allar said playing in Beaver Stadium is special, and he’s looking forward to playing in what could be an amped-up crowd.

“No matter what, every home game we get is an opportunity for us to cherish and take in all the moments that we get in Beaver Stadium,” Allar said. “I would definitely have to put the Penn State Beaver Stadium up there as the best one from my experience.”

This isn’t Allar’s first big game in Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions opened up last year’s campaign at home against West Virginia in primetime for the Helmet Stripe Game. Allar dazzled in his debut as the Penn State starter and quickly garnered the adoration of the home crowd.

In his second year as a starter, Allar knows what to expect in a big game under the lights.

“I think just the environment is super special in general,” he said. “We’re going to have to be up for the challenge on Saturday.”

Redshirt senior center Nick Dawkins is starting his first night game in Beaver Stadium against the Fighting Illini on Saturday. Despite the hype surrounding the matchup, along with the notion of getting his first start in primetime, Dawkins said the Illinois matchup was just another game.

“We’d play in the snow, we’d play in the rain, and we’d play on Mars. It’s just football in between the hashes,” Dawkins said. “You’re just locked in on the mission, your assignment, and handling business.”

In the meantime, though, some players were discreet on whether or not to wear white this weekend despite Franklin’s plea after Kent State.

Dawkins specifically was nonchalant with his opinion on what to wear this Saturday. What he did know, though, was that he wanted fans to bring the noise.

“Bring that passion that you bring out for a White Out,” he said. “If you check your closet and [there’s] maybe too much blue in the laundry, maybe got a stain on your favorite gray hoodie, you know, maybe just take a peek in the closet, take a peek in the dresser that you barely open up and get a white hoodie on.”

Illinois is a familiar foe for the Nittany Lions. From nail-biting finishes to a nine-overtime game, the matchup has brought its share of special moments to Penn State football. One game, though, sticks out amongst the rest.

On the road at Illinois in November 1994, the Nittany Lions found themselves in a 21-0 deficit against the Fighting Illini with hopes of an undefeated season fading away.

Slowly, but surely, Penn State started to climb back. Late in the fourth quarter, Penn State took the lead and beat Illinois 35-31. The team remained undefeated and won the Rose Bowl against Oregon.

That 1994 squad will be honored inside Beaver Stadium on Saturday. Penn State’s current players know the importance of the legacy and history that the 1994 team will bring this weekend.

“We know how much the ’94 team meant to the community around here in State College and the special season they had in ’94 still lives on to this day,” Allar said. “I think that’s something that we talk about throughout the team, trying to replicate something that special.”