It’s the best time of the year again — White Out week!

After months of anticipation and excitement, Penn State will take on Oregon on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium in the 21st edition of the White Out game. This will be the highest-ranked White Out matchup in its storied history, beating out the 2018 White Out.

Ahead of this historic matchup, we decided to rank the most memorable games of one of the best atmospheres in college football, a tradition that started in 2004.

5. Penn State 28, Auburn 20 (2021 White Out)

After fans couldn’t be in attendance for the 2020 White Out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this game was a very special one for the Penn State fans after going nearly two years without it.

It was Penn State’s third non-conference White Out and first full capacity White Out after the pandemic. Since the Nittany Lions didn’t play Notre Dame and Alabama at night in their other two non-conference White Outs, this matchup against the Tigers became the first non-conference White Out played at night.

The game turned out to be a classic as both teams were evenly matched, Penn State’s defense had to make two defensive stands to hold on to its 28-20 lead in the final seven minutes, and it came down to the final play of the game.

4. Penn State 28, Michigan 21 (2019 White Out)

One play into the game, and it was evident that Michigan was rattled by the White Out environment.

As “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes was blasted through Beaver Stadium’s speakers and the noise of the crowd was at its max, the Wolverines were called for a delay of game penalty on the first play of the game, creating one of the greatest moments of the White Out. This gave the Nittany Lions a lot of momentum as they got off to a fast start, leading 21-0 midway through the second quarter. Michigan fought back with two touchdowns to make it a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter.

KJ Hamler scored a touchdown on Penn State’s first drive of the fourth quarter to make it a 14-point lead, but the Wolverines responded with a touchdown and managed to stop the Nittany Lions on the ensuing drive to give themselves a chance to tie the game at 28. It looked like Michigan was on its way to tie the game as it had first-and-goal on Penn State’s seven-yard line with three minutes left. However, the Nittany Lions stood tall and forced the Wolverines to turn over the ball on downs before a handoff to Hamler to pick up a first down allowed them to survive Michigan’s comeback bid.

3. Penn State 43, Michigan 40 (2013 White Out)

While the 2019 White Out was memorable, the 2013 White Out against Michigan had it all.

Four overtimes, blown leads, high scoring, this game was one to remember. The Nittany Lions held a 21-10 lead at halftime, but the Wolverines roared all the way back to take a 34-24 lead with 10 minutes left. However, after Penn State scored a field goal to make it a one-possession game and stopped Michigan on the ensuing possession, it drove down the field to tie the game at 34 thanks to an amazing Allen Robinson catch that put it in Michigan’s one-yard line. Michigan missed a game-winning 53-yard field goal at the end of regulation that would send the game into overtime.

The drama wouldn’t end there as both teams missed field goals in the first overtime, leading to another overtime. In the second overtime, both teams exchanged field goals, which led to a third overtime. The Nittany Lions fumbled the ball, which allowed the Wolverines to win the game on a field goal, but they missed it as the game went into a fourth overtime. After Michigan scored a field goal in the first possession of the fourth overtime, Penn State ended this classic on a game-winning touchdown by running back Bill Belton, sending the White Out into a frenzy, as the unranked Nittany Lions upset the No. 18 Wolverines.

2. Penn State 17, Ohio State 10 (2005 White Out)

If there’s a game that began to influence the White Out as one of the best college football atmospheres, it’s this one.

After the White Out began in 2004, the Nittany Lions upset the Buckeyes the following year in their second edition of the White Out. This was Penn State’s first White Out win after it had lost to Purdue the previous year. The crowd noise was so loud that Penn State radio broadcaster Steve Jones said in a feature that he felt the press box move at Beaver Stadium, even if it was limited to just the student section at that time.

This played a huge factor into the outcome of the game as the Buckeyes couldn’t score any points in the second half. Also, the Nittany Lions reeled off the crowd as they created two game-changing turnovers with a Calvin Lowry interception and Tamba Hali strip-sack. With Lowry’s interception, the offense went on to score to take a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter, and Hali’s strip-sack on Ohio State’s final drive allowed the Nittany Lions to pull off the 17-10 upset over the Buckeyes.

It was a historic win that sent shockwaves all over the college football landscape and marked the start of one of the greatest traditions in college sports. Fans all over Beaver Stadium started to join in on the tradition, and in 2007, the White Out was extended to all the fans.

1. Penn State 24, Ohio State 21 (2016 White Out)

Was there any doubt?

This game is regarded as the best White Out and one of the greatest games in Penn State’s history. Going into this game, the Nittany Lions were heavy underdogs as they were going to take on No. 2 Buckeyes, who had a 20-game road winning streak and were undefeated heading into this game. Despite all the odds being against them, they pulled off one of the biggest wins in their football program’s history.

Penn State was down 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter, but it scored 17 unanswered points, highlighted by Grant Haley’s 60-yard return touchdown after Marcus Allen blocked Ohio State’s field goal. This gave the Nittany Lions the lead with almost four minutes left. After that touchdown, they were able to force the Buckeyes to turn the ball over on downs to cap this historic victory, and fans rushed the field afterward.

Not only did this win create that signature White Out moment, but it also changed the direction of the Penn State football program. They hadn’t been ranked in five years, hadn’t won the Big Ten since 2008, and James Franklin hadn’t won a game against a ranked opponent before that win. After that win, Penn State reeled off its momentum and went on to win the Big Ten Championship game over Wisconsin despite narrowly missing a spot in the College Football Playoff. It has stayed relevant since then, and the future of the program continues to be bright.