The only reason No. 3 Penn State finds itself ahead of No. 6 Oregon is because of belief. The AP voters believe that Penn State can be a top-three team in the country, but beating Villanova, FIU, and Nevada does not warrant that.

A large reason for this belief is the return on production. Penn State returned 14 starters this season and will only rely on one, Chaz Coleman, maybe two, Daryus Dixson, a true freshman, to make plays. The voters like this.

That experience will be tested for the first time this season on Saturday, as the entire country will watch Oregon travel to Beaver Stadium for the 2025 edition of the White Out. Experience is so important during the greatest show in college sports that James Franklin may make a switch in the depth chart.

King Mack might take over the second safety position besides Zakee Wheatley after Antoine Belgrave-Shorter won the role during fall camp. One of the reasons, Franklin said, was that he believes Mack will have his routine down enough to perform in the biggest of games.

“It’s been impressive to watch how he’s approached [not being the immediate starter], and probably as much from the standpoint that he didn’t win the starting job during camp, and never let it faze him,” Franklin said Monday. “I think some of the younger players, when they either lost a job or didn’t win the job, I think they let it faze them in terms of the consistency and the approach.”

The offense will also need to lean on experience. No matter which team you are on, the stadium will be loud when you are trying to snap the ball. If you are too caught up in the moment, you might miss it.

“Three years ago, going into specifically a White Out game is more of like a go in there and enjoy it,” star offensive lineman Vega Ioane said. “Now, going in there, enjoy for the moment, lock back in, and get to work.”

For the young guys who will make plays on Saturday, it’s about following in the footsteps of the guys who have been there before. From Ioane to quarterback Drew Allar, there are plenty of guys who have been through the White Out before.

Allar has specifically done a good job leading by example.

“Yeah, with guys like Drew Allar doing that, everybody follows the example,” Ioane said. “Guys are in here right after practice, watching film. They don’t leave until we’re done, taking notes, being intentional about what they do. So it’s a really good thing to see, a really good thing for the team.”

Allar’s planning for Oregon has worked in the past. In last year’s meeting of the two teams, Allar threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns.

Another factor that Penn State’s experience will bring into this game is emotions. The Nittany Lions fell to Oregon 45-37 in last year’s Big Ten Championship, and the team hasn’t forgotten. When asked if this game has been circled since last year, Ioane said Absolutely.

In fact, Ioane cares so much about winning at home against the Ducks that he added something new to his routine for the 2025 season.

“I’ll put up the [Oregon] guys’ names, pictures, anything like that, on my wall,” Ioane said. “Do my notes, put sticky notes on it, things like that.

“That’s what I plan on doing for all the big games, every game actually.”