Happy White Out weekend, folks!

Penn State football is set to take on No. 19 USC at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Nittany Lions are 0-2 in Big Ten play to start the season, but can turn their fortunes around with a big win over the Trojans.

USC is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play through 2026, with its only loss coming to Oregon in Week 4. The Trojans gutted out a 25-21 win over Washington in Week 5.

Will the Nittany Lions get back in the win column in the White Out? Our staff has mixed opinions.

Alex Wilczynski (2-0): Penn State 31, USC 27

After two tough losses, I think this is the game where the spark comes alive and the magic of Penn State football returns.

The White Out atmosphere will be electric, and I expect Rocco Becht to bounce back and show the quarterback he can be.

USC has a dangerous offense, but I believe the Nittany Lions defense will step up when it matters most. This team has something to prove, and I’m taking the Nittany Lions to pull off the win this weekend.

Brandon Collica (2-2): Penn State 30, USC 24

Penn State hopes to end its losing streak against the Trojans in the White Out. USC has had one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten so far this season, which is what Penn State needs after back-to-back awful offensive performances.

Penn State gets a huge bounce-back win and takes down USC.

Brian Kriley (3-2): Penn State 24, USC 45

It’s over. Koby Howard, please come back and save us.

Christopher Green (1-1): Penn State 27, USC 24

The Penn State White Out.

USC’s biggest challenge will be the time zone difference and the noise. It also almost lost to unranked Washington and let Rutgers put up a hefty number of points, so I think this will be a hard-fought win for the Nittany Lions.

Cooper Allmaras (0-2): Penn State 27, USC 24

The White Out atmosphere will give the team a nice turnaround and a chance to win on a walk-off field goal.

Ericka Apolskis (3-0): Penn State 35, USC 34

As a child of not one, but two USC alumni, I would love nothing more than to watch the Trojans get crushed in Happy Valley.

Holden Mostofsky (3-2): Penn State 30, USC 28

I have a feeling Penn State will beat either USC or Michigan, and maybe both. The team is very new, and I don’t think it’s adjusted to the Big Ten yet.

But I do think the Nittany Lions will be motivated to show up in the White Out. At this point, for any playoff hopes, the Nittany Lions have to win every game.

Ian Becker (0-2): Penn State 30, USC 27

It’s the White Out… no way Penn State loses three straight. USC’s defense is nonexistent, so that may give Penn State the chance it needs.

I see Ryan Barker hitting a game-winning field goal as time expires. Absolute scenes.

Jake Speicher (1-1): Penn State 13, USC 31

Penn State is cooked. Penn State has a lot to look inward on for the future, but that won’t happen in a week. For right now, it doesn’t have the tools to compete on either side of the ball.

I personally owe James Franklin an apology.

Jason Perry (3-1): Penn State 17, USC 34

I want to be proven wrong. I really do. But this team hasn’t shown any signs of life since the first half of the Wisconsin game. I just can’t see a Penn State win, even in a White Out.

Is it possible that the Nittany Lions pull this one off? Yes. But my confidence in this squad is at an all-time low.

Karlee Feger (2-2): Penn State 20, USC 17

Holding onto a sliver of hope.

Michael Zeno (3-2): Penn State 28, USC 31

Penn State has many reasons to win this game, but after that Northwestern debacle, it’s in prove-it mode.

The USC offense is too overpowered, and despite the fact that the secondary is by far the best unit on the team, they too could have just a nightmarish game.

The path to winning this is getting in a rhythm against a really bad defense, but can this offense even do that?

Tadhg Gorman (0-2): Penn State 24, USC 38

Based on the last game, I just don’t have much hope anymore.

Please come back, Howard.

Zach Paulhamus (0-2): Penn State 24, USC 31

I would love to tell you that the White Out fixes everything. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fix Penn State’s offense.

Picking against Penn State in a White Out feels like a crime, so I’d like to apologize in advance. Without Howard, the Nittany Lions have looked lifeless on offense.

At least the crowd will look good in white.

Cadyn Gill (3-2): Penn State 17, USC 30

This is my first time picking against Penn State, and I don’t feel bad about it. The product on the field over the last two weeks has been inexplicable, and the competition keeps getting better.

I expect the Trojans to march down the field all night long, with Riley dialing up scheme-beaters. This game was certainly winnable if Penn State’s offense was clicking, as USC’s defense surrenders touchdowns on roughly 35% of its defensive drives. But unfortunately, Becht has looked awful against Big Ten defenses, and Howard is sidelined again.

I have little faith in this team, and it will stay that way until they show they can match up with Big Ten teams in the trenches.

Jamie Lynch (3-2): Penn State 24, USC 21

Something in my gut tells me Penn State will win this football game. I really believe it.

In 2016, the Nittany Lions started their season 2-2 before a thrilling win sparked one of the greatest runs this program has ever seen: a run that featured a White Out victory over No. 2 Ohio State, nine consecutive wins, and a Big Ten title.

I’m not saying that this team is anywhere near the level of that 2016 team; it’s not even close. But I am saying that Matt Campbell beating a ranked opponent under the lights at Beaver Stadium would do wonders for this team’s confidence and momentum.

College football is an inexplicable game. There are few metrics that suggest Penn State should win this game. It doesn’t matter.

Every so often, there’s magic in the air in Happy Valley, magic I haven’t felt in Beaver Stadium in a long time. It returns on Saturday.

Oscar Orellana (3-2): Penn State 24, USC 34

I really can’t see this Penn State offense doing much to keep the Nittany Lions in the game down the stretch. There are massive disconnects there that will not be fixed from that Northwestern disaster class over to the literal next week. There is no run game. There is little pass game.

I do think USC and Jayden Maiava will struggle through the first half with the noise, but will Penn State fans keep that energy up all night? I feel like once the offense falters, the energy will be sucked right out of the building.

Penn State’s biggest hope is the turnover game. If the defense can put some pressure on Maiava and pick him off once or twice, it could be a game going into the final frame. But that all reverts straight back to the offense’s ability to punch those in for six, which I don’t believe in.

Riley will get his signature USC win, just like Luke Fickell did with Wisconsin two weeks ago.