Although Penn State has not yet made an official announcement, it is widely expected that the university will hold its annual ‘White Out’ for the college football game against USC on October 10. Even without the announcement, ticket prices are outrageous.
The home team is price gouging visiting fans for one of the marquee Big Ten games of the season.
To purchase one single ticket for the college football game against the Nittany Lions will cost the Trojans faithful more than double every other game on the schedule. What gives?
When is the Penn State White Out in 2026?
As I mentioned, the university has not confirmed an official date for the White Out. However, much like last year against Oregon, it seems to be pretty obvious.
NBC released its broadcast schedule for Notre Dame’s six home games in 2026. The Fighting Irish will play prime time games against Wisconsin on Sept. 9, Michigan State on Sept. 19, Miami on Nov. 11 and SMU on Nov. 21. It will play Stanford at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. That is important.
The game between Penn State and USC will be played on Oct. 10. It is far and away the biggest (and most historic) matchup in the Big Ten that weekend. The Trojans have not played the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley in 32 years. They are two big-name programs that have College Football Playoff aspirations— one with a new coach.
The Notre Dame broadcast schedule leaves that prime time window open. It only seems logical that NBC will put Penn State and USC in that slot, which is the perfect set up for the White Out.
To go one step further, the Nittany Lions are not playing a lot of “big name” home games. They will host Marshall, Buffalo, Wisconsin, Purdue, Rutgers and Minnesota. USC is a logical choice for the White Out.
Ticket prices are outrageous for USC fans.
White Out or not, Penn State are asking USC fans to pay a lot of money for a ticket to the game on October 10. The home team sets the price for college football games, including the visitors allotment.
It will cost $302 for a Trojans fan to purchase a single ticket in the official reserved section for “away fans” at Beaver Stadium. That is per seat. And it does not include the $35 processing fee. Nor does it include any of the (logistically challenging) travel costs.
To compare, the other away game ticket prices break down like this:
- USC at Rutgers — $80
- USC at Wisconsin — $90
- USC at Indiana — $90
- USC at UCLA — $148
Don’t get me wrong. I get it. Penn State wants to cash-in on its biggest home game. The Nittany Lions also want as few Trojans in the crowd as possible, especially if it is the White Out like we all think it will be.
Still a bummer. Resale prices are not much cheaper, if at all. Don’t expect there to be a lot of cardinal and gold in the crowd on Oct. 10. It is (probably) going to be a true White Out.