Thousands of fans gathered in Happy Valley on Saturday night for Penn State’s matchup against Oregon, and many also used the occasion to pay tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was politically assassinated on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
His death sparked tributes across the country, including at the nationally watched game between the Nittany Lions and the Ducks.
In the days leading up to the game, conservative commentator Benny Johnson announced on the “Will Cain Country” podcast that he would travel to State College, Pennsylvania, to distribute “Freedom” T-shirts in Kirk’s honor.
Johnson said the effort would also include registering students to vote.
The white T-shirts replicated the one Kirk was wearing when he was killed, aligning with Penn State’s traditional “White Out” theme for the primetime contest.
“This was a game that Charlie Kirk was going to attend. Charlie Kirk loves Oregon, but he also has a bunch of fans at Penn State and has done huge events there,” Johnson said.
BREAKING NEWS: Turning Point USA will be giving away 5,000 Charlie Kirk ‘FREEDOM’ t-shirts at the Oregon vs. Penn State game this Saturday.
Charlie Kirk planned to attend this game, we owe it to him to show up in FULL FORCE.
Full @TPUSA tent and voter registration info soon! pic.twitter.com/3NIcqsgaQo
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 25, 2025
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Lines formed early on Saturday as students and fans waited to receive the shirts.
Johnson reported that hundreds of people showed up beginning at 9:00 a.m., nearly 10 hours before kickoff.
Videos and photos posted online showed long lines of fans collecting the shirts, many of whom later wore them into Beaver Stadium for the game.
Penn State, which has a reputation as a left-leaning campus, nonetheless saw significant turnout for the tribute.
Johnson said the number of fans who participated reflected the broad support Kirk had built among students and young conservatives nationwide.
The distribution of the shirts marked a visible display of remembrance for Kirk, who had become a prominent figure on college campuses across the country.
His organization, Turning Point USA, regularly hosted events drawing large student audiences, including at Penn State.
The tribute also carried added symbolism because the game was scheduled as one of Penn State’s annual “White Out” events, when the crowd is encouraged to wear white.
Fans who donned the tribute shirts blended into the spectacle while also showing support for Kirk.
Throughout the day, social media posts from attendees highlighted the scale of the turnout for the T-shirt distribution and the enthusiasm among students who lined up hours before kickoff.
This is INSANE: The Line to get a Charlie Kirk ‘FREEDOM’ Shirt stretches for a MILE at Penn State today. Check this out. Just INCREDIBLE— look at this!!! pic.twitter.com/ZsbLzkTkw1
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 27, 2025
The tribute at Penn State was one of several held across the country in the weeks following Kirk’s assassination.
Supporters have organized memorials, events, and rallies in his name, with many emphasizing his influence on conservative youth activism.
Johnson said the effort in Happy Valley was especially meaningful because Kirk had planned to attend the Penn State-Oregon game himself.
The shirts, he explained, were designed both as a tribute and as a reminder of Kirk’s impact.
As the game began, the packed stadium displayed the sea of white typical of a Penn State “White Out,” with many fans wearing the special shirts honoring Kirk.
For those in attendance, it marked both a major college football event and a public tribute to a conservative activist remembered by supporters nationwide.
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