Penn State category, Page 4
‘We can’t get stops’: Penn State defense allows historic performance from Iowa QB in 4th straight loss
Terry Smith told NBC’s broadcast in the lead-up to Saturday’s game at Iowa that his Nittany Lions would “shock the world” amid turmoil from James Franklin’s firing this week. However, the interim coach led a Penn State group that fell to the Hawkeyes, 25-24. And the most shocking part was...
Iowa rallies late, sends Penn State to its 4th consecutive loss
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski rushed for a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Kaden Wetjen scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run with 3:54 to play as the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State, 25-24, on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 24-19...
‘I was in shock’: James Franklin opens up on being fired by Penn State
James Franklin spoke publicly for the first time Saturday since he was fired by Penn State on Oct. 12. Franklin joined the ESPN “College GameDay” set only three weeks after he appeared on the show ahead of the Nittany Lions’ Sept. 27 game against Oregon, back when Penn State was...
Former Penn State coach James Franklin to appear on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’
The bombshell story of the college football season thus far dropped last weekend, with the Penn State Nittany Lions officially firing coach James Franklin after a 3-3 start, which featured three straight losses in the Big Ten. In the days since, athletic director and players have spoken, and just about...
Penn State’s Drew Allar could be healthy for pre-draft process after successful surgery
After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Saturday’s loss to Northwestern, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar underwent surgery Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the surgery was successful and puts Allar on track for a full recovery. He should be able to resume workouts “sometime in the upcoming months,” which...
Could Penn State see a raft transfers with James Franklin fired?
In the current era of college football, when the transfer portal has run rampant, it’s common to see players respond to a coach’s firing by sitting out the season, preserving a redshirt and transferring at year’s end. Now that Penn State has parted with James Franklin, is that something Nittany...
New Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer could be a ‘bolt of energy’
UNIVERSITY PARK — The most recent time Penn State traveled to Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, in 2021, a Nittany Lions backup quarterback took center stage. Ta’Quan Roberson relieved an injured Sean Clifford midway through the game and couldn’t hold onto an early lead, falling 23-20 in a battle of top-four opponents....
Ethan Grunkemeyer ready for 1st career start at Iowa as Penn State tries to salvage season
UNIVERSITY PARK — Ethan Grunkemeyer was immediately swarmed by reporters as he emerged from the locker room after Penn State practice. As bodies and cameras enveloped him Wednesday night, the quarterback’s eyes glanced back toward his teammates. One shouted, “Yeah Grunk! Man of the hour!” Grunkemeyer, who will make his...
Why Penn State’s 2025 season still matters after disastrous start
To many, Penn State’s season is a complete wash. Quarterback Drew Allar is out for the season, James Franklin is out as coach and the team has lost three straight games. A preseason national championship favorite could realistically miss out on a bowl game for the first time since 2020....
Friends, family reflect on Gateway’s Terry Smith coaching Penn State: ‘He just cared so much’
A Zoom conference call Tuesday morning brought together many of Terry Smith’s family and friends from his time growing up on Firethorn Drive in Monroeville’s Garden City neighborhood. Harvey Smith, Terry’s older brother by a few years and a coaching colleague at Gateway for nearly a decade, helped lead the...
Penn State football players talk James Franklin, feel ‘like we got our coach fired’
The Penn State football world is swirling for the players this week. They are still trying to absorb the loss of their longtime head coach while preparing for another defining game Saturday, this time at revving Iowa. They are also trying to find the means to break a stunning three-game...
‘It’s a hit to Penn State’: State College dreary and subdued after firing of James Franklin
STATE COLLEGE — Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall was shocked by the firing of the university’s longtime football coach, James Franklin. “It has been full-on shock,” Tengwall, 23, of State College told TribLive on Monday. “A lot of people seemed to understand that it needed to be done,...
‘We’re going to get it back on track’: Penn State interim coach Terry Smith ‘absolutely’ a candidate for full-time job
STATE COLLEGE — Pat Kraft has a clear list of things he wants in Penn State’s next coach. After firing James Franklin on Sunday in the middle of his 12th year, Kraft made as much clear Monday afternoon, addressing the media for the first time since the major decision. He...
Matt Rhule says he loves his job at Nebraska but doesn’t tamp down buzz about Penn State opening
Matt Rhule professed his love for living and working in Nebraska and trying to return the Cornhuskers to the upper echelon of college football. That said, he did nothing Monday to shut down speculation that he could be up for the Penn State job, which opened with Sunday’s firing of...
Penn State AD Pat Kraft explains James Franklin firing, what’s next
Penn State football addressed its decision to fire James Franklin when athletic director Pat Kraft spoke to reporters Monday. Kraft, who will lead the Nittany Lions’ search for a new coach, defended the school’s decision of buying out Franklin’s contract, which was the second-most expensive buyout ever at just under...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi offers thoughts on Acrisure Stadium’s grass, James Franklin’s firing
Pat Narduzzi had a lot to get through Monday on the South Side in recapping Pitt’s weekend upset over Florida State while looking ahead to the Panthers’ next game on the road at Syracuse. But in between a recap of Saturday’s action vs. the Seminoles, injury updates and thoughts on...
Mark Madden: Why couldn’t Penn State tolerate 1 bad year?
Last season, Penn State football was 13-3 and made the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. This year, Penn State was ranked No. 2 in the country to start the season. But franchise quarterback Drew Allar fell apart and is now out for the season. Penn State is 3-3 after...
Here’s where Penn State’s massive buyout of James Franklin ranks among all-time college football firings
Penn State is paying James Franklin a whole heck of a lot of money in the buyout of his contract after firing him Sunday. But it’s not particularly close to being the most expensive firing in college football history. Penn State owes Franklin at least $49.7 million moving forward, according...
Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins latest WPIAL football recruit to decommit from Penn State
Add Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins to the growing list of Penn State football commits reconsidering their futures. Jenkins, a highly recruited defensive back, decommitted on Sunday, following similar decisions this week by Pine-Richland wideout Khalil Taylor and McKeesport running back Kemon Spell. All three are juniors. Jenkins’ decision came after...
Who could replace James Franklin at Penn State?
James Franklin and Penn State have reached the end of the road. Franklin was fired as Penn State’s head coach on Sunday. The Franklin situation reached a new level of toxicity after Saturday’s loss to Northwestern — the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive defeat. Franklin was booed during pregame introductions, and...
Penn State fires coach James Franklin after 3 straight losses
Penn State fired football coach James Franklin following the team’s third straight loss, the university announced Sunday. The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who were among preseason favorites to contend for a national title, had a disappointing effort in a 30-24 White Out loss to Oregon, then dropped a...
‘It’s about our players’: Penn State’s James Franklin addresses job security after stunning Northwestern loss
When James Franklin answered questions about his job status in the past, he almost always referenced his commitment to the university and to the team. He’d say something like “I think I’ve shown my commitment over my years here.” Of course, the circumstances were much different. He was the subject...
Penn State’s Drew Allar out for season after Northwestern loss
Caleb Komolafe rushed for the go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown Saturday as visiting Northwestern handed Penn State its third straight loss, emerging from University Park with a 22-21 victory. The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) lost Drew Allar to a leg injury late in the game after the veteran quarterback went 13-of-20 passing...
‘I believe in myself’: James Franklin remains confident after brutal start in 12th year at Penn State
After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Oregon in the most highly anticipated White Out ever, Penn State did something it has rarely done in a recent run of success. It allowed one loss to turn into another, an even uglier one at the hands of previously winless UCLA. Saturday’s debacle...
Penn State’s Ty Howle discusses young TEs, correcting mistakes
Ty Howle began his Penn State career as an offensive lineman, and he now coaches a Nittany Lions tight end room full of intriguing athletes. Last Saturday was very much a mixed bag for a couple of PSU tight ends in the Lions’ 42-37 loss to UCLA at the Rose...
