Penn State category, Page 42

STATE COLLEGE — Ryan Day spends the 48 hours before a game drawing up contingency plans. Ohio State’s coach wants his team to be ready for anything. “We say sometimes you’re chasing ghosts, but I’ve been in games before where we didn’t chase those ghosts and we didn’t have answers...

Ohio State is halfway to history. In the last decade, no FBS team has finished a full season, covid-shortened 2020 not included, with a perfect red-zone conversion rate. Some have come close. For example, LSU’s 2019 juggernaut, led by Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, scored on 73 of...

The Big Ten has taken Penn State and football coach James Franklin on a trip around the Midwest and Maryland for its past seven conference openers, and the 2023 season will be No. 8. Big Ten officials released the ’23 conference schedule Wednesday, and Penn State will open Sept. 16...

The Big Ten keeps getting tougher in women’s basketball. The conference sent four teams to the NCAA Sweet 16 a second straight year in 2022, and it leads the nation with six programs in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. Caitlin Clark, who could go down as one of the...

Less than two weeks ago, Penn State’s offense hit its low point. The story of the Michigan defeat was James Franklin’s team getting gashed on the ground. And yet, Penn State managed only one offensive touchdown at The Big House. The last time that happened in conference play was the...

Three years ago, Ohio State coach Ryan Day didn’t join Justin Fields, Chase Young and JK Dobbins at ESPN’s college football awards show. Day admitted this week he was fined for missing the event but said whatever he had to pay was “well worth it.” Why? Because he skipped to...

STATE COLLEGE — He’s soft-spoken and serious on Saturdays, and that mood doesn’t typically shift much even after the game ends for Parker Washington. The junior receiver has to catch the football, has to make big plays, has to have a positive effect on a Penn State offense that needs...

STATE COLLEGE — A balanced Penn State offense is a dangerous Penn State offense. James Franklin’s No. 16 Nittany Lions leaned on a variety of skill players in a surprisingly easy 45-17 White Out victory over Minnesota on Saturday night. It was a huge bounce-back game for veteran quarterback Sean...

STATE COLLEGE — A week after the worst game of his six-year career, a smattering of boos rang out from the 107,000 fans clad all in white when Sean Clifford was announced as Penn State’s starting quarterback. Some wanted to see coveted freshman Drew Allar take over a struggling offense....

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State players gathered around one big screen to watch their worst mistakes on repeat. They don’t intend to take any more beatdowns like the one they took at No. 4 Michigan last week. “We can say as much as we want to say,” defensive end Nick...

MEDINA, Ohio — Class is in session, and the winding hallways are quiet. It’s a fall Friday at Medina High School, a sprawling campus in a small town 30 miles south of Cleveland. In a few minutes, 2,000 students will pass by one another en route to their next period....

When Minnesota was playing well early in the season, it was extremely difficult to force the Big Ten West team’s offense off the field. P.J. Fleck’s Golden Gophers started 4-0 before recent losses to Purdue (20-10) and Illinois (26-14). Minnesota didn’t have standout runner Mo Ibrahim available against the Boilermakers...

It’s a season of change in the Big Ten. Indiana is the preseason choice to win the championship after finishing ninth last season. Wisconsin is picked ninth after sharing the title with Illinois. Purdue will enter the season outside the Associated Press Top 25 after appearing in six of the...

Sunday was difficult for Penn State’s defense. For the first time this season, the Nittany Lions had to walk into the Lasch Building after a loss, and a worrisome one at that. In the words of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, Penn State’s 41-17 defeat at The Big House was a...

James Franklin, as he is wont to do, didn’t indulge in an inquiry regarding the health of Sean Clifford during his weekly Tuesday press conference. Penn State’s starting quarterback exited last Saturday’s loss to Michigan in the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury, prompting freshman Drew Allar to enter the...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — As Curtis Jacobs dashed down the Penn State sideline, returning a tip-drill interception for a 47-yard score, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich threw his hands up in celebration. It might have been the happiest he was all day. Penn State’s defense getting gashed was the story of...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 5 Michigan has taken advantage of a favorable schedule, starting strong in its quest to win consecutive Big Ten titles for the first time this century. The Wolverines (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) are undefeated after beating lesser opponents by an average of 31.7 points. They...

STATE COLLEGE — In 2016, before he even chose a high school, eighth-grade running back Blake Corum visited Penn State. He took a photo with the blue and white uniform on. He met James Franklin and Saquon Barkley. The Virginia native didn’t have an offer from the Nittany Lions, but...

Second-year coach Bret Bielema and his Illinois football team are achieving at a rate not seen in the program in a long time. A very long time in some cases. The No. 24 Illini (5-1, 2-1) are ranked for the first time since 2011, out to their best start since...

MINNEAPOLIS — The Purdue Boilermakers are coming off a 29-win season in which they were ranked in the AP top 10 from wire to wire, including the No. 1 spot for one week in December, and drew a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament. Still, they finished one game...

STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford spent last week getting a head start for what he expects will be his biggest test of the season. The extra week of practice and film study aside, Penn State’s sixth-year quarterback has something else going for him as the No. 10 Nittany Lions prepare...

Penn State’s bye week is over. James Franklin’s 5-0 Nittany Lions produced a pair of impressive victories in September, winning at Purdue (35-31) and Auburn (41-12). But there is still plenty of work left. Remember: Penn State started 5-0 last season then lost six of its final eight. Will 2022...