The Big Ten is sending a contender into the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, as Michigan State vies for the national championship that Ohio State won last season.
The College Football Playoff pairings are out and controversy-free with a smooth final weekend that landed Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma in the national semifinal round.
Penn State is hoping to build momentum on the recruiting trail with less than two months until National Signing Day. The Nittany Lions are checking in with top targets such as Khaleke Hudson and Brendan Ferns, while current commits are being reevaluated by national recruiting services.
Penn State is in the early stages of preparations for the TaxSlayer Bowl, where a Jan. 2 meeting with Georgia awaits. The Nittany Lions enter the contest as a touchdown underdog and in transition as the national search continues for an offensive coordinator.
Penn State is pushing toward the finish line in its 2016 recruiting class and starting to lay a better foundation in the 2017 class with another recent verbal commitment from four-star linebacker Dylan Rivers. James Franklin and his staff have looked the keep the momentum going by hitting the road in all different parts of the region, making contact with both commits and top targets alike. Greg Pickel joined Dustin…
Penn State is getting a gem in its 2016 recruiting class in Exeter five-star offensive lineman Michal Menet, who is one of the anchors in his class and the top-ranked prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, according to 247 Sports. Menet had a standout season for the Eagles before suffering a setback to Cumberland Valley in the District 3-AAAA football playoffs. Menet might have seen his prep career come to…
Penn State made the staffing move that many fans anticipated the day after its season-ending loss to Michigan State, announcing the dismissal of offensive coordinator John Donovan. In two seasons under Donovan’s game-planning, the Nittany Lions showed little progress despite improved weapons and ranked No. 100 or worse in total, scoring and rushing offense both seasons. Coach James Franklin announced the change this week and said a national search would…
Still in search of a signature win in James Franklin’s second season, Penn State is flipping the calendar to the postseason after a season-ending, 55-16 loss to Michigan State. The Nittany Lions are 7-5 and getting routinely linked to the Music City, Foster Farms and TaxSlayer bowls, where Franklin will likely be without an offensive coordinator after firing John Donovan. The loss to the Spartans was the end result of…
Penn State still has a long way to close out its highly acclaimed 2016 recruiting class, with spots to fill and commitments to keep from the likes of Miles Sanders, Lavert Hill and Quinn Nordin. Coach James Franklin has kept the class intact, and it ranks as the No. 6 group nationally by 247 Sports. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have begun to forge ahead in 2017 with a second verbal…
Penn State travels to East Lansing with hopes of playing a spoiler role against a Michigan State team that sits at No. 5 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings and has a chance to win a Big Ten East division title. The Spartans enter as 11-point favorites and with momentum on their side, having reentered the national title conversation with a 17-14 win over Ohio State last week….
Penn State rebuilding after three years of harsh NCAA sanctions. The program is showing signs of life by rejuvenating a depleted roster but still looking for improvement on the field. In the rugged Big Ten East division, coach James Franklin has a long way to go to overtake Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State and compete for Big Ten championships. While Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes command attention as the…
Penn State football coach James Franklin took the time to address concerns about clock management and, vaguely, injuries going into the Nittany Lions’ season finale at Michigan State. Penn State is playing the role of spoiler as the Spartans vie for the Big Ten East division crown and a spot in the College Football Playoff, but could be doing so without the services of Bednarik Award finalist Carl Nassib. Nassib…
Penn State has a big matchup ahead with No. 14 Michigan arriving to play in front of a “White Out” crowd at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions and Wolverines are squaring off on Senior Day in Happy Valley, which again has raised questions about the futures of NFL draft-eligible players Austin Johnson and Christian Hackenberg. They will not take part in Senior Day festivities but are potentially playing the last…
Penn State enters Saturday’s contest against No. 14 Michigan as a four-point underdog in search of its first signature win of the season. The Nittany Lions are coming off a much-needed bye week and playing in front of a “White Out” crowd, creating two advantages over Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, who are 8-2 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten and gearing up for a rivalry game against Ohio State in Ann…
Few Penn State beat writers have been around the program as the Altoona Mirror’s Neil Rudel, who has a unique perspective covering the team through Joe Paterno, Bill O’Brien and all the turmoil of the last four years. He’s worked with James Franklin, as well, and has a front-row seat as the Nittany Lions begin to ascend from three years of harsh NCAA sanctions.
Penn State enters a pivotal final two-game stretch against Michigan and Michigan State having been afforded a week off to rest, get healthy and prepare. The Nittany Lions are coming off a disappointing road loss to Northwestern and look for win No. 8 with two ranked foes ahead. Analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker joined Dustin Hockensmith on the Keystone Kickoff Show to shed light on the players’…