STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State is finalizing a deal to hire Matt Campbell as the 17th head football coach in program history, according to multiple reports on Friday.
Campbell, 46, has served as Iowa State’s head coach since 2016, where he won three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards and three bowl games. The Massillon, Ohio, native emerged as a candidate in recent days following Penn State’s reported whiff on BYU’s Kalani Sitake, among other candidates.
Here are five things to know about Penn State’s next head coach.
Campbell and Eagles head coach Sirianni were teammates and roommates at Mount Union in the early 2000s. Sirianni caught 13 touchdowns as a wide receiver while Campbell starred on the defensive line.
Both returned to the Purple Raiders’ staff to begin their coaching careers as assistants, Sirianni in 2004-05 and Campbell in 2005-06.
During Campbell’s tenure as Toledo’s head coach from 2012-15, the Rockets went 35-15, including two nine-win campaigns. Campbell won the MAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and went to three bowl games before departing for Iowa State.
In five of Campbell’s 10 seasons at Iowa State, the Cyclones won eight or more games, a mark the program had previously not reached since 2000. Iowa State won a program-record 11 games in 2024, and after eight wins in 2025, Campbell departs as the program’s all-time winningest coach (72 wins).
The Cyclones have made two Big 12 championship game appearances in their 30 years as a member of the conference. Both of those appearances came under Campbell.
Thank you, Matt Campbell. 🥺
• Most wins in Program History • First New Years Six Bowl Win • Best Single Season in ISU History • 16 Players to the NFL pic.twitter.com/GpauY8lBlI
The 6-foot-2 Campbell spent one year at Pittsburgh before transferring to Mount Union, where he played defensive end from 1999-2002. He was an All-American and a two-time conference defensive lineman of the year.
The Purple Raiders went 54-1 during Campbell’s four-year career. They won four conference titles and three NCAA Division III national championships. Campbell was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2018.
Matt Campbell uses the motto “recruit, retain, and develop.”
He can recruit
Campbell leaves Iowa State after signing 247Sports’ No. 50 recruiting class for 2026, the highest-ranked class of his tenure. All 22 players in the class are three-star recruits, according to 247Sports composite rankings.
Campbell’s recruiting motto is “recruit, retain, and develop.” The 46-year-old will likely bring that motto, and some of the players in his 2026 class, with him to Happy Valley as he stares down a roster overhaul in his first season as head coach.
Campbell and his wife, Erica, met in sixth grade, started dating in their senior year of high school, and later married. The couple has four children: Katie, Izzy, Rudy, and Rocco.
Campbell comes from a football family. His father, Rick, coached high school football at Massillon Jackson in Massillon, Ohio.
After many twists and turns in its coaching search over the last two months, Penn State named its next football coach on Friday.
Matt Campbell, who has been the head coach at Iowa State for the last 10 seasons, will become the Nittany Lions’ 17th full-time coach. Campbell led the Cyclones to an 8-4 record this season and has a 72-55 overall record with Iowa State.
With 19 wins over the last two seasons at Iowa State, the 46-year-old Campbell, a Massillon, Ohio, native, led the program to its best two-year stretch in history, including the Cyclones’ first double-digit win season, in 2024. In Campbell’s 10 seasons with the Cyclones, they have achieved bowl eligibility eight times.
Sources: Matt Campbell and Penn State are working toward a deal for him to become the next coach at Penn State. There’s multiple steps needed to finalize, including agreeing to terms and formal approval of compensation. pic.twitter.com/fKVu45cCNB
Although he hasn’t won the Big 12 in his tenure, he’s made two championship game appearances (2020, 2024) and has consistently maximized his rosters despite Iowa State being ranked outside the top 40 of national recruiting rankings every year he’s been in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State is ranked 50th in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Before he took over Iowa State in 2016, Campbell had a successful four-year run as Toledo’s head coach, compiling a 35-15 record and leading his team to back-to-back Mid-American Conference championship games. Overall, he spent seven seasons with Toledo, first as a run game coordinator and offensive line coach, then as the offensive coordinator in 2011 before taking over as head coach in 2012.
Campbell has a 17-28 record against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 poll, including four wins against AP top-10 opponents in his coaching career that has spanned Bowling Green, Mount Union, Toledo, and Iowa State in 23 years.
Matt Campbell yells to his team from the sidelines as they play Arkansas State on Sept. 13.
He has long been a name mentioned in the college football coaching carousel and was interviewed in January for the Chicago Bears’ vacant head coach opening.
The hire comes after Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12, 54 days ago. The coaching search nearly came to a close earlier this week when BYU’sKalani Sitake emerged as a top candidate for Penn State on Tuesday. According to multiple outlets, Sitake was close to taking the Nittany Lions’ job before he ultimately decided to stay in Provo, Utah, and got a contract extension in the process.
Penn State chose Campbell over Terry Smith, who went 3-3 as the interim coach and helped the Nittany Lions reach bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. Smith reportedly has drawn interest from Memphis and Connecticut to fill their head coach openings.
Campbell has some ties to the area. He was teammates with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni at Division III Mount Union from 1999 to 2002. Sirianni was a wide receiver, while Campbell was a defensive lineman. Campbell later joined the Mount Union coaching staff in 2005 as offensive coordinator, a year after Sirianni coached defensive backs for the program. Both also coached and played with current Toledo coach Jason Candle.
Campbell will have his work cut out for him at Penn State. The program only signed two players on the early national signing day and will be replacing several starters on both sides of the ball.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Jocelyn Nathan, a defensive specialist in her third season with Penn State women’s volleyball, is from Delaware, a state not known for its volleyball prowess.
Her graduating class at Wilmington Friends had just 50 students, a “second family” she had attended classes with since elementary school.
“I think that [family-like] dynamic is something that I really wanted to bring to the rest of my life,” said Nathan, a Wilmington native. “Penn State is huge, but I wanted to bring a close-circle vibe to campus. I wanted to bring that small-town aspect to a bigger stage. And I feel like I’ve done a really good job of it.”
Nathan enjoyed her upbringing, but it didn’t help her gain traction on the recruiting trail. She wasn’t on a top club team, which meant she wasn’t invited to U.S. training sessions and didn’t attend nationals every year like most high-profile recruits.
So, the 5-foot-6 defensive specialist took charge.
She switched club teams to Conshohocken-based East Coast Power, an uncomfortable change for a then-15-year-old who went from knowing nearly everyone in her hometown to knowing none of her teammates or coaches.
But that move set Nathan up for success she never dreamed of.
“When I set my hopes out, I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll get noticed by some lower Division I teams,’” Nathan said. “And it never had anything to do with not believing I could get to that level. It was just, you see what you are working with because not many people knew who I was.”
Her father, Len, who played soccer and baseball at Swarthmore College, compiled highlight tapes to send to college coaches. Nathan sent countless emails to schools in search of offers.
And with the help of Roberta McGuiney (née Holehouse), who played volleyball at Penn State from 2005 to 2008 and coached Nathan with East Coast Power, Nathan secured an offer from the Nittany Lions.
She appeared in just two sets during her freshman year. She said she spoke “maybe 100 words” all season as she acclimated to a her new, environment.
But during her sophomore campaign, Nathan broke out. Penn State coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley lauded Nathan’s “fiery” personality, one she noticed during the recruiting process and has only grown since.
“I think [Nathan] is one of the best teammates around,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I never question if she’s ready or if we should put her in. She knows the game well. She competes hard. She’s a great teammate. And I’m really happy for her success.”
Nathan tallied 69 digs in 59 sets across 22 matches as a sophomore. And she saved her best for last.
In the national championship match against Louisville, she totaled a season-high-tying 10 digs as Penn State won its eighth NCAA title. Nathan believes she’s the first Delaware native to win a national championship in women’s volleyball.
“It gives me goose bumps to think about it, just knowing where I came from,” Nathan said. “I think it just made everything feel so great. Not only could I represent Delaware, but [I could] also be a symbol for the little girls who are trying to get to a Division I school.”
One year after adding an eighth star to their uniforms, the Nittany Lions are back in the NCAA Tournament for a 45th straight season. As the No. 8 seed in the Texas Region, Penn State will face South Florida at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Austin, Texas. If the Nittany Lions advance, they will face the winner of No. 1 Texas and Florida A&M.
Nathan is having another strong season in Happy Valley. She has appeared in all 30 matches and tallied career-highs in digs (130), sets played (94), and assists (17).
And through her success at the national level, she has remained grounded in her roots.
“I’ve always wanted to make people feel welcome,” Nathan said. “And I strive to do that with one new person every single day. That was something I wanted to carry with me, not just to the volleyball court, but to school and to everyday life.”
Penn State’s Jocelyn Nathan celebrates during a game against Iowa.
Fifty-three days ago, Penn State decided it needed new blood and energy injected into the program after a 3-3 start in James Franklin’s 12th season at the helm.
Fresh off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and a program-record 13 wins, Penn State had expectations to again compete for a title. To say the least, that did not happen, and Franklin was fired as a result.
The mid-season timing was meant for Penn State to get an early start on the coaching search. Athletic director Pat Kraft was adamant on Oct. 13 that “a new leader can help us win a national championship.”
By the time the calendar changes to December, most college football teams want to have their head coach in place, if they do decide to make a change. Consider this: Penn State had a coaching opening before LSU, Florida, Colorado State, and Auburn, and those programs all hired their next coach before the Nittany Lions. South Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan State all had coaching changes happen last weekend and each hired a new coach by Wednesday’s early signing day for the 2026 recruiting class.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was on Penn State’s radar before deciding to stay with the Cougars.
Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake emerged as a top candidate for the Penn State opening earlier this week before he decided to stay in Provo, Utah, and received a contract extension. Other candidates like Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea opted to sign extensions instead of jumping ship.
There were opportunities to hire James Madison’s Bob Chesney (now heading to UCLA), a Kulpmont, Pa., native, and Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline (now heading to South Florida). Instead, the Nittany Lions chased after bigger targets, like Sitake, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer to no avail. And Franklin not only got a new job at Virginia Tech, he took several former Penn State commits with him.
Brian Daboll, the former New York Giants coach, is a candidate, per FootballScoop, but the coaching search has now passed early signing day, and Penn State has just two players committed to its 2026 recruiting class.
The pool of candidates has shrunk considerably. The Nittany Lions’ current players and staff will have decisions to make in the coming week with a bowl game looming and the transfer portal opening next month. And at this point no matter who is hired, whether it’s Terry Smith getting an internal promotion or an outside candidate gets the job, the program will be relying heavily on the transfer portal.
After dominating Harvard at home last weekend, Villanova travels to Lehigh (12-0) on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) for a spot in the FCS playoff quarterfinals.
The Wildcats (10-2) will need to slow down Lehigh’s No. 4-ranked rushing attack (235.3 yards per game), which is led by running back Luke Yoder (110.8 yards per game). Quarterback Hayden Johnson also brings a dual-threat element to Lehigh’s offense, rushing for 426 yards and four rushing touchdowns in addition to his 18 passing touchdowns and 62.5% completion percentage.
Lehigh’s pass rush is among the most prolific in the FCS. The defense has collected 40 sacks, the fourth most nationally. Lehigh also has the stingiest run defense in the FCS, allowing just 73.7 rushing yards per game, and is the No. 2 scoring defense (13.9 points allowed).
Pat McQuaide will lead Villanova’s high-powered offense against Lehigh on Saturday.
As opposed to last week, when the Wildcats dominated Harvard with 319 rushing yards, the offense will likely need to win this game on the arm of Pat McQuaide. He was efficient in last week’s win, throwing for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Lehigh ranks 50th in the FCS in passing yards allowed per game (207.9), so there should be opportunities for McQuaide to find playmakers Luke Colella and Lucas Kopecky downfield.
The winner will face either Tarleton State or North Dakota next weekend.
Can Eastern U keep going?
Fresh off its first-ever postseason victory, Eastern University (10-1) will host Susquehanna University on Saturday (noon, ESPN+) in its first ever playoff home game for a spot in the Division III quarterfinals. Head coach Billy Crocker is a former Villanova and Connecticut defensive coordinator who has quickly built up Eastern’s football program in its fourth year of existence.
The offense is led by quarterback Brett Nabb, who ranks ninth in D-III in rushing yards and is Eastern’s top ball carrier with 1,307 yards. He had four touchdowns in last week’s 28-24 win over Franklin & Marshall.
Susquehanna ranks 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game (81.1 yards). The River Hawks have played two high-scoring playoff games in consecutive weeks with wins over Washington and Jefferson College and Christopher Newport University, surrendering 28 or more points in each game.
If Eastern wants to slow down Susquehanna’s high-scoring offense, which ranks 16th in scoring (43.3 points), it starts with the passing offense, which averages 273.2 yards. Eastern’s pass defense has been solid, allowing 158.1 passing yards per game, and its defense ranks top 30 in points allowed (15.8 points) and top 15 in total defense (249.3).
The winner will face either Salisbury or Johns Hopkins next weekend.
The BIG number
33: The number of recruits for Temple’s early signing day class, finalized on Wednesday, which was more than Villanova, Penn State, and Penn combined. That number was also the Owls’ largest in program history, and was ranked the top class in the American Athletic Conference, according to 247Sports.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is expected to go early in next year’s NFL draft.
Game of the week
Big Ten championship: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana (8 p.m., Fox29)
Though both teams are CFP bound no matter the result, the two top-ranked teams in college football will square off in Indianapolis on Saturday night. Heisman hopeful Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback, is a projected top 10 pick in the 2026 draft class.
Ohio State’s defense is loaded with talent, from linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles to safety Caleb Downs.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It has been 52 days since Penn State fired coach James Franklin. What has followed has been a tumultuous coaching search filled with reported hiring whiffs and former recruits withdrawing their commitments.
The program’s once-impressive 2026 football recruiting class, which ranked inside the top 20 of 247Sports’ composite rankings before Franklin’s departure, has fallen to No. 150.
That’s because Franklin didn’t just take his belongings and his “1-0” motto with him to Blacksburg, Va. He also brought his recruits, flipping 11 Penn State Class of 2026 pledges to Virginia Tech.
Those defections have depleted the Nittany Lions’ 2026 class, which has just two players as of Wednesday’s early national signing day.
Penn State’s signees
Jackson Ford, a four-star edge rusher in 247Sports’ composite rankings, signed with the Nittany Lions on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end out of Malvern Prep had been committed to Penn State since June 27.
Ford is the ninth-ranked defensive end in Pennsylvania and the No. 256 player nationally, according to 247Sports. Despite Franklin’s departure and uncertainty about the program’s national coaching search, Ford kept his pledge to the Nittany Lions.
“The people in the building are great people,” Ford told 247Sports on Wednesday. “The program itself is just built on greatness. It’s built on family — a tight connection I have.”
In a surprising move, Peyton Falzone, a four-star quarterback, also signed with Penn State. He is the No. 10 player in Pennsylvania and No. 22 quarterback in the nation, according to 247 Sports.
The Nazareth High School senior committed to the Nittany Lions in April before he flipped his commitment to Auburn in June. But after the Tigers fired coach Hugh Freeze, Falzone withdrew his commitment from Auburn on Dec. 1 and later signed with Penn State.
“Staying home in Happy Valley,” Falzone wrote in an X post on Wednesday.
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith reportedly “played a big role” in Falzone’s decision to sign with the Nittany Lions, according to On3.com.
From PSU to VT
Penn State’s firing of Franklin on Oct. 12 signaled a drastic shift within the program, but it also meant that its future recruiting classes likely would be affected.
The list of players Franklin has flipped from Penn State to Virginia Tech includes seven four-star and four three-star recruits.
Marlen Bright, a four-star offensive tackle from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., flipped on Nov. 27. He is ranked as the No. 7 recruit in New Jersey and No. 40 offensive tackle nationally.
Messiah Mickens, a four-star running back from Harrisburg, withdrew his commitment from Penn State on Nov. 19 and signed with the Hokies on Wednesday.
Other recruits who followed Franklin to Virginia Tech include: Pierce Petersohn (four-star tight end), Troy Huhn (four-star quarterback), Davion Brown (four-star wide receiver), Tyson Harley (four-star defensive end), Terry Wiggins (four-star linebacker), Roseby Lubintus (three-star offensive tackle), Mathieu Lamah (three-star linebacker), Benjamin Eziuka (three-star offensive tackle), and Amauri Polydor (three-star cornerback).
A struggle-filled coaching search
While Franklin’s departure was key in flipping several recruits, Penn State’s shaky coaching search has not helped.
Early reports indicated Penn State’s interest in Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, and Missouri’s Eliah Drinkwitz. All five coaches later signed contract extensions at their respective universities.
Penn State reportedly made BYU coach Kalani Sitake a lucrative offer to become the school’s next head coach, according to ESPN. But once Sitake accepted an extension at his alma mater, Penn State athletic director Patrick Kraft had to pivot.
After the program’s pursuit of several hires fell through, top Penn State donors reportedly are pushing for Kraft to hire Smith, according to On3.com.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Penn State fans flocked into SHI Stadium on Saturday for their team’s season finale, many repping the school’s blue and white colors as they led “We Are” chants through the stadium’s concourse.
But several of their sweatshirts and signs did not contain the iconic Nittany Lions logo or traditional “We Are” motto. Many were instead etched with “Hire Terry Smith” as Penn State (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) earned a 40-36 win over Rutgers (5-7, 2-7) to finish the season on a three-game winning streak.
It was a small peek into a game with bowl eligibility on the line where the aftermath seemed bigger than the final score, at least for one side. It showcased the uncertainty surrounding the Nittany Lions’ program — one in search of a new head coach for the first time since 2014.
This season Penn State fired its long-time head coach, lost its star quarterback to a season-ending injury and endured a six-game losing streak, but still managed to extend its bowl streak to five seasons. At the forefront of that turnaround was interim head coach Terry Smith, whose passion and honesty galvanized a reeling program.
“Terry’s swag, the way he approaches things, brought the fun back to [the game],” said Kaytron Allen, who rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown against the Scarlet Knights. “I appreciate Coach Terry. I hope he is the next head coach [at Penn State].”
As Allen exited the field, he found athletic director Patrick Kraft, showed him a “Hire Terry Smith” sign and said, “You see this?” Kraft nodded his head, acknowledging not only Allen’s message but also the tough decision that lay ahead of him.
Smith believes the respect he has throughout the program, his ownership of the locker room and his pedigree on the recruiting trail make him the best candidate for the job — a desire he made known in recent weeks. His players agree, specifically Allen and the entire starting offensive line, who again lobbied for Smith to become the program’s next coach following Saturday’s win.
Penn State Nittany Lions interim coach Terry Smith has expressed interest in becoming head coach.
With Early National Signing Day scheduled for Wednesday and a looming transfer portal window, Kraft has to make a decision soon. Who he names 17th head coach in Penn State history holds major implications inside the Lasch Building.
But not for Smith, who remained grounded Saturday. The 56-year-old expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as head coach at his alma mater, the university he spent four seasons at as a player and 12 more as a coach.
“I’m just thankful we won the game, thankful for these guys that played their hearts out,” Smith said. “We are bowl eligible. The guys really wanted that. I’m looking forward to playing in a bowl game.”
An uncertain future
It is not unusual for college football players to opt out of bowl games. And it is especially not atypical for players to do so after a program fires the head coach who recruited them.
That means, despite Penn State securing bowl eligibility Saturday with its sixth victory of the season, it is not a given that the team will participate. And judging by the mixed reaction from its players, they also do not know what the future holds.
“We’re not sure yet. We’ll see what happens,” left guard Olaivavega Ioane said when asked about his desire to play in a bowl game.
“We literally just finished a game. I’m seeing [the media] before I see my Mom, so we’re not sure yet,” center Nick Dawkins said.
Andrew Rappleyea, Penn State’s tight end who caught a 53-yard touchdown pass to tie the contest in the opening quarter, said he had no idea what the following days or weeks would hold. He wanted to live in the moment and enjoy the victory.
Allen, who Saturday became the first Penn State player to eclipse 4,000 career rushing yards, shared that approach.
“I’m just trying to take this game in, one game at a time,” Allen said. “We just got out of the game, so I’m not thinking about that. We got a win, [and] that’s all that matters.”
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen ran for 226 yards and a touchdown.
Not every Penn State player was indecisive about their bowl game intentions.
Dominic DeLuca, Penn State’s redshirt senior linebacker, fought through tears following the Nittany Lions’ 37-10 victory over Nebraska last weekend as he shared what the program meant to him. He thanked Smith for “putting the pieces back together” and bringing Penn State football back to life.
And on Saturday, his passion for Penn State again showed as he took a different approach than his teammates. Bottom line: If there is a bowl game, DeLuca will be ready to play.
“I would do anything to play one more game with these guys,” DeLuca said. “It’s no question for me. I’ll be playing with [my teammates] no matter what.”
Kaytron Allen ran for a career-high 226 yards and a touchdown as Penn State beat Rutgers 40-36 for the 18th straight time to become bowl eligible after a tumultuous season.
The Nittany Lions (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) retook the lead for good when linebacker Amare Campbell raced 61 yards with a fumble with 7 minutes, 27 seconds to play. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis lost the ball without being touched.
Rutgers (5-7, 2-7 Big Ten) had moved ahead 36-33 early in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard TD pass from Kaliakmanis to Antwan Raymond. Raymond ran for 189 yards, and Kaliakmanis passed for 338 yards and three TDs. With the loss, the Scarlet Knights will miss the postseason for the first time since 2022.
Penn State hasn’t missed a bowl game since 2020 when the non-College Football Playoff bowl games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Nicholas Singleton broke ties with Saquon Barkley to claim the school career rushing TD record with his 44th and 45th, career total touchdowns at 55 and all-purpose yards with 5,586.
After losing to Notre Dame in the semifinals of the CFP last season, the expectations for Penn State were high. The Nittany Lions began the season ranked No. 2 and were led by quarterback Drew Allar, who was headed for a Heisman-caliber season before a season-ending leg injury in Week Six against Northwestern.
The following day coach James Franklin was fired after Penn State lost its first three Big Ten games, including back-to-back games in which the Nittany Lions were favored by 20-plus points.
Penn State would lose five straight before turning its season around by winning its last three games.
For the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five years, Villanova will open the FCS playoffs at Villanova Stadium, where it has not lost since Sept. 24, 2022.
The Wildcats have won 22 straight home games, including the playoffs. They have won their last three playoff games at Villanova Stadium by an average of nine points, including last year’s five-point win over Eastern Kentucky.
This season, Villanova’s opening-round matchup will be against the Ivy League’s Harvard on Saturday (noon, ESPN+). The Crimson (9-1, 6-1 Ivy) lost to rival Yale to end the regular season, but both teams earned playoff berths and will be on opposite sides of the bracket. The Ivy League is competing in the FCS playoffs for the first time this season.
Harvard is led by its passing game. Quarterback Jaden Craig is tied for the 12th most touchdown passes in the FCS (24) and ranks 16th in passing yards (2,722). His 272.2 yards passing per game ranks fifth in the FCS, while Villanova is middle of the pack in defending the pass (213.8 yards, 61st).
Yale’s Brandon Webster (7) recovers a fumble by Harvard’s Dean Boyd. The two Ivy League schools made the FCS playoffs this season.
Harvard’s defense, meanwhile, ranks seventh in rushing yards allowed (105.5 yards) and has surrendered just nine rushing touchdowns, tied for the second-fewest in the FCS. Villanova’s offense ranks 29th in rushing yards per game (178.6). Sophomore running back Ja’briel Mace has come on strong since starting running back David Avit’s injury, gaining 524 of his 600 total rushing yards in the last three games, including a school-record 291 in a win over Towson on Nov. 8.
Experience is on the Wildcats’ side. They’ve been here before under Mark Ferrante and have a quarterback in Pat McQuaide who takes care of the football (19 touchdowns to two interceptions.
If the Wildcats win, No. 5 seeded Lehigh (12-0) awaits them. Ferrante has led Villanova to at least the FCS quarterfinal in two of its last three trips to the playoffs.
North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young (10) has the fourth-most receiving yards in the FBS.
The BIG number
1,076: That’s the number of receiving yards North Texas wide receiver Wyatt Young has this season, the fourth-most of any player in the FBS. Young, whose Mean Green face Temple on Friday, has 56 receptions and 10 touchdowns on the year.
One more chance to go bowling
Penn State and Temple will be playing for the right to continue their seasons this weekend. Both teams enter the final week of the regular season at 5-6, and each team is going in very different directions.
The Owls have lost three straight games and now are in danger of failing to end their six-year bowl eligibility drought with North Texas (10-1, 6-1 American Conference) up next on Friday (3:30 p.m., ESPN) in Denton, Texas. The Mean Green, though, learned earlier this week that head coach Eric Morris will take the Oklahoma State job at the conclusion of their season, which could end with a College Football Playoff berth. Temple and K.C. Keeler will be hoping to play spoiler.
North Texas’ offense ranks first nationally in scoring (46.3 points) and total offense (503.3) with Drew Mestemaker (3,469 yards, 26 touchdowns) under center. But if the Owls are to pull off the upset, they’ll need running back Jay Ducker to have a monster game against the North Texas’ fifth-worst rushing defense nationally (211.2 rushing yards allowed per game) and keep the Mean Green offense at bay.
Penn State running back Kaytron Allen rushed for 69 yards and two scores against Rutgers in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions are looking to punctuate a lost season with a fifth straight bowl appearance and their 11th trip over the last 12 seasons. The offense has found its groove behind Kaytron Allen, who became the program’s all-time leading rusher last weekend, and Nick Singleton, who tied Saquon Barkley for the most all-purpose touchdowns in school history.
On Saturday Penn State will play Rutgers (3:30 p.m. BTN), which hasn’t beat the Nittany Lions since 1988.
Considering the Nittany Lions’ run-heavy approach, Rutgers (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) will have to prove it can stop the ground game. The Scarlet Knights’ defense ranks 127th in rushing yards allowed (201.7) and gives up 31.1 points per game, which ranks in near the bottom nationally. With Penn State riding a two-game winning streak and plenty of momentum heading into Piscataway, N.J., it could be a long day for Rutgers, which also is fighting for bowl eligibility.
Eastern University quarterback Brett Nabb (left) will lead the Eagles against Franklin and Marshall in the Division III playoffs on Saturday.
Three questions
🏈 What’s Penn looking for in a new head coach now that Ray Priore is stepping down? Priore has been with the Quakers for nearly 40 years, his last 11 as head coach. Whomever comes in next will be looking to kickstart a program that has fallen in recent seasons, but the Quakers won 12 Ivy League titles with Priore in the building, including consecutive titles in 2015 and 2016 with him as head coach.
🏈 How will Eastern look after having a week off to prepare for Saturday’s Division III playoff game against Franklin and Marshall College (noon, watch live)? If we’re looking at history, just fine. Following a 39-37 nail-biter against King’s College on Sept. 27, the Eagles had a bye week and then dropped 37 points on Delaware Valley College on Oct. 11, which perennially is one of the better teams in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
🏈 How big or (not) will the transfer-portal exodus be starting next week after Penn State’s regular-season finale? The word is that players are fond of interim coach Terry Smith, but is it enough to play in whatever bowl a six-win Big Ten team would compete in after such a tumultuous season? Not to rip off a Band-Aid, but this was the No. 2 team in the nation at one point. Wild.
Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore (8) and the Wolverines will be out to upend No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.
Game of the week
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan (noon Saturday, Fox29)
One of the most storied rivalries in all of college football, the Wolverines are 9.5-point underdogs at home against the 10-0 Buckeyes. There’s nothing Michigan would love to do more than beat Ohio State, and if it can, that could be just enough to clinch a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Terry Smith is no longer timid when asked about his interest in shedding his interim title to become Penn State’s next head coach. He wants the job, and he has made that desire known in recent days.
After the Nittany Lions’ 37-10 win over Nebraska on Saturday, Smith said he “has always been a head coach.” Dani Dennis-Sutton, the team’s standout defensive end, said Smith told players he wants to be Penn State’s next head coach.
And on Monday, Smith reiterated that statement.
“I would like to be the head coach [at Penn State],” Smith said. “If I don’t speak for myself, who will?”
After a 3-3 start led to James Franklin’s firing, Smith led Penn State (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) through its toughest stretch of the season. The Nittany Lions went winless in his first three games, with losses to Iowa, No. 1 Ohio State, and No. 2 Indiana.
But the team was more competitive. Penn State lost to the Hawkeyes by one point in a tough road environment, trailed the Buckeyes by three points at halftime at Ohio Stadium, and nearly handed Indiana its first loss of the season.
Then came the team’s breakthrough, a 28-10 road win over Michigan State, followed by a dominant 27-point victory over Nebraska. Smith said he is interviewing for the head coaching job every day with the way he leads this team.
And through five games, he believes his interview is going well.
“No one knows Penn State better than me,” Smith said. “Of all the candidates that are out there, I [best] know the history of Penn State, I know the culture, the DNA, the locker room, the administration. I think I’m a good leader of men, and that will take care of itself when the time comes.”
Penn State interim coach Terry Smith celebrates after winning against Nebraska on Saturday.
Smith is correct. He spent four years as a player and 12 more as a coach at Penn State. He also has the backing of the team and its fans, which was showcased Saturday night with several “Terry!” chants and signs etched with “Hire Terry Smith.”
Smith has generated impressive support off the field, but his team also has improved in several key areas on the field since his promotion.
The Nittany Lions offense, which struggled to generate explosive plays before Franklin’s firing, has successfully thrown the ball downfield in recent weeks. After registering zero completions of 20 or more yards in his first two starts, Ethan Grunkemeyer had 13 completions in that category over his last three games.
“We’re answering all your guys’ questions about throwing the ball down the field,” Smith said. “The ball is going down the field, which is opening up our run game, which is why we ran for over 200 yards [against Nebraska]. We look like a real football team.”
On several occasions before his firing, Franklin said he wanted his defense to “play faster.” His pleas were not answered.
But three weeks ago, Smith simplified some of Jim Knowles’ defense and added a “prowler package” to generate a greater pass rush. The Nittany Lions have since allowed just 15.7 points per game and tallied 11 sacks — nearly half their season total.
After a six-game losing streak and a 3-6 start, Smith has his team positioned for bowl eligibility. The only thing standing in its way: a road date with Rutgers (5-6, 2-6) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., BTN).
“We approach these last couple of weeks as do-or-die, playoff-type games. And this is another playoff game for us,” Smith said. “We’re playing to get that extra game.”
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton etched their names into Penn State history on Saturday as the Nittany Lions handily defeated Nebraska, 37-10.
After Zakee Wheatley and Amare Campbell stuffed Nebraska’s fourth-down attempt on the game’s opening possession, Penn State (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) used a seven-play, 98-yard drive to take an early lead it never relinquished.
On a night dominated by the Nittany Lions offense, Allen rushed 25 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns to set the program’s all-time rushing record. The senior running back stands alone with 3,954 career rushing yards after breaking Evan Royster’s program record of 3,932 set in 2010.
Allen said he wanted to make a difference for his team. And under the lights of Beaver Stadium, he did just that.
“We witnessed greatness from Kaytron Allen tonight,” interim coach Terry Smith said. “Penn State has been playing football for an awfully long time, so to be the number one rusher in the history of this place is an impressive thing.”
Singleton added two touchdowns to tie Saquon Barkley for the most total touchdowns in Penn State history (53). He finished with 51 receiving yards and 44 rushing yards.
The Nittany Lions scored on six of their nine offensive drives en route to a 27-point victory. After two winless months, the team has rallied around Smith’s leadership to keep its bowl-game hopes alive.
“[Smith] brought us back together. He put all the broken pieces back together,” senior linebacker Dominic DeLuca said. “He did everything he could for us to fight and to change our culture. He’s a true Penn State guy. Everyone’s behind him, everyone wants to play for him.”
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith (right) shown with athletic director Pat Kraft following their 37-10 win on Saturday night.
Terry Smith fever is alive
Beaver Stadium fans led multiple “Terry! Terry!” chants before, during, and after the Nittany Lions’ victory. Several Penn State players, including cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Audavion Collins, held up “Hire Terry Smith” signs as they ran off the field.
After his team’s first home victory since Sept. 13, Smith said he has “always been a head coach.” He told his players in recent weeks he wants the head-coaching job at Penn State — a message Dani Dennis-Sutton said motivated him and his teammates to “win for Coach T.”
Smith is beloved within the program. His players have bought into his messaging to turn a six-game slide into a two-game winning streak.
And after a turbulent two months filled with heartbreaking losses and a coaching change, Smith finally got his moment on the same field he has spent 16 seasons as both a player and a coach.
“I’m very motivated by the support. My players love me unconditionally. I love them unconditionally,” Smith said. “I had the amazing opportunity today to walk in with my granddaughter and experience people chanting her grandfather’s name. Very few people get an opportunity to experience [that].”
One by one, Penn State’s entire offensive line shared why Smith should be the program’s next head coach. Left guard Olaivavega Ioane praised him for “leading the team out of a dark time.” Sixth-year center Nick Dawkins lauded Smith’s honesty.
Anthony Donkoh, the team’s starting right guard, was one of several players who pointed to a “Hire Terry Smith” sign postgame. Donkoh said players got the signs from fans and wanted to show support for the man known as “the truth-teller” inside the Lasch Building.
“It just makes it a no-brainer for [Smith] to be the head coach,” Donkoh said. “The players are saying it, and the community around them is saying it. You have your guy. You don’t have to look anywhere else for who the head coach should be.”
Penn State running back Nick Singleton led the team with 51 receiving yards against Nebraska on Saturday night.
An offensive explosion
Through its first seven games, Penn State’s inability to generate explosive plays hindered its offensive production. But on Saturday against Nebraska (7-4, 4-4), explosive plays were plentiful.
The Nittany Lions generated three plays of 30 or more yards in the first quarter alone. On the team’s opening drive, Koby Howard caught a 31-yard pass before Allen’s 50-yard scamper set up tight end Andrew Rappleyea’s first career touchdown.
Singleton added a 50-yard reception on the next possession and tacked on a pair of rushing touchdowns on the next two drives to make it four Nittany Lions scores on four first-half drives.
Penn State finished with 412 yards of total offense and tied its season high of 37 points. Grunkemeyer continued his improved play by completing 11 of his 12 pass attempts for 181 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m super proud of the effort from our guys. They are playing inspired football,” Smith said. “In a season that they could easily give up and quit, they’re on the brink of playing some of their best ball.”
Up next
Penn State hits the road for its season finale against Rutgers (5-6, 2-6) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., BTN).
