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Category: Penn State

  • Matt Campbell has one job: Rebuild Penn State’s national title hopes

    Matt Campbell has one job: Rebuild Penn State’s national title hopes

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Following a 54-day national coaching search filled with reported hiring whiffs and leaked audio from a private meeting between the university’s athletic director and several players, Penn State on Monday introduced Matt Campbell as its 17th head football coach.

    “It’s a dream come true for me,” Campbell said as he fought through tears. “It’s one of the greatest honors of my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be here.”

    Campbell, 46, spent the last 10 seasons as head coach at Iowa State, where he won a program-record 72 games. The Massillon, Ohio, native signed an eight-year deal with Penn State that will pay him $8 million in 2026 and gradually rise to $9.25 million in 2033, the university announced Monday following approval from Penn State’s Board of Trustees.

    Campbell is now tasked with winning the Nittany Lions’ first national championship since 1986, a challenge he embraces.

    “From this day forward, we’re going to wake up every single day in this football program, and we’re going to build championship habits,” Campbell said. “We’re going to do it one day at a time, we’re going to do it from the ground up, and we’re going to do it in a football program that’s going to demand toughness, discipline, and most importantly, togetherness.”

    Campbell’s contract is filled with incentives, including an automatic two-year extension and a $1 million bonus for winning a national championship, according to a copy of his contract released by the university. He would earn an additional $100,000 for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year and $350,000 for winning the Big Ten championship game, among other incentives.

    How Kaytron Allen broke out of his shell to emerge as a star in Penn State’s backfield

    The university is reportedly committing significant resources to Campbell, who will have around $30 million in Name, Image, and Likeness funds, plus an additional $17 million staff pool, to build his roster and coaching staff, according to The Inside Zone.

    Penn State allocated significant resources to former head coach James Franklin, who was fired Oct. 12 after a 3-3 start in what many considered a championship-or-bust season.

    “Matt Campbell is Penn State: hard-nosed, humble, relentless,” athletic director Patrick Kraft said. “He’s built for championships. He embraces our expectations, not as pressure, but as a privilege. … Penn State football is once again a program that no one wants to see on their schedule.”

    5 things to know about Matt Campbell, Penn State’s next head coach

    Penn State’s coaching search was bumpy.

    Early reports noted the program’s interest in Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, who later signed contract extensions at their respective universities.

    Penn State offered Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake a lucrative deal to become the school’s next coach, according to ESPN. But once Sitake accepted an extension at his alma mater, Kraft pivoted to Campbell, who reportedly had turned down several college and NFL coaching offers during his tenure at Iowa State before accepting a move to State College.

    “If you’re ever going to leave, it better be about your family,” Campbell said. “If [my family] were ever to leave Iowa State, I wanted to go somewhere I wanted to finish my career, I wanted to stand for something that is bigger than Matt Campbell. And I found that [at Penn State].”

    Retaining Terry Smith

    In a statement released Friday by Penn State Athletics, Kraft announced the university will retain Terry Smith, who served as the Nittany Lions’ interim head coach for the final six games this season. ESPN later reported a four-year contract extension for the 56-year-old.

    Smith will serve as associate head coach, among other responsibilities, according to 247 Sports.

    “Terry is Penn State. I made Terry the interim coach because I felt he was the one person in that building to unify the team,” Kraft said. “The [decision to retain Smith] was an absolute no-brainer. … I think I’ve got the best football coach in the country [in Campbell], and I’ve got a partner for him who will fight for Penn State.”

    Smith, who played wide receiver at Penn State from 1988-91, led the Nittany Lions to a 3-3 record. His players lobbied for him by holding up “Hire Terry Smith” signs after wins over Nebraska and Rutgers.

    The longtime Nittany Lion garnered head coaching interest from Memphis and UConn, according to Jordan Shultz. But as Smith said at his introductory news conference, he bleeds blue and white.

    Campbell lauded Penn State’s “impressive” turnaround under Smith’s leadership. He said one of the first questions he asked during initial conversations with Penn State was whether he could keep Smith on his staff.

    “It was critically important for me to keep Terry. I know what he’s about and what he stands for,” Campbell said. “The fact that Terry wants to stay and wants to be a part of this, I couldn’t be more grateful. To work hand-in-hand with him, knowing what it means to play here, what it means to coach here, what it means to lead here, that’s huge for me and the rest of our staff.”

  • How Kaytron Allen broke out of his shell to emerge as a star in Penn State’s backfield

    How Kaytron Allen broke out of his shell to emerge as a star in Penn State’s backfield

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It has been a breakout 2025 season for Kaytron Allen, who etched his name into Penn State history as the program’s all-time leading rusher.

    But the senior running back’s path to stardom was bumpy.

    Allen rushed for 1,769 yards and 16 touchdowns across his first two seasons in Happy Valley. He thrived next to Nicholas Singleton, his fellow Class of 2022 running back. But he was missing a key element, the final hurdle to becoming a true No. 1 running back.

    While Allen’s runs were loud, his voice and presence within the Lasch Building were nonexistent. He attended team meetings and film sessions, but a simple head nod was the only interaction he had with most teammates and coaches.

    That was, until one kind gesture changed his demeanor.

    When Allen had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving during his sophomore year, Terry Smith, who then was Penn State’s associate head coach and cornerbacks coach, invited him to join his family for Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh. Allen got to see his coach in a different light, as a family man.

    Kaytron Allen (13) reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown against Rutgers.

    It marked the start of a bond between the shy running back and the now-interim coach known as “the truth teller” inside the program. And it marked the beginning of Allen’s ascent.

    “Kaytron is a man of very few words,” Smith said. “Up until that point, I would see him in the building and say, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ And he gave me one of those [head nods] and kept it moving. Then we had Thanksgiving with him, and he saw me in a different light. And from that day forward, Kaytron and I became [close].”

    Smith’s friendship seemed to unlock a new side of Allen, one that was more open and honest, not only with his teammates and coaches, but also with himself. And with that honesty came increased production.

    The Norfolk, Va., native rushed for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in his junior campaign. He saved his best football for the College Football Playoff, when he rushed 47 times for 286 yards and two touchdowns in three games as Penn State finished with a program-best 13 wins.

    Here’s how Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton is playing the long game to ‘get better’

    While Allen’s breakout season mirrored that of Singleton’s, who rushed for 1,099 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, the latter remained Penn State’s prized running back. It was Singleton who made ESPN and CBS Sports’ 2025 preseason All-America teams.

    But through the first six games of the 2025 campaign, Allen’s production took center stage. While the duo split carries at 70 apiece during that stretch, Allen’s 467 rushing yards far outpaced Singleton’s 259. He ran for seven touchdowns to Singleton’s six behind the same offensive line, same blocking, and same play calls.

    James Franklin’s firing on Oct. 12 signaled a drastic shift in Penn State football. Smith took over as interim head coach and quickly made a promise to Allen: He would do everything to get his star running back the program’s rushing record.

    Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) celebrates with Nicholas Singleton and head coach Terry Smith after breaking the all time rushing record for Penn State.

    “It means a lot when you have a coach who believes in you. It makes you want to go hard for him, gets [me] going,” Allen said. “I appreciate [Smith] a lot for giving me that boost in confidence.”

    Smith made good on his promise in his first contest as interim head coach. Against Iowa, Allen rushed a career-high 28 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns while Singleton tallied just six carries (15 yards). And despite the Nittany Lions’ 25-24 loss, one thing was certain: Allen was the team’s RB1.

    His uptick in production didn’t stop in Iowa City, Iowa. Over the team’s next five games, Allen rushed 112 times to Singleton’s 47. His confidence was building with every carry, every broken tackle, every touchdown.

    After years of sharing a backfield but not the praise or spotlight associated with his production, it was fitting that Allen’s signature touchdown celebration — kicking down an imaginary door — encapsulated this moment in his career. And the best part: His best games were still ahead.

    5 things to know about Matt Campbell, Penn State’s next head coach

    “Kaytron is my guy. We’re roommates, we’ve been through a lot, we stuck together,” Singleton said. “We made each other better. He made me better every day just by competing with him.”

    Allen rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s 28-10 victory over Michigan State. The next week, he had 25 carries for 160 yards against Nebraska to set the program’s all-time rushing record, surpassing Evan Royster’s mark of 3,932 yards. Allen’s total stands at 4,180.

    He could add to that total since Penn State qualified for a bowl game with its 6-6 record, but Allen has not indicated if he would play at the risk of an injury that could impact his NFL potential.

    Allen said his goal as a freshman was simply to make a difference and help his team win football games. Mission accomplished.

    “We’re just so proud of him,” center Nick Dawkins said. “We wanted to get this done for him. We knew preseason that this was an accolade that we wanted to achieve for him as an offensive line, and for him to get his flowers is amazing because he works so hard.”

    Kaytron Allen (13) runs the ball into the end zone against Nebraska.

    In a fitting end to his final college regular season game, Allen rushed 22 times for 226 yards and a touchdown in Penn State’s 40-36 win over Rutgers. He earned three consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week awards after averaging 189 rushing yards per game over his final three contests.

    Allen finished the regular season with career highs in rushing yards (1,303) and yards per carry (6.2). He rushed for more touchdowns (15) than he had in his previous two seasons combined (14). At last, his ascent to becoming Penn State’s top running back was complete.

    “There have been a lot of ups and downs, more downs than ups,” Allen said. ”The adversity I had to come through, I learned a lot off the field just trying to buy in, trying to open up and do things differently from what I’m used to. I appreciate everyone [at Penn State].”

  • Drexel wrestling took a loss Friday night vs. top-ranked Penn State, but it was ‘incredible’ anyway

    Drexel wrestling took a loss Friday night vs. top-ranked Penn State, but it was ‘incredible’ anyway

    After winning its fourth consecutive national championship at what then was the Wells Fargo Center last March, No. 1 Penn State returned to Philadelphia to face Drexel in a dual meet Friday night at a sold-out Daskalakis Athletic Center.

    While the Nittany Lions claimed a 43-3 win over the Dragons, both teams gained something else from the meet. It was an opportunity for Drexel to draw a crowd of 2,000-plus to the DAC. And it allowed Penn State to make an appearance in Philadelphia, where the Nittany Lions have a large alumni base. It also was an opportunity to play an in-state rival early in the schedule, which Penn State coach Cael Sanderson tries to do as frequently as he can.

    “We don’t have a lot of open spots in our schedule with our conference, but you try to wrestle with as many schools in Pennsylvania as you can,” Sanderson said.

    Jordan Soriano had the Dragons’ lone win in the 141-pound match. The senior claimed an 8-5 decision over Penn State’s Cael Nasdeo. The loss drops Drexel to 2-1 in duals this season, while Penn State improves to 2-0.

    Lions in the East

    Friday night’s match marked the end of a home-and-home series between Drexel and Penn State. The top-ranked Nittany Lions hosted the Dragons in State College, Pa., last season. The Dragons lost that dual, 41-3, with their lone match win belonging to Soriano.

    Friday’s dual meet was the first time Penn State has reappeared in Philadelphia since it won its 13th overall national title in March.

    “I think it’s fun,” Sanderson said. “It’s a different experience. A lot of the national tournaments are in the city, and it’s a little different kind of feel as far as getting around … I think it was good for us. We’ve got a lot of alumni from the area.”

    Penn State has fewer local connections on its roster, though. Of the 10 wrestlers who took to the mat on Friday for the Nittany Lions, none were from within 50 miles of Philadelphia. 11 of the athletes on Penn State’s roster are from the state, and a few hail from the collar counties, like Doylestown’s Tyler Kasak or Harleysville’s Sam Beckett.

    Sanderson said he does not usually recruit athletes within Philadelphia’s city limits, but that the Lehigh Valley and South Jersey typically are fertile recruiting grounds.

    “Usually, the wrestling isn’t huge in the city areas as much,” Sanderson said. “Wherever the best wrestlers are, that’s where we’re recruiting from. But when you can get kids from Pennsylvania, that’s obviously No. 1, just because we’re Penn State.”

    Raising goats in Doylestown helped Penn State’s Tyler Kasak become one of the NCAA’s best wrestlers

    Old friends

    The opportunity to play an in-state rival in Philadelphia is one of the reasons the Nittany Lions made the trip to University City, but it also helps that Sanderson and Drexel coach Matt Azevedo are former teammates who overlapped for two seasons at Iowa State.

    Sanderson, who was undefeated in four seasons at Iowa State was on the 2000-01 and 2001-02 teams with Azevedo, who was a three-time NCAA qualifier two seasons at Arizona State and two with the Cyclones. Azevedo also was teammates with Sanderson’s older brother Cody, who is an associate head coach for the Nittany Lions.

    Drexel coach Matt Azevedo (left) and Penn State coach Cael Sanderson were teammates in college.

    Azevedo said that even though he’s the older of the two head coaches, he looks up to Sanderson and what he’s accomplished in 16 seasons at Penn State.

    “Cael has always set a great example as a teammate and as a competitor,” Azevedo said. “We all marveled at what he could do, and now as a coach, he’s doing incredible things. Honestly, I watch from a distance, you know, try and learn and try to pick up things. They do an amazing job, and I’m happy for them.”

    Sanderson shared a mutual respect for his former college teammate, saying he’s cheering Azevedo’s squad on when they are not matching up head-to-head.

    “They’re in really good shape, and they’re tough,” Sanderson said. “They fought the whole time. They were challenging us in every position, so that’s kind of what we were expecting. We’d like to see them doing well moving forward. They were tough.”

    Penn State’s wrestling team might be the greatest dynasty in sports

    Packing the DAC

    Drexel announced Wednesday that its meet vs. Penn State was sold out. There appeared to be a few empty seats Friday night, but the crowd neared the DAC’s 2,509-seat capacity. It was a relatively split crowd, too; Penn State fans appeared to have a slight majority. The Nittany Lions are among the biggest draws in college wrestling, thanks to a run of success that includes 12 national titles since Sanderson took over in 2010.

    Azevedo said the opportunity to host Penn State was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on his own program. The Dragons are coming off their best Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association finish in Azevedo’s tenure at the school, finishing the season 11-10 and second in the conference. Drexel sent three wrestlers to the NCAA championship as individual qualifiers last season.

    How do you build a wrestling program from scratch? Ask Arcadia.

    “When we can host a dual meet here at Drexel, and sell it out as a mid-major wrestling program, I think it says a lot,” Azevedo “It says a lot about our fan base, that our fans are excited to come out and watch us wrestle. Right, there’s a lot of Penn State fans here, but there were just as many Drexel fans.”

    Azevedo said while he knew putting Penn State on the schedule likely wouldn’t result in a nonconference dual win for the Dragons, he could not refuse an opportunity to host the Nittany Lions.

    “I feel fortunate to be able to create an environment like this for our guys to compete in,” Azevedo said. “It gets a lot of attention and eyeballs on our program. For me, it’s like, I can’t pass that up. You know it’s going to be tough, but this was an incredible event.”

  • 5 things to know about Matt Campbell, Penn State’s next head coach

    5 things to know about Matt Campbell, Penn State’s next head coach

    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.

    Reports: Penn State to hire Iowa State’s Matt Campbell as next head coach

    Nick Sirianni connection

    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.

    He knows how to win

    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.

    A standout defensive end

    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.

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    Family life

    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.

  • Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as 17th head coach

    Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as 17th head coach

    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.

    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.

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    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.

  • How a switch to a Philly-area club helped Jocelyn Nathan’s journey to Penn State volleyball

    How a switch to a Philly-area club helped Jocelyn Nathan’s journey to Penn State volleyball

    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.”

    Penn State’s coaching search drags on. Who’s left?

    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.”

    Villanova volleyball had its best start in 20 years

    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.
  • Penn State’s coaching search drags on. Who’s left?

    Penn State’s coaching search drags on. Who’s left?

    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.”

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    Fifty-three days ago, and counting.

    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.

    Terry Smith wants to be Penn State’s next head coach

    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.

    Villanova signs 13 players on early signing day before FCS playoff matchup vs. Lehigh

    Villanova’s next test

    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.

    Temple signs its largest recruiting class in program history in K.C. Keeler’s first full offseason

    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.

  • Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    Penn State’s recruiting class takes a hit as its search for a head coach continues

    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.

    National signing day: Local high school football stars join Notre Dame, Missouri, Syracuse and more

    “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.

  • Penn State is bowl eligible. But the Nittany Lions’ future beyond that remains uncertain.

    Penn State is bowl eligible. But the Nittany Lions’ future beyond that remains uncertain.

    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.

    A career day from Kaytron Allen helps Penn State rally to beat Rutgers and become bowl eligible

    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.

    Villanova trounces Harvard in first round of FCS playoffs: ‘The three phases are playing together’

    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.”

  • A career day from Kaytron Allen helps Penn State rally to beat Rutgers and become bowl eligible

    A career day from Kaytron Allen helps Penn State rally to beat Rutgers and become bowl eligible

    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.

    There were four lead changes in the second half.

    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.