As the clock neared 2:30 PM EST on Wednesday afternoon, head coach James Franklin and his Penn State Nittany Lions football program had all but sealed their recruiting class for 2017. With the addition of four-star defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields, Franklin and company put the finishing touches on a recruiting class that boasts three four-star recruits and one five-star recruit in the secondary alone. During the sanction era, the three years prior to Franklin taking over as head coach ... Read More
Despite Rose Bowl loss, Penn State’s future still bright
Now that we've all caught our breaths from the wild, western shootout otherwise known as the 2017 Rose Bowl, it's time to take a look at that game and the future of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who took part in that game alongside the USC Trojans. The 103rd edition of the Rose Bowl didn't disappoint in the least. It had everything a fan could ask for in a game as it unfolded into an instant classic: points, drama, lead changes and last minute heroics. Both teams were up multiple scores, ... Read More
Penn State falls short in highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever
PASADENA, CA — The 103rd edition of the Rose Bowl was an instant classic, with more ups-and-downs than a ride at Disneyland — but the Penn State Nittany Lions were unable to come out on top. The Nittany Lions fell to the USC Trojans as the Men of Troy made a 46-yard field goal as the clock expired to win 52-49 Monday evening in Pasadena. “These guys should have their chin held high, their chest out, because what we've been able to accomplish this year from the beginning to the end is really ... Read More
Cheers and Jeers: Penn State unable to finish off USC in Rose Bowl
PASADENA, CA — The No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-3, 9-1 Big Ten) were unable to secure another come-from-behind victory this season, falling to the No. 9 USC Trojans 52-49 in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual Monday evening at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. Here are the game's “Cheers and jeers.” Cheers McSorley to Godwin: Quarterback Trace McSorley has been at the helm of the Nittany Lions' offense for a full calendar year after first appearing in the TaxSlayer ... Read More
Similar paths bring No. 5 Penn State, No. 9 USC together in Rose Bowl
No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. No. 9 Southern California Trojans The Records: Penn State (11-2, 9-1 Big Ten); USC (9-3, 7-2 Pac 12) The Head Coaches: Penn State: James Franklin, third season, 49-29 overall, 25-14 at Penn State; USC: Clay Helton, 15-7 record overall and at USC The Game: For many teams facing off in bowl games, the paths the teams take to get to said games are usually incredibly different. For USC and Penn State, however, the paths were eerily similar. Both USC and ... Read More
Nittany Lions no strangers to USC, the Rose Bowl
Monday afternoon's kickoff in Pasadena, Calif., will the fourth time the Penn State Nittany Lions will play in the Granddaddy of Them All, the Rose Bowl. The 103rd installment of the Rose Bowl features the Nittany Lions and the USC Trojans, two programs well versed in playing each other in Pasadena. This game will mark the third time Penn State and USC have met in the Rose Bowl — dating back to their first match-up in 1923 and their more recent match-up in 2009. The Nittany Lions played the ... Read More
College football players skipping bowl games sets bad precedent
From upsets and blowouts to Cinderella stories to underachieving national powerhouses (we see you, Notre Dame), the 2016-17 college football season has had it all. Well, at least that's what I thought until this week when Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey declared he would be skipping the Cardinal's bowl game, the Sun Bowl, to focus on NFL Draft preparations. And McCaffrey isn't the only player forgoing a bowl game to focus on draft preparation. The stand-out running back ... Read More
Indianapolis: The perfect place for Penn State to be crowned champion
This program wasn't supposed to be here. This program was supposed to live in mediocrity as a result of the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the sanctions that followed — or so almost everyone thought. But this program, the Penn State Nittany Lions, is a champion once again, overcoming insurmountable odds to become the 2016 Big Ten Champions after they beat the Wisconsin Badgers 38-31 Saturday evening. How they got to that point is incredibly impressive — and it all began and ... Read More
Should Penn State make the College Football Playoff?
The No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions won their first Big Ten Championship since 2008 Saturday night against the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers. Not only did Penn State's victory over the Badgers pad the Nittany Lions' win total but also their hopes of making it to the College Football Playoff. So, should the Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions be considered for the playoff? Absolutely. “I think conference championship games should carry weight. It's another game where you're playing the best against ... Read More
Cheers and Jeers: Penn State overcomes 21-point deficit to win Big Ten title
The No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2, 9-1 Big Ten) scored 24 points in the second half to catapult themselves to a 38-31 victory over the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Here are the game's “Cheers and jeers.” Cheers "Splash" plays continue to be successful— While Penn State isn't known for stellar first halves — and this game was no different — the team was able to capitalize on a few big plays on offense. ... Read More