Penn State category, Page 20
Penn State balancing business-as-usual approach with appreciation for magnitude of Ohio State game
Penn State players and coaches have a balancing act to pull off this week, as they attempt to go about their business regularly in preparation for a showdown with Ohio State that is anything but typical. Much is on the line Saturday in State College when the No. 3 Nittany...
No. 3 Penn State hopes to have several key players, including QB Drew Allar, healthy for Ohio State showdown
On deck for No. 3 Penn State this weekend is a showdown that could alter the course of its season. Saturday at noon, the Nittany Lions kick off vs. No. 4 Ohio State in Happy Valley as both teams look to stay at the forefront of the Big Ten title...
‘Just a gutsy win’: How Penn State football keeps winning despite injuries, setbacks
MADISON, Wis. — Saturday started to look all too familiar for Penn State. The starting quarterback was hurt. So were some other important players. And the early lead the Nittany Lions built had evaporated. This time it was QB Drew Allar, OL Anthony Donkoh and DE Dani Dennis-Sutton at Wisconsin....
Penn State’s James Franklin apologizes for handling of questions related to ex-players’ rape charges
MADISON, Wis. — Penn State coach James Franklin issued an apology Saturday night after his initial handling of questions about two former players who were charged early in the week with committing rape. After practice Wednesday night, a sports information director read from a brief statement that said Penn State...
With Drew Allar hurt, Beau Pribula guides No. 3 Penn State past Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Beau Pribula performed well in relief of injured quarterback Drew Allar, Jaylen Reed scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard interception return and No. 3 Penn State rallied to beat Wisconsin, 28-13, on Saturday night. Allar went into the locker room before his teammates in the final...
Mark Madden: Penn State’s James Franklin acted, so who cares if he doesn’t say anything?
Knickers got twisted when Penn State football coach James Franklin did the hokey-pokey on and off the podium at his weekly news conference by way of declining to comment on two ex-Nittany Lions players charged with rape. A PR flack exchanged places with Franklin and recited a prepared statement. The...
No. 3 Penn State wary of trip to Wisconsin before showdown with Ohio StateVideo
MADISON, Wis. — No. 3 Penn State has one more hurdle to clear before it can take an undefeated record into next weekend’s showdown with No. 4 Ohio State. It’s an obstacle that looks much tougher now than it did a few weeks ago. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) lost...
Penn State football coach James Franklin refuses to comment on rape charges against former players
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin met with the media Wednesday evening but refused to answer questions related to the rape charges two of his former players are facing. Instead, he walked away from the microphone and stood beside a Penn State backdrop to allow Penn State assistant...
Unbeaten, rested Penn State facing stiff test against resurgent Wisconsin: Early storylinesVideo
Penn State will put its unbeaten record on the line against Wisconsin on Saturday night in Madison. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0), off on Saturday, last played on Oct. 12 when they edged USC, 33-30, in overtime at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1) has been on a...
Penn State basketball looking to keep building in 2nd season under Mike Rhoades
Penn State (16-17, 9-11 Big Ten) Coach Mike Rhoades enters his second season in Happy Valley on more even footing. He spent his initial weeks with the team last year rebuilding a depleted roster in the wake of former coach Micah Shrewsberry’s departure. Rhoades excelled with the quick turnaround. The...
Andy Kotelnicki’s impact includes explosive plays, balance for Penn State’s offense
What’s different about the 2024 Penn State offense compared to the 2023 version? James Franklin’s No. 3 Nittany Lions are more explosive, more productive in the run game and more diversified in the pass game. A good chunk of the credit must go to new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, whose...
Do-it-all tight end Tyler Warren brings a new dimension to No. 3 Penn State’s offense
STATE COLLEGE — Andy Kotelnicki has coached plenty of versatile players over the years. None of them could do what Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is doing. The hulking 6-foot-6, 260-pound Warren lined up in nine different spots, went in motion seven times, blocked, carried the ball, caught the...
Unsung players help Penn State to 6-0 start
Unbeaten Penn State’s roster is loaded with star players. Tyler Warren, Abdul Carter, Drew Allar, Jaylen Reed, Zane Durant, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen make for a long list of standouts that has gotten longer as the season has progressed. But let’s not forget about the contributions of...
James Franklin still seeking improvement in all facets of No. 3 Penn State’s gameVideo
Penn State’s second and final bye week of the regular season follows a thrilling, come-from-behind win at Southern Cal that moved the Nittany Lions to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten. After defeating the Trojans, 33-30, in overtime, Penn State earned a No. 3 national ranking and can rest...
Penn State’s Tyler Warren is a man of many skills, and he has the game-turning plays to prove it
If anyone deserves a week off in the Penn State program, it is Tyler Warren. The Nittany Lions veteran tight end has produced some extraordinary numbers in unbeaten PSU’s first six games. The Lions are off this week before heading to Madison to face Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Regarding Warren,...
Penn State’s Julian Fleming delivers late heroics at USC in game-defining moments
LOS ANGELES — James Franklin aptly used the word “resilient” to describe Penn State’s 33-30 win Saturday following a second-half comeback and overtime walk-off field goal at USC. From top to bottom, that theme rang true. The Nittany Lions offense went without a touchdown in the first half. The defense...
Penn State QB Drew Allar makes a statement with game-tying drive in comeback win at USC
LOS ANGELES — With his back up against the wall, in a city known for making stars, at an iconic venue with a rich history of memorable moments, Drew Allar created his own. Allar made a statement in Penn State’s come-from-behind, dramatic overtime win against USC on Saturday. Call it...
Tyler Warren’s record-tying game helps Penn State rally to beat Southern Cal in OTVideo
LOS ANGELES — Penn State traveled about 2,500 miles across the continent on its first road trip in the new Big Ten. The Nittany Lions then spent most of Saturday playing from behind against Southern Cal. Thanks to several clutch throws by Drew Allar, a few key defensive stops and...
Effective ball distribution benefitting Penn State offensively heading into showdown at USC
A common refrain among Penn State coaches and players heading into this season was a desire to be better about getting the ball to the program’s most explosive players. As the Nittany Lions got underway, some of those candidates were well known, such as tight end Tyler Warren and Swiss...
No. 4 Penn State makes the long trip to USC with a chance to crush the slumping Trojans’ season
LOS ANGELES — Southern Cal’s season is on the verge of slipping away. Penn State’s season is starting to look awfully special. The Trojans’ desperation and the Nittany Lions’ opportunity appear to be the main motivators when No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) travels more than 2,500 miles...
Freeport senior runner Michael Braun commits to ‘No. 1 choice’ Penn State
Michael Braun first made contact with Penn State cross country and track and field coaches in late August and quickly developed a rapport. “They expressed some interest, and we just went from there,” the Freeport senior distance standout said. Braun paid an initial visit to the University Park campus and...
Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin makes impact in Penn State offense
Some parts of Penn State’s win over UCLA jump off the page immediately. While the score finished 27-11, it wasn’t that close. Drew Allar threw the ball well, and Liam Clifford showed up big with his first career 100-yard game. The defense allowed minus-9 yards in the third quarter, continuing...
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley shows growth, speed ahead of trip to Southern Cal
In a perfect world, USC’s offense would have to worry about Penn safety Kevin Winston Jr. in Saturday afternoon’s Big Ten showdown at the LA Memorial Coliseum. But Winston, a top NFL prospect, is dealing with a significant injury and is out indefinitely. In his absence, fourth-year safety Zakee Wheatley...
Penn State notebook: No. 4 Nittany Lions prepare for long travel week to face USC
After Penn State defeated UCLA at home Saturday, coach James Franklin pointed out that for the fourth straight season, the Nittany Lions have managed to start the season 5-0. Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), now ranked No. 4, is the only program in the nation to have done so....
Tyler Warren passes Pat Freiermuth for most TDs by a TE in Penn State program historyVideo
STATE COLLEGE — When Penn State tight end Tyler Warren scored during Saturday’s 27-11 win over UCLA, he etched his name in the Nittany Lions football record book. Warren’s 5-yard touchdown reception from Drew Allar in the second quarter was his 17th at Penn State, propelling him into first all-time...
