Penn State category, Page 58
Penn State coach James Franklin responds to fake injury accusations
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin responded to comments by his Iowa counterpart, Kirk Ferentz, who defended Iowa fans booing injured Nittany Lions during last week’s game. And Franklin didn’t hold back in a more than five-minute rant that addressed strategy and a scene that he said “isn’t...
Penn State defensive lineman PJ Mustipher out for the season, James Franklin saysVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State head coach James Franklin announced on Wednesday that starting defensive tackle PJ Mustipher will be out for the remainder of the season. Mustipher suffered a lower body injury in the first quarter of the 23-20 loss against Iowa on Saturday. Following halftime, Mustipher returned to...
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz: Fans booed on some Penn State injuries because they ‘smelled a rat’
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday he believed fans of the Hawkeyes booed some Penn State players when they stayed down after a play in Saturday’s game because “they smelled a rat, I guess.” Four defensive players for the Nittany Lions — safety Jaquan Brisker, tackle D’Von Ellies, safety Jonathan...
‘I learned we’re fighters’: No. 7 Penn State faces latest test in rebounding from 1st loss at No. 2 Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ellis Brooks lingered by the Penn State tunnel at the southeast corner of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night and surveyed the scene. Iowa fans clad in black and gold poured out of the stands, which held a sellout crowd of 69,250 for the top-five matchup, poured...
Penn State enters off week on heels of season’s first loss: ‘We have two weeks to get better now’Video
IOWA CITY, Iowa — For the first time this season, Penn State needs to rebound from a loss. And the Nittany Lions will have plenty of time to think about it. Penn State enters its off week after Saturday’s 23-20 loss at Iowa. There are a couple trains of thought...
Penn State forced to regroup, rally around Ta’Quan Roberson following loss to Iowa
Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson walked toward the away tunnel on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium Saturday night. He moved slowly through the crowd of fast-moving Iowa fans donning yellow and black jerseys that seemingly engulfed the 5-foot-11 wide receiver in his white uniform. Tears streamed down his...
No. 4 Penn State struggles after Sean Clifford’s injury, lose at No. 3 IowaVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Spencer Petras threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Nico Ragaini to complete No. 3 Iowa’s comeback from a two-touchdown deficit, No. 4 Penn State’s offense did next to nothing after quarterback Sean Clifford was knocked out of the game and the Hawkeyes held on for a...
5 new coaches take stage as Big Ten readies for basketball season
INDIANAPOLIS — Katie Gearlds, Micah Shrewsberry and Mike Woodson climbed the stairs as the second day of the Big Ten’s media tour began in Indianapolis. It was a short drive from their high schools and a little further from their college basketball days. But now the three Big Ten new...
No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa sets up as a day for defenses
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The last time Penn State and Iowa met at Kinnick Stadium, both were among the top three teams in the nation in scoring defense and the Nittany Lions won 17-12. The setup will be the same Saturday when No. 4 Penn State returns to face the...
Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich highlights ‘poised’ Sean Clifford’s areas of improvement
UNIVERSITY PARK — Mike Yurcich knows Sean Clifford’s improvement has been a hot topic concerning Penn State through the first five weeks of the season. The redshirt senior has rebounded from a down 2020 season to become one of the Big Ten’s more efficient and accurate passers. Plenty of credit...
No. 4 Penn State committed to running back timeshareVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin has always liked to use a lot of running backs, and he’d like to see one assert himself eventually this year. Not only would more big plays in the running game help balance out the No. 4 Nittany Lions’ offense, they’d certainly...
Iowa’s ball-hawking defense primed to face Penn State passing duoVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa leads the nation in interceptions, and Penn State features one of the most dynamic passing combinations in Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson. How the third-ranked Hawkeyes fare in their showdown with No. 4 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday could hinge on whether they...
Penn State, Michigan State getting big boost from transfersVideo
From its first snap of the season, Michigan State showed that coach Mel Tucker’s rebuilding project wouldn’t take nearly as long as expected. Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker took a handoff, made a move around a defender and raced down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown against Northwestern. Walker...
No. 4 Penn State preps for No. 3 Iowa’s ‘fast, confident and aggressive’ defenseVideo
STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin knows some might describe the Iowa defense as “simplistic,” given how long Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker have worked together, but the Penn State coach is also well-aware that the system gets results. When No. 4 Penn State faces No. 3...
Jahan Dotson, Sean Clifford etch their names in Penn State record book in win over IndianaVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford smoothly navigated the pocket and started to roll to his right toward the line of scrimmage late in the third quarter Saturday night. The Penn State quarterback needed 4 yards for a first down, and an Indiana defender was waiting between him and the marker....
Penn State defense puts together flawless performance against Indiana
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s defense was in a bind early Saturday night. The unit had dominated Indiana through the first 11 minutes of game action, giving up only 46 yards, 35 of which came on one passing play, but now it was backed up in the red zone through...
No. 4 Penn State beats Indiana 24-0 with strong defenseVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State defenders get excited when they’re asked to defend short fields these days. After all, it’s what the No. 4 Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) do best. Penn State forced eight punts and two turnovers and blocked a field goal to lift the Nittany Lions...
No. 4 Penn State hoping run game works against IndianaVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State already has won big games in marquee environments, using big plays and a stingy defense to do so. None of the No. 4 Nittany Lions’ victories has left the team’s biggest players satisfied, however. The 300-pounders up front are eager to get another shot when...
Trio of wide receivers bolster offense for Penn State
It didn’t take long for Jahan Dotson to establish himself as Sean Clifford’s favorite target in 2020. The wide receiver seemingly was always open and made himself available to his quarterback whenever he needed a safety valve. It should be no surprise, then, that Dotson is leading Penn State in...
Penn State coach James Franklin puts emphasis on improving run game, playing with an edge
Much has been made about Penn State football’s struggles in the run game, and for good reason. The Nittany Lions tallied a paltry 80 yards on the ground against Villanova — an FCS opponent — in their most recent game. The effort was an area of emphasis for Penn State...
PJ Mustipher, Penn State ‘don’t believe in revenge games’ entering Indiana rematch
UNIVERSITY PARK — It’s human nature to want revenge, right? It’s a natural response to being wronged, and it’s one that sometimes can overwhelm and engulf someone. It would seem right and, in a way, normal for Penn State to want revenge on Indiana entering the teams’ Saturday night meeting...
Clemson falls to No. 25 in AP poll; Penn State moves up to No. 4
Clemson tumbled to No. 25 in The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday, snapping its streak of 97 straight weeks in the top 10. The Tigers (2-2) lost for the second time this season Saturday — falling in double overtime to North Carolina State — and dropped 16 spots...
Career day for Sean Clifford carries No. 6 Penn State over VillanovaVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford passed for four touchdowns and a career-high 401 yards, leading No. 6 Penn State to a 38-17 victory over Villanova on Saturday. Clifford completed 19 of 26 passes, finding Parker Washington for two TDs and Jahan Dotson and KeAndre Lambert-Smith for one apiece. Tyler Warren...
No. 6 Penn State impressed with in-state FCS opponent VillanovaVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin began the week by rattling off a list of upsets. Franklin cited 13 games in which FBS teams lost to FCS opponents and made sure to relay the message to his No. 6 Nittany Lions (3-0), who host Villanova (3-0) on Saturday....
Penn State’s Brandon Smith focuses on improvement despite impressive start to season
UNIVERSITY PARK — Brandon Smith didn’t realize he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday until one of the Penn State linebacker’s classmates congratulated him. And even then, it took a second to register. “I’m like, ‘What award?’ ” Smith recounted over Zoom on Wednesday...
