In this new day and age of college football, which sucks compared to the old days, you need to have as short of a time as possible between firing and hiring your head coach.
I think Pat jumped the gun. It’s super important to know who your next coach is before you move on.
Otherwise, it’s like the death penalty given the portal and NIL. Oops.
Simon Ziff, New York Simon:
I think the only thing Kraft was sure about was that he didn’t want James Franklin any longer.
Convinced of that, he did the right thing to dismiss him, however uncomfortable the uncertainty is in the meantime.
But you’re right: Unless he has a trump card, he’s painted himself into a corner, and his job is on the line.
Hey, Neil:
What’s the record for points allowed by a Penn State defense in Beaver Stadium? This weekend might “memorable” in an embarrassing way.
Cindy Miller, Atlanta
Hey, Cindy:
This sent me to the record book, and there’s not a quick list.
Near as I can tell, it’s 44 — by Ohio State in a 44-31 victory
PENN STATE MAILBAG
Rudel vs. the oddsmakers
Line: Indiana is a 14.5-point favorite.
Inside the line: Hoosiers are 6-2 in their last eight games against the number … In last 10 meetings, PSU is 9-1 straight up but 5-5 vs. spot and Hoosiers have covered four of last six … Over-under is 48.5 … IU has hit over in 12 of its last 15 road games … Total has gone over in fve of Penn State’s last six games, including last week at Ohio State. (Source: Odds Shark).
Prediction: Indiana 30, Penn State 23
Prediction record: 5-3
PSU record vs. spread: 2-6
Prediction record vs. spread: 4-4
and by Nebraska in PSU’s 56-44 shootout win in 2017.
Good morning, Neil:
The effort was there at Ohio State.
However, it’s the same old story with PSU. They were beat up front on both sides of the ball.
Until they figure that out, it does not matter how great the QB, wideouts, running backs, linebackers or DBs are.
Andy Goldberg Greensburg
Good morning, Andy:
Of the position groups you mention, only the running backs have done their part. And that’s because of Kaytron Allen.
Neil:
Georgia coach Kirby Smart had an interesting comment when asked about the firings of four SEC head football coaches since the beginning of the 2025 season.
“In the SEC, the office you’re in isn’t yours, you’re just borrowing it, and if you don’t win you’re not going to be in it long.”
Mike Rendos, Lock Haven
Mike:
Kirby is smart.
Neil:
After having season tickets from 1974, I can say this dumpster fire JF left us with may go down without another win and earn a nine-loss season.
Franklin rolled out of town rich and smiling and those who defend him for winning games he should have must not have much of a memory.
I do — Temple, Pitt, Arkansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, UCLA, Northwestern.
He was supposedly a good recruiter.
Except the O-Line stinks and has since he got here along with no wide receivers, linebackers and D-tackles.
Plus we’re also a graveyard for QBs.
This team is woefully deficient in talent, and it’s time to admit it. Believe me there are many lettermen feeling JF’s pink slip was long overdue.
I like Terry Smith, and he inherited a mess. This will carry over to 2026 as any player talented enough to be playing in the Big Ten will be graduated or in the transfer portal.
Couple of suggestions to Pat Kraft: Call Bill Cowher, Mike Munchak, Sean Lee, Paul Posluszny, LaVar Arrington. And put the statue back up. Ed Hill, Altoona Ed:
You’ve made good points until you got to your list of successors — not one of whom has coached a down of college football.
Neil:
I am not sure Grunkemeyer is the answer.
At one point against OSU, he threw three incomplete passes that were high, low or in front of the receivers.
I realize the line was not giving him a lot of time, but that is the environment.
The new coach needs to look at the transfer portal. I believe that is how OSU, Indiana and Nebraska got their current QBs. Bill Obert Bedford
Bill:
I think the new coach will either bring a QB with him or find a couple in the transfer portal to compete with or replace Grunk.
Neil Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on X @neilrudel.
INDIANA (9-0) AT PENN STATE (3-5)
KICKOFF: Noon
WHERE: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
RANKINGS: Indiana is ranked second in both the AP Top 25 and the US LBM Coaches Poll, and XXX (INSERT CFP STUFF TOMORROW NIGHT). Penn State is not ranked.
COACHES: Terry Smith is now 0-2 as Penn State’s interim head coach after taking over for James Franklin. Curt Cignetti is 20-2 at Indiana and 39-6 in four seasons overall coaching at the Division 1 FBS level. He was previously at James Madison for the 2022 and 2023 seasons (19-4). (Sports-reference.com)
SERIES HISTORY:
Penn State leads the all-time series vs. the Hoosiers, 25-2. Prior to the Nits’ 2020 loss in Bloomingtom, PSU had only lost one other time to IU, a 44-24 defeat on Oct. 5, 2013, also in Bloomington. (winsipedia.org)
TV: FOX
RADIO: ESPN Radio 1430 WVAM. Steve Jones and Jack Ham handle call, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The game also is carried locally on ESPN Radio 1450 WQWK, WBUS-FM (93.7), WLUI-AM (670), WLUI-FM (92.9), WZBF-FM (106.1), WDBF-FM (106.3), WKSB-FM (102.7), STAR-FM (100.9), WAYC-AM (1600).
Neil Rudel
MIRROR GAME BREAKDOWN
Chris Masse analyzes the matchups vs. Indiana
PENN STATE INDIANA
I bet Penn State fans miss the days when Nick Singleton was a dynamic running back. Seems like a long time ago. His 3.6 yards per carry are career-low and nearly three yards lower than last fall. The over/under on gadget plays Andy Kotelnicki calls Saturday is at 12.5. I’ll take a slight over. But seriously, just keep it simple.
This offense looks a lot like PSU’s was supposed to. Hoosiers are dynamic, inventive and score in bunches, averaging 46.4 points per game. Fernando Mendoza picked up where Kurtis Rourke left off last season and is frmly in the Heisman picture, totaling 2,119 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns and just three picks. Hoosiers also have two backs and two receivers over 500 yards.
This has to be the most disappointing defense I’ve seen in my lifetime, considering what this unit was supposed to be. PSU is allowing 31.4 points per game during the losing streak with all fve opponents scoring at least 22 points. Granted, Ohio State has, possibly, the nation’s best receiving group but shoddy secondary play has been a glaring issue these last fve games.
The return game continues being non-existent. Ryan Barker doesn’t get many chances anymore but remains nearly perfect this season. Punter Gabriel Nwosu has been getting ample opportunities and had one of his best days in Columbus, averaging nearly 50 yards per kick and placing two of his six inside the 20-yard line.
How far Indiana has come defensively these past two seasons is amazing. The defense used to be a turnstile, letting opponents right into the end zone. Now it has let just one team, Oregon, reach 20 points, and that comes with a catch since seven came via a Pick-6. Hoosiers defense allowed just 37 rushing yards at Maryland and has scored more touchdowns (two) than it has allowed (one) last two weeks.
Nico Radicic is having a perfect season, making all 48 extra-point tries and eight feld goals. He also has drilled three feld goals between 40-49 yards and has missed just one kick in 136 attempts the past two seasons. Punter Mitch McCarthy probably gets bored, having been called upon just 11 times. That might explain his inconsistent 40.4-yard average, although four have gone inside the 20.
COACHING/INTANGIBLES
At least athletic director Patrick Kraft doesn’t have to worry about a strong fnish and making a decision whether to hire Terry Smith full-time. Not that Smith was put in a good position anyway with games at Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana to open his head coaching run. It’s pretty staggering how ugly this season has become.
The best thing to happen to Indiana since Norman Dale and Jimmy Chitwood joined forces, Curt Cignetti is 20-2 in his frst two seasons at Bloomington. He won an Indiana record 11 games in his debut last year, and the team’s dominance this fall proves it was no fuke. He has immediately turned around programs at his three coaching stops, and Indiana is his best work yet.
Prediction: PSU fans may be witnesses to history Saturday as Indiana has never won at Penn State. Not that it matters. As Cignetti said at his introductory press conference: “I win. Google me.” That continues at Beaver Stadium, although I expect the Lions to put up a fght. Indiana 38, PSU 20.
Brian Carson County Observer Editor
Penn State 13, Indiana 38
The Nittany Lions jump from the frying pan into the fre with Indiana visiting Happy Valley. After No. 1 Ohio State last week, Penn State faces No. 2 Indiana and its top-ranked offense with QB Fernando Mendoza the potential top pick in the 2026 NFL draft. It will be ugly.
SENTINEL STAFF PREDICTIONS
Greg Williams Sentinel Reporter
Penn State 14, Indiana 40
The boo birds will be out Saturday in Unhappy Valley as the struggle continues. Penn State should fnd themselves overmatched much like last week against Ohio State.
Varner Sentinel Correspondent
State 17, Indiana 35
Chris Masse is a sports writer for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, a sister paper of the Mirror and part of Ogden Newspapers.
IU’s Cignetti has backed up all of his bravado
It’s a tale of two truth tellers on the sideline Saturday as Indiana visits Penn State — and the media seems to like both Curt Cignetti and Terry Smith.
Cignetti is IU’s confident head coach. His “I win, Google me” introduction, along with his initial shot at the traditional powers in the Big Ten Conference, seemed like a lot, and maybe too much, at the time they happened. They’ve since proven to be correct, though, and it’s not bragging if you back it up.
Cignetti guided Indiana to the College Football Playoff last season, and the Hoosiers are on track for that again while playing even better with more dominant results this year.
Cignetti started his career as a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1983 and made stops as a quarterbacks coach at Davidson (1985), Rice (1986-1988) and Temple (1989-92).
He returned to Pitt (1993-99), coaching quarterbacks and tight ends while serving as recruiting coordinator. After that, he coached quarterbacks and led recruiting efforts at N.C. State (2000-06) before an important three-year stint at Alabama (2007-10) as receivers coach and, again, recruiting coordinator.
When Cignetti took his first job as a head coach — at IUP, in an effort to revitalize the program his father (Frank Cignetti Sr.) led to so much success — the bookshelf in his office was lined with binders of Alabama game plans.
He’s confident, but he’s a hard-working lifer in the coach-
Steve
Sampsell
ing profession. He led IUP to NCAA playoff appearances and finished 53-17 there before moving to Elon and getting that program to the playoffs. After that was a three-year stint at James Madison, where he went 52-9 with his teams reaching the Football Championship Subdivision national championship game. He led the program’s move to the Football Bowl Subdivision and a bowl game, too.
Loud-sounding things come out of Cignetti’s mouth, but he’s not really mean spirited or spouting just to spout. Because he respects the game and the work necessary to succeed, his interactions with the media are often more deadpan and matter of fact. It works for him, and so far, it’s working for Indiana.
When Terry Smith was named Penn State’s interim head coach — a succession plan that made sense on many levels — he was framed as the program’s truth teller.
Thanks to his long association with the program, as a player, coach and stepfather of a standout player, his familiarity and pedigree are unquestioned.
Plus, because some outside the program felt James Franklin was disingenuous and inauthentic at times, Smith was an appealing
TV/RADIO COMMENTARY
Worth watching
BYU at Texas Tech Noon Saturday ABC
Maryland at Rutgers
Oregon at Iowa
2:30 p.m. Saturday FS1
3:30 p.m. Saturday CBS
Navy at Notre Dame 7:30 p.m. Saturday NBC
opposite.
Smith’s interactions with the media have been direct and open. He has shared his thoughts, touting hard work, teamwork and the small gap between success and failure while fairly assessing what has worked and what has not.
The approach works for Smith, but so far, it’s not working or changing things for Penn State, which has lost five games in a row.
Allar’s appearance
He didn’t do a thing on the field in terms of competition, but the Ohio State game was a good look for injured Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Simply traveling with the team and being present provided an example of his commitment and leadership.
It’s not easy to quantify leadership, but that and maturity are two things that get questioned by some just watching him from afar — so being there when it’s not necessary and he’s recover-
ing from a season-ending injury should count for something in the perception game. Of course, Allar has been ever-present during televised games with his cameos in a couple high-profile commercial campaigns.
ESPN approach
While ESPN touts its motto to “Serve Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere,” it’s lost on the company’s website the lists start times for college football games each week. The list shows matchups, times and networks for every major game each week — every game except those on CBS or Fox. ESPN shows matchups and start times for games on those networks but then does not delineate specifically where the game is airing — something it does for every other game, including those that appear on NBC/ Peacock. It’s just a shortsighted, silly approach. And not at all fan friendly.
Notable …
∫ It’s not football, but it’s certainly a media-related story with Penn State connection. All the hubbub around FBI director Kash Patel using the bureau’s plane for personal flights most recently surrounds a trip to see his girlfriend, country music artist Alexis Wilkins, sing the national anthem before the Real American Freestyle event at the Bryce Jordan Center on Oct. 25.
∫ The NCAA’s tightened and updated rules related to targeting have not made the penalty any more obvious to viewers, and seem to do less to enhance player safety. Plays that would have been flagged a few seasons ago are not prompting penalties this season. And replays are not a help.
∫ Nearly a week after Fox’s Gus Johsnon said Brian Kelly would be a good fit for Penn State’s vacant coaching position during the Penn State-Ohio State game, it’s still unclear he even believed those words coming out of his mouth. Or if it mattered.
∫ If things hold and Indiana and Ohio State remain undefeated, CBS has to be happy about the prospect of those two programs in Big Ten championship game.
∫ Man, that Dr Pepper “Fansville” commercial campaign continues to age well and remains fresh and fun.
Sampsell covers the broadcast end of Penn State football for Gameday. He can be reached at stevesampsell @gmail.com.
Hoosiers among several national up-and-comers
Indiana isn’t the only up-and-comer that has elbowed its way into the national conversation alongside college football’s perennial powers this season.
The Hoosiers are just the most fascinating story.
Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, BYU, Texas Tech and Virginia all appeared in the top 15 of the rankings released on Oct. 26.
Of that group, only Texas A&M and Texas Tech were ranked in the preseason poll — at No. 19 and No. 23, respectively.
So, how to explain the metamorphosis of these programs?
The universal playbook for success calls for effective utilization of the transfer portal and judicious management of financial resources.
Separation from the masses requires application of a coaching philosophy and competitive strategy that are both transcendent.
For instruction on mastery of this method, see Cignetti, C.
The long-term contract presented to Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti a few weeks ago symbolized the university’s commitment to remain entrenched among the power players in college football for the foreseeable future.
The eight-year contract with an average annual compensation of approximately $11.6 million was announced four days after Penn State fired James Franklin.
It’s reasonable to assume that one action triggered the other.
“We are committed to investing in IU Football in such a way that we can compete at a championship level, and the No. 1 priority in doing that is ensuring that Coach Cignetti is the leader of our program,” IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson said. “His accomplishments during the last season and a half have been nothing short of remarkable. As much as anyone, he believed in what was possible with our program, and he’s turned that belief into reality.”
Under Cignetti, Indiana has won 20 of 22 games, advanced to
the College Football Playoff and secured a No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll, the highest ranking in program history.
At 9-0, the Hoosiers have beaten five opponents by at least 45 points.
Of significance to the bean counters at IU, the football team sold out its final four Big Ten games in 2024 and the entire 2025 Big Ten Conference slate.
As the vast majority of FBS programs continue to run in place, regress or advance at a snail’s pace, Indiana has ascended at jet speed.
Reaching a cruising altitude doesn’t appear to be in Indiana’s plans.
Beep, beep, all chirpers
The Roadrunners of UTSA knocked Tulane from the ranks of the unbeatens in American Conference play, 48-26, and settled some scores in the process.
In postgame remarks, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor didn’t pull any punches when asked what he expected to see during film review of the game.
“A team that felt extremely disrespected,” he began. “A coach that said we basically been cheating the last six years, which disrespects everything we’ve done in this place for six years, in my opinion. A quarterback that for them that disrespected us unbelievable, mic’d up before the game. Some spoiled rotten media, some fair-weather fans. Shut ’em up for a week.
“But the loyal ones, the true ones that have been there since day one and always stayin’ there, that’s who we play for. Them chirping birds, we don’t really give a crap about, but it’s nice to shut ’em up for a week.”
UTSA (4-4, 2-2 American) has won 22 consecutive regular-season conference games at home since Traylor became head coach in 2020.
NATIONAL VIEW
FBS membership.
ö With a roster that includes 68 newcomers (second-most in FBS) and 42 transfers (also second-most in FBS), North Texas is 8-1 after defeating previously undefeated Navy, 31-17.
ö Duke’s 46-45 win at Clemson was its first road triumph in the series since 1980 and just its fifth since the founding of the ACC in 1953.
ö After falling to USC, Nebraska has now lost 29 straight games against a ranked opponent.
ö Ole Miss is 8-1 for the third time in six seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Quotables
“Going extra innings at Death Valley isn’t really a good plan.”
In the win over Tulane (6-2, 3-1 American), UTSA quarterback Owen McCown completed 31 of 33 pass attempts for 370 yards and four touchdowns.
Go figure
The presence of Pony Express alumni Eric Dickerson and Craig James provided inspiration but nothing in the way of production, as SMU rushed for minus-2 yards through four quarters against No. 10 Miami.
SMU flipped the script in overtime with six consecutive runs that covered 25 yards and netted the winning score in a 26-20 upset.
After quarterback Kevin Jennings rushed for 5 yards to start SMU’s overtime possession, T.J. Harden carried the ball five straight times for 20 yards, including a 1-yard TD scamper.
Crowning achievement
Already distinguished as the first USC walk-on to score a touchdown since 1994, freshman King Miller added to his celebrity by recording his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and scoring the go-ahead touchdown
in the fourth quarter of a 21-17 victory at Nebraska last Saturday.
In addition to the 6-yard touchdown run with 10:06 to play, Miller converted a 2-point rushing attempt that knotted the score at 14-14 in the third quarter.
Filling in for injured starters, Miller rushed for 158 yards against Michigan on Oct. 11. According to USC, the total is believed to be the highest produced by a USC walk-on since at least the early 1970s.
Notables
ö A loss to Indiana on Saturday would extend Penn State’s in-season losing streak to six games, a mark of futility previously entered into the annals for the 1913, 1931, 2003 and 2004 seasons. The school record for consecutive losses in one season is seven in 1931.
ö Victorious in six straight games, James Madison (7-1, 5-0 Sun Belt) has posted four consecutive second-half shutouts.
ö With a win over UTEP in its last outing on Oct. 28, Kennesaw State (6-2, 4-0 Conference USA) became bowl eligible in its first season of full-fledged
— Duke head coach Manny Diaz after opting for an ultimately successful 2-point conversion with 40 seconds left in a 46-45 win at Clemson
“It’s difficult for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers to win when you do that.”
— Houston coach Willie Fritz after three of his team’s four turnovers were converted into 17 points in a 45-35 upset loss to West Virginia
“One thing spirals into another and you’re down by 30 points, you know.”
— Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby after his 17th-ranked Bearcats were beaten by No. 24 Utah, 45-14
“This lawsuit arises in an era when money too often eclipses meaning and the pursuit of profit threatens to erase the very traditions that breathe life into institutions. Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.” — Statement in a lawsuit brought by the city of Pasadena, California, and the Rose Bowl Operating Company against UCLA for allegedly trying to move UCLA home football games from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium
Jim Caltagirone, a former member of Penn State’s sports information department, comments on the national scene for Gameday. He can be reached at jimclion4ever@gmail. com.
Jim Caltagirone
The Associated Press
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts after RB Roman Hemby scored a touchdown during the second half against Maryland last week in College Park, Md.
COLLEGE SCHEDULE — WEEK 11
FRIDAY
EAST
Delaware St. (6-3) at Morgan St. (3-6), 7 p.m.
Harvard (7-0) at Columbia (1-6), 7 p.m. SOUTH
Houston (7-2) at UCF (4-4), 8 p.m.
Tulane (6-2) at Memphis (8-1), 9 p.m. FAR WEST
Northwestern (5-3) at Southern Cal (6-2), 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
EAST
Va. Lynchburg (0-3) at Sacred Heart (6-3), Noon
Stonehill (3-6) at CCSU (6-3), Noon
Mercyhurst (3-6) at St. Francis (Pa.) (0-8), Noon
Wagner (3-6) at Robert Morris (3-6), Noon
James Madison (7-1) at Marshall (4-4), Noon
SMU (6-3) at Boston College (1-8), Noon
Holy Cross (1-8) at Lehigh (9-0), Noon
Yale (5-2) at Brown (3-4), Noon
NC A&T (2-7) at Stony Brook (4-5), Noon
Temple (5-4) at Army (4-4), Noon
Colorado (3-6) at West Virginia (3-6), Noon
Duquesne (5-4) at LIU Brooklyn (3-6), Noon
Colgate (4-5) at Lafayette (6-3), 12:30 p.m.
Cornell (3-4) at Penn (5-2), 1 p.m.
New Hampshire (5-4) at Monmouth (NJ) (8-1), 1 p.m.
Stetson (3-6) at Marist (3-6), 1 p.m.
Bucknell (4-5) at Fordham (1-8), 1 p.m.
Villanova (6-2) at Towson (4-5), 1 p.m.
Princeton (3-4) at Dartmouth (5-2), 1 p.m.
Bryant (2-7) at Albany (NY) (1-8), 1 p.m.
Richmond (5-4) at Georgetown (5-4), 1 p.m.
Maryland (4-4) at Rutgers (4-5), 2:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech (5-3) at Delaware (4-4), 3 p.m.
Duke (5-3) at Uconn (6-3), 3:30 p.m.
Merrimack (3-6) at New Haven (4-5), 3:30 p.m.
SOUTH
Furman (5-4) at Chattanooga (4-5), Noon
Georgia (7-1) at Mississippi St. (5-4), Noon
Missouri St. (5-3) at Liberty (4-4), 1 p.m.
Presbyterian (8-1) at Davidson (1-8), 1 p.m.
Staff faces tall task keeping motivation
So here we are with Penn State sitting at 3-5 with no chance of anything it hoped to accomplish this season on the table.
After being hammered 38-14 on the road at No. 1 Ohio State last weekend, the Lions welcome the No. 2 team in Indiana to State College.
The question now is simple: What else is there to play for this season with four games remaining?
Count Zakee Wheatley as one of the seniors that isn’t taking anything for granted in his final season in a Nittany Lion jersey.
“Every time I come on the field, I want to get a win for my brothers,” Wheatley said.
Andy Stine
PSU football commentary
sounds like a coach who still wants to play in a bowl game in December. If the Lions end up being bowl-eligible, chances are they’d be invited to be a place that’s not so glamorous, such as the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit the day after Christmas or the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium a day later.
Smith sounded open to it.
Maine (5-4) at Hampton (2-7), 1 p.m.
The Citadel (4-5) at Mississippi (8-1), 1 p.m.
Butler (5-4) at Morehead St. (5-5), 1 p.m.
Wofford (3-6) at VMI (1-8), 1:30 p.m.
SE Missouri (3-6) at Gardner-Webb (5-4), 1:30 p.m.
Howard (4-5) at SC State (6-3), 1:30 p.m.
Rhode Island (7-2) at Elon (4-5), 2 p.m.
Incarnate Word (3-6) at Northwestern St. (1-8), 2 p.m.
Tennessee St. (2-7) at UT Martin (4-5), 2 p.m.
Norfolk St. (1-8) at NC Central (6-3), 2 p.m.
William & Mary (5-4) at Campbell (2-7), 2 p.m.
Mercer (7-1) at W. Carolina (6-3), 2:30 p.m.
Jackson St. (6-2) at MVSU (1-7), 3 p.m.
Tulsa (2-6) at FAU (3-5), 3 p.m.
Charlotte (1-7) at East Carolina (5-3), 3 p.m.
FIU (3-5) at Middle Tennessee (1-7), 3 p.m.
Texas Southern (4-4) at Alabama St. (6-2), 3 p.m.
Prairie View (6-3) at Alabama A&M (4-5), 3 p.m.
S. Utah (4-5) at E. Kentucky (4-5), 3 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman (5-4) at Grambling St. (6-3), 3 p.m.
Syracuse (3-6) at Miami (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
ETSU (4-5) at Samford (1-8), 3:30 p.m.
Southern U. (1-8) at Alcorn St. (3-6), 4 p.m.
West Georgia (6-3) at North Alabama (2-7), 4 p.m.
Georgia St. (1-7) at Coastal Carolina (5-3), 4 p.m.
Auburn (4-5) at Vanderbilt (7-2), 4 p.m.
Cent. Arkansas (3-6) at Austin Peay (5-4), 4 p.m.
Stanford (3-6) at North Carolina (3-5), 4:30 p.m.
Texas State (3-5) at Louisiana-Lafayette (3-6), 5 p.m.
Florida St. (4-4) at Clemson (3-5), 7 p.m.
California (5-4) at Louisville (7-1), 7 p.m.
Wake Forest (5-3) at Virginia (8-1), 7 p.m.
LSU (5-3) at Alabama (7-1), 7:30 p.m.
Florida (3-5) at Kentucky (3-5), 7:30 p.m.
MIDWEST
San Diego (5-4) at Valparaiso (1-8), 1 p.m.
St. Thomas (Minn.) (6-3) at Drake (6-2), 1 p.m.
Illinois St. (6-3) at Indiana St. (3-6), 1 p.m.
Ohio St. (8-0) at Purdue (2-7), 1 p.m.
Bowling Green (3-6) at E. Michigan (2-7), 1 p.m.
Tennessee Tech (9-0) at E. Illinois (3-6), 1 p.m.
Murray St. (0-9) at N. Iowa (2-7), 2 p.m.
S. Illinois (6-3) at Youngstown St. (5-4), 2 p.m.
N. Dakota St. (9-0) at North Dakota (6-3), 2 p.m.
Lindenwood (Mo.) (4-5) at W. Illinois (2-7), 2 p.m.
Texas A&M (8-0) at Missouri (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
Oregon (7-1) at Iowa (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
S. Dakota St. (7-2) at South Dakota (6-4), 4 p.m. Washington (6-2) at Wisconsin (2-6), 4:30 p.m. Navy (7-1) at Notre Dame (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Southern Miss. (6-2) at Arkansas St. (5-4), Noon
BYU (8-0) at Texas Tech (8-1), Noon UAB (3-5) at Rice (4-5), 2 p.m. Jacksonville St. (5-3) at UTEP (2-6), 3 p.m. Florida A&M (3-5) at Ark.-Pine Bluff (4-5), 3 p.m. Utah Tech (2-7) at Abilene Christian (5-4), 3 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin (7-2) at Houston Christian (27), 3 p.m.
Iowa St. (5-4) at TCU (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
SE Louisiana (7-2) at Lamar (7-2), 4 p.m.
McNeese St. (3-6) at East Texas A&M (2-7), 5 p.m.
Nicholls (3-6) at UT Rio Grande Valley (6-3), 6 p.m.
FAR WEST
Weber St. (3-6) at Montana St. (7-2), 3 p.m.
E. Washington (4-5) at Montana (9-0), 3 p.m.
Kansas (5-4) at Arizona (5-3), 3:30 p.m.
Kennesaw St. (6-2) at New Mexico St. (3-5), 4 p.m.
Sacramento St. (5-4) at Portland St. (1-8), 5 p.m.
N. Colorado (3-6) at N. Arizona (5-4), 6 p.m.
Cal Poly (3-6) at Idaho St. (3-6), 6 p.m.
Air Force (2-6) at San Jose St. (3-5), 6 p.m.
UC Davis (6-2) at Idaho (4-5), 7 p.m.
Nevada (1-7) at Utah St. (4-4), 7:30 p.m.
Nebraska (6-3) at UCLA (3-5), 9 p.m.
UNLV (6-2) at Colorado St. (2-6), 9:30 p.m.
Sam Houston St. (0-8) at Oregon St. (2-7), 10 p.m.
San Diego St. (7-1) at Hawaii (6-3), 11 p.m.
“Ultimately we have a lot of football left to play. Someone like me as a senior, I just want to take it all in with my brothers. We don’t have forever to be here in a Penn State locker room.”
A win over Indiana would probably be even more shocking than the collapse of the previous five games, and that would put the Lions at 4-5 and in need of two wins in its final three games to be bowl-eligible.
The good news is all three games are winnable, even a home contest with Nebraska, which just lost quarterback Dylan Raiola for the season to injury last week.
Road trips at Michigan State and Rutgers could possibly be the worse losses of the season, even with everything that has gone wrong for PSU.
Nittany Lion interim coach Terry Smith sure
“Why wouldn’t we want to play football? This is what we signed up to do,” Smith said Monday. “We want to take advantage of every opportunity that’s in front of us.”
So what is it going to take to get things moving in the right direction?
“We need all 11 guys doing their job,” PSU linebacker Amare Campbell said. “Too many times there’s 9 or 10 guys doing their job, and that just doesn’t cut it.
“We just have to keep going. There’s nothing else we can do. We can’t quit. We just have to keep preparing every week and finish games and finish halves. We have to do better.”
Even if the Lions do better, it’s still going to be quite the forgettable season for one that had such promise only six weeks ago.
Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror. com.
RISE AND STINE
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2025 PENN STATE ROSTER
Columbus, Ohio Westerville South
7 Zion Tracy CB 5-11 180 Jr. Hempstead, N.Y. St. Thomas More (Conn.)
8 DaKaari Nelson LB 6-3 234 R-Soph. Livingston, Ala. Selma
9 Trebor Pena WR 5-10
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PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
RECORD KEY PLAYERS
CONFERENCE: Big Ten
CONFERENCE RECORD: 0-5
OVERALL RECORD: 3-5
2025 SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 Nevada W, 46-11
Sept. 6 Florida Int W, 34-0
Sept. 13 Villanova W, 52-6
Sept. 27 Oregon L, 30-24 2OT
Record at Penn State: 0-2 (Interim season) Career: 0-2
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Jr. RB 6-1 206 Soph. Belle Vernon, Pa. Belle Vernon
26 Cam Wallace RB 5-9 208 R-Fr. Mount Vernon, Ga. Montgomery County
26 Cam Smith LB 6-0 215 Fr. Salem, N.J. St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.)
27 Lamont Payne Jr. S 6-0 190 R-Soph. Carnegie, Pa. Chartiers Valley
28 Zane Durant DT 6-1 294 Sr. Lake Nona, Fla. Lake Nona
