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USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Penn State ready for Big Ten football media day spotlight
Penn State may have the highest preseason expectations of any Big Ten team headed into the 2025 season. After returning almost all of their prolific starters from last year, they have consistently been ranked either No. 1 or in the top 5 in the country in many preseason rankings. As the Big Ten media day spotlight approaches, more questions will be asked of this Nittany Lions squad and how they will handle this pressure. On Wednesday, head coach James Franklin and a select contingent of players, including star quarterback Drew Allar, will address the media and likely answer several pressing questions about the team's outlook for the season. On a day in which the onus will be on the shoulders of the Penn State contingent, Franklin and Allar will be expected to address each question with candor, yet also with belief and enthusiasm. This season will be unlike any other for Penn State, and I expect the media day won't be handled any differently. As the presumptive Big Ten favorite this year, the overarching narrative of Big Ten media day will surround that hype. After all, Penn State hasn't been Big Ten champion since 2016, Franklin's second year in Happy Valley. Almost a decade later, with only that title to his name, Franklin must face the reality of the situation, especially in this benchmark of a year. While he has gone 101-42 in his illustrious career, he is an abysmal 1-14 against top 5 teams and an awful 4-16 against Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan. Their rivals have nothing to prove. Look for Franklin to ensure that these results can be reversed this year, and Penn State will come out on top not only in those pivotal matchups but as the Big Ten champion. Another storyline that could define Big Ten media day discussions is the play of Drew Allar and whether last season was a harbinger of things to come. After a career year in which he led the Big Ten in passing, Allar decided to return for an encore. Thus, he must deliver and most importantly, sustain the level of play he attained last year. However, just because Allar drastically improved last year does not mean he is perfect. He had four interceptions combined in three of Penn State's biggest games, including a painful one in the waning moments of their CFP semifinals against Notre Dame, which effectively handed the Irish the win. Expect Allar to be candid about those moments and discuss the matter in a professional manner. Allar seems like the kind of player who is determined to move on and redefine his career, and he will show that confidence often in the media day environment. Overall, Penn State's media day will be the most anticipated not just in the Big Ten, but in the entire country. With the added pressure of all the preseason hype they've received, all eyes will be on how two of the most important aspects of Penn State's potential success handle the weight of all those expectations.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State adds second commitment of day from 4-star edge rusher
The fireworks continued into July 5 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions added a second commitment on the day, earning a pledge from class of 2026 4-star edge rusher Tyson Harley. Harley attends Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., which also produced former Nittany Lion offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Advertisement Per the 247Sports composite rankings, Harley is the No. 2 recruit from the nation's capital, No. 33 edge rusher and No. 349 overall player in the class. Harley took visits to Penn State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Michigan State and Rutgers before settling on the Nittany Lions. Following his commitment, Penn State's 2026 class remains at No. 14 nationally and sits fifth in the Big Ten behind USC, Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon. This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 4-star edge rusher commits to Penn State
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Big Ten stadiums rankings: Which college football stadiums finished first?
From the Horseshoe through Beaver Stadium, jumbo-size Michigan Stadium, the Rose Bowl and three different Memorial Stadiums, Big Ten football venues rank among the most iconic in the Bowl Subdivision. But none are as uninviting as Ohio State's Ohio Stadium. For decades, the Horseshoe has hosted memorable national champions and helped maintain the Buckeyes' place among the sport's most dominant programs. There's the annual 'White Out' game at Penn State. Michigan's record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more. From top to bottom, it's hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there's a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here's how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors: 1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you're Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has been dominant at home, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the 'Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State 'White Out' games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams 3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic. 5. Husky Stadium, Washington There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington – what locals call 'sailgating.' Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington. 6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa In addition to goosing Iowa's Big Ten chances – the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 – Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. 'The Hawkeye Wave' is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition 7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will 'Jump Around' to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium's deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out. 9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California The Coliseum's art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue's extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA. 10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program's downturn. 11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we'll see), Huntington Bank Stadium's capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps. 12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program's most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001. 13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue We won't penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the 'World's Largest Drum.' (There's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008). 14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti's debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive. 15. SECU Stadium, Maryland As a men's and women's lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There's a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn't wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents. 16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program's Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn't always been the case in the Big Ten, though. 17. Rose Bowl, UCLA There's the Rose Bowl game – one that has long defined college football's postseason – and there's the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA's home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage. 18. Ryan Field, Northwestern The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern's soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue 'engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games,' the school said. We'll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big Ten college football stadiums ranked from best to worst
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Penn State Players Named To Preseason All-American Team
Penn State are loaded with talent at almost every position. Thus, it makes sense that they have several All-Americans. Earlier this month, the Walter Camp Preseason All-American teams were announced. Penn State had three players selected, two to the first team and one to the second team. While some names might surprise the average Big Ten fans, Penn State fans will certainly feel that these selections are justified. Senior defensive tackle Zane Durant, redshirt junior Olaivevega Ioane of the offensive line, and senior running back Nicholas Singleton were announced as Penn State's representatives on the first and second teams for the preseason All-American squads. That is tied for the most players selected in the country, along with Alabama, Clemson, Indiana and Texas. Durant and Singleton were the first team selections, while Ioane was the lone second-teamer. This comes after breakout campaigns for both Durant and Ioane respectively, and a season that cemented Singleton as perhaps the best running back in the nation. Singleton returns to Happy Valley leading all returning FBS players in rushing yards(2,912) and rushing touchdowns(32). He already ranks fifth all time in Penn State history in the latter statistic and 10th in the former. Durant meanwhile, has tallied 64 career tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup throughout his career. Nevertheless, he has not necessarily garnered the accolades of some of his peers, only being named to honorable mention squads throughout his career. His first ever selection to a preseason All-American team finally cements him as a serious threat to have another standout season in his final year with the Nittany Lions. Ioane is no stranger to second team selections. In his first full season starting at left guard, he was selected to the All-Big Ten second team. He was part of a line that did not allow a sack in five games last year and most importantly only allowed 3.81 tackles for loss, ninth in the nation. Ioane was also a major factor in bolstering Drew Allar's ability to throw from a comfortable pocket. The Nittany Lions were eleventh in completion percentage, and tenth in passing efficiency. Overall, Penn State fans should be satisfied with these selections. What could shock some are the glaring omissions. Some may certainly believe that Dani Dennis-Sutton is highly deserving of this honor, maybe even more so than his D-linemate, Durant. And Drew Allar is coming off a career year that saw him have career highs across the board and majorly improve under Andy Kotelnicki's tutelage. Nevetheless, it could be a pleasant surprise to those who love the team for more than just its biggest stars.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who could win the Big Ten title with a tight race?
Drew Dinsick and Vaughn Dalzell break down the favorites to win the Big Ten Championship this fall, picking Penn State to win it, saying "they could make some noise" in the College Football Playoffs.
