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$36 million college football coach gains steam in Penn State coaching hunt

$36 million college football coach gains steam in Penn State coaching hunt

College football head coaching jobs are coming open and being filled at an unprecedented rate right now. However, one of the earliest gigs to open, Penn State is still wading through candidates in search of their next fearsome leader.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Nittany Central / December 1
Penn State Coaching Search Chaos: Two Potential Candidates Hired By Big Ten Rivals

Penn State Coaching Search Chaos: Two Potential Candidates Hired By Big Ten Rivals

https://nittanycentral.com/feed/ It has now been 50 days since Penn State fired James Franklin in October and began a “national” search for the program’s next coach.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Mike Farrell Sports / December 1

Has Penn State Forgotten That They Need to Hire a Head Coach?

When the dust settled yesterday and everyone took stock of the current national coaching carousel, the Penn State situation suddenly became a bit awkward.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Nittany Central / December 1
Penn State Bowl Game: The Opt-Out Question and 3 Matchups That Could Decide Terry Smith’s Future

Penn State Bowl Game: The Opt-Out Question and 3 Matchups That Could Decide Terry Smith’s Future

https://nittanycentral.com/feed/ As unexpected as it was when Penn State dropped to 3-6 earlier this season, the Nittany Lions punched their ticket to a bowl game Saturday after a third straight win, escaping Rutgers with a victory in the season finale.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / December 1
College Football Analyst Says Penn State's Coaching Search 'Feels Lost'

College Football Analyst Says Penn State's Coaching Search 'Feels Lost'

Penn State's coaching search is in its eighth week, which is making fans uncomfortable. College sports analyst Josh Pate addressed that on the latest episode of his show, saying that the search "feels lost" under Athletic Director Pat Kraft.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / December 1
Where Penn State Stands in Week 15's College Football Bowl Projections

Where Penn State Stands in Week 15's College Football Bowl Projections

Penn State won its "playoff" game Saturday, assuring itself of a spot in the postseason. With a 40-36 victory over Rutgers in the regular-season finale, the Nittany Lions improved to 6-6 and officially became bowl eligible.

Kaytron Allen News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / November 30
Penn State Running Backs Punctuate Difficult Season Together at Rutgers

Penn State Running Backs Punctuate Difficult Season Together at Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. | After being named Penn State’s interim head coach, Terry Smith pulled running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen into his office and told them, “I’m going to get you those records.” Fast forward to the end of the regular season, and both made history in the Nittany Lions’ 40-36 win over Rutgers.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Big Ten Network / November 30
Kaytron Allen News / Big Ten Network / November 30
College Football News / Last Word On Sports / November 30
For Penn State, Sloppiness Changes Everything

For Penn State, Sloppiness Changes Everything

Penn State beat Rutgers 41–34, but almost nothing about the night felt encouraging. The win delivered bowl eligibility on paper, yet the performance was filled with the kind of miscues, busted coverages, and predictable play calling that erase momentum in a season that needed a strong final statement.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Penn State Nittany Lions on SI / November 30
Why Penn State Wants Actually Wants to Play in a Bowl Game

Why Penn State Wants Actually Wants to Play in a Bowl Game

PISCATAWAY, N.J. | A year ago, Penn State beat Maryland after Thanksgiving to earn a spot in the Big Ten Championship game with the College Football Playoff on the horizon.

College Football News / Yardbarker / November 29
Pinstripe Bowl could (and should) make Pitt-Penn State renew rivalry 

Pinstripe Bowl could (and should) make Pitt-Penn State renew rivalry 

The Pittsburgh Panthers and Penn State Nittany Lions have a long-standing rivalry that has mostly been put on hold over the past 25 years.

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College Football News / Last Word On Sports / November 29
Penn State Searches for a Statement Finish at Rutgers

Penn State Searches for a Statement Finish at Rutgers

College football’s regular-season curtain falls in Piscataway on Saturday, and for Penn State, it is more than a trip to Rutgers. It is the final data point before Pat Kraft makes the most consequential decision of his tenure.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Last Word On Sports / November 29
Terry Smith’s Final Audition for Penn State as Search Nears End

Terry Smith’s Final Audition for Penn State as Search Nears End

Penn State’s season ends on Saturday at Rutgers, but ultimately, the most important outcome will not be written on a scoreboard. Instead, it will be written in Pat Kraft’s office, where Penn State’s athletic director is closing in on a hire that will define his tenure and potentially either stabilize or fracture the direction of the program.

Clark Lea News / Larry Brown Sports / November 28
Penn State misses out on top head coach candidate

Penn State misses out on top head coach candidate

The Penn State Nittany Lions can cross one major coaching candidate off their list. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea agreed to a contract extension on Friday, the school announced.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / CFB-HQ on SI / November 28
$33.6 million coach emerges as candidate to replace James Franklin at Penn State

$33.6 million coach emerges as candidate to replace James Franklin at Penn State

Penn State dismissed James Franklin after a 3-3 start and a string of damaging losses that included Oregon, UCLA, and an upset at Northwestern, producing

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Nittany Central / November 28
Pat Kraft’s Penn State Coaching Search Hits Another Snag as 2 More Candidates Sign Extensions

Pat Kraft’s Penn State Coaching Search Hits Another Snag as 2 More Candidates Sign Extensions

https://nittanycentral.com/feed/ Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft’s search for next head coach could be coming down to the final days. With the regular season ending for teams this weekend, coaches will now have the opportunity to announce their intentions to leave their current programs and coach elsewhere next season.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / Nittany Central / November 28
New Faces, Same Machine: Penn State Wrestling Opens 2025-26 With Domination

New Faces, Same Machine: Penn State Wrestling Opens 2025-26 With Domination

https://nittanycentral.com/feed/ Penn State Wrestling has started the 2025-2026 season right where they left off following their fourth straight NCAA title last year.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / The Spun / November 28
Penn State Loses Out On Another Top Coaching Candidate

Penn State Loses Out On Another Top Coaching Candidate

Another top head coaching candidate is off the board. Penn State won't be able to repeat the method that got them James Franklin to get their next head coach.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / CFB-HQ on SI / November 27
Nick Saban urges Penn State to replace James Franklin with former NFL coach

Nick Saban urges Penn State to replace James Franklin with former NFL coach

Penn State’s coaching vacancy, opened when the university dismissed James Franklin on October 12 after an unexpected slide, has become one of the most-watched stops on this year’s carousel.

James Franklin News / Athlon Sports / November 27
Penn State Gets Bad News on Thanksgiving

Penn State Gets Bad News on Thanksgiving

The Penn State Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin on Oct. 12, after starting the season 3-3, which included a three-game losing streak. Under interim head coach Terry Smith, they've gone 2-3 and now sit at 5-6 on the season.

Penn State Nittany Lions News / The Spun / November 26
Nick Saban Makes Case For Penn State's Next Head Coach

Nick Saban Makes Case For Penn State's Next Head Coach

In his decades as a college football coach across the United States, Nick Saban has a pretty large contacts list of coaching candidates. For the vacant Penn State job, Saban believe that one of his former assistants might be the man for the job.

College Football News / Yardbarker / November 25
Why Matt Rhule rejected the Penn State job

Why Matt Rhule rejected the Penn State job to stay at Nebraska

Rhule "turned down" Penn State, where he played linebacker, to stay with Nebraska for 2026. 

Kirby Smart and Georgia add to elite class with flip from Penn State 
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NFL News / Yardbarker / November 25
NFL Draft intel: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, San Diego State CB Chris Johnson among buzzworthy prospects 

NFL Draft intel: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, San Diego State CB Chris Johnson among buzzworthy prospects 

Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. 

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Penn State Nittany Lions News / Larry Brown Sports / November 22
Penn State running back got hit so hard that the paint flew off his helmet

Penn State running back got hit so hard that the paint flew off his helmet

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton took a cartoonish hit Saturday in his team’s matchup against Nebraska at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.

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