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Playoff expansion harder than it looks

By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press The College Football Playoff expands from four to 12 teams this season, a massive change that will profoundly impact the sport and how success is defined. The system is also kind of quirky. The second-best team in the country by the selection committee’s rankings could conceivably be the fifth seed. The 12th-ranked team could get left out for a team that’s not even in the CFP’s top 25. This is how the 12-team CFP will work and the guidelines that will almost certainly make fans frustrated. Format n The teams will still be ...

Allar on radar as top QB

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State junior quarterback Drew Allar was named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List on Thursday. The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Warren on Mackey list UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State senior tight end Tyler Warren was tabbed to the Mackey Award Watch List on Thursday. The John Mackey Award is presented annually to the top tight end in college football. Gavin Bartholomew Named to John Mackey ...

Sahaydak trying to win back PK job

By Andy Stine astine@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — After the first half of the West Virginia game last season, it looked like Penn State’s kicking game was in shambles when Sander Sahaydak missed two field goals inside of 40 yards. Sahaydak had won the job over Alex Felkins during camp, but he never got a shot at redemption for the rest of the season as the now-graduated Felkins was the Lions’ primary kicker. Felkins went 19 of 24 on field goals and did not miss a PAT all year. “I think it taught me a lot about focusing on yourself,” Sahaydak said at media day. ...

Junior Allar seeks to improve mobility

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin has long believed a mobile quarterback brings a needed component to an offense, especially when the designed passing play breaks down. Even when the quarterback in question, returning starter Drew Allar, would never be confused as a runner. “Some of these things systematically we are going to do, you guys are going to look at and say, ‘I don’t know if that’s something I would imagine Drew doing,’’’ Franklin said during media day on Saturday. “But by him doing just enough of it, it opens up ...

J-Thomas gesture honors parents

UNIVERSITY PARK — Dvon J-Thomas, who was formerly known as Dvon Ellies, has seen a lot in his six years as a Penn State defensive tackle. The Nittany Lions have been to three New Year’s Six bowl games in his time on campus, and he’s also gone through one losing season and another 7-6 ...

At some point, Franklin must win more

By Andy Stine astine@altoonamirror.com This season will be No. 11 for James Franklin at Penn State, and the voices to make the playoffs are only getting louder. The question is probably going to keep coming more frequently, and that question is: “If not now, when?” It’s probable that nobody in college football benefits more than Penn State with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams. Had the CFP been a 12-team format since its inception in the 2014 season, the Lions would have made it six times (2016-19, 2022-23). Fall camp began this week and media day will ...