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Neil Rudel

PSU all in with hiring of Knowles

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com When it comes to recruiting, James Franklin rarely takes a backseat. He proved that again Sunday when he lured Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Penn State. Of course, money helped. Franklin has often talked about being “aligned” with Penn State’s administration, specifically Athletic Director Pat Kraft, President Neeli Bendapudi and the Board of Trustees’ core leadership. And it’s clear the Nittany Lions’ leadership is all in —at just about any cost. With a three-year, $9.3 million contact, Knowles ...

Retention gets Lions quick start on ’25

Some followup notes from the 2024 season while looking ahead at 2025: n This week has proven, once again, James Franklin is better off the field than he is on it. Fresh from another come-from-ahead loss in a big game, this one to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal, the Nittany Lions got home Friday, and by Monday, Franklin had convinced his top players with eligibility remaining to return for 2025. His results were as impressive as the Lions’ late-game execution vs. the Irish was not. Both 1,000-yard running backs, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, will be ...

Franklin can’t seem to escape disappointment

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s difficult to get to within a field goal of playing for the national championship and still consider this a disappointing season. So I won’t do that. But certainly, Thursday night brought a disappointing ending to a memorable year, and the disappointment is ...

Penn State-ND: Stakes can’t be higher

Some post-Fiesta Bowl/pre-Orange Bowl notes awaiting the star-studded final four: n Thursday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal between Penn State and Notre Dame will break a tie in the series currently tied at 9-9-1. And what a reward the winner will get: A berth in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 20 vs. the Ohio State-Texas winner. The matchup is especially meaningful in our region as, in addition to being in the heart of Penn State country, Notre Dame, with a local Catholic school in Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, has always boasted a strong following here ...

Would you rather PSU had beaten Oregon or landed in this bracket? Yes, it would have shifted narrative, made Nits No. 1

There’s no question Penn State has the most favorable draw in the College Football Playoff field. The Nittany Lions are heavily favored — by 8.5 points — to beat SMU in the first round at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. Penn State should benefit from the cold weather that is foreign to the Mustangs. Should PSU hold serve and advance to the national quarterfinals, their reward is even better — a Boise State team that somehow gained the No. 3 seed in the entire field. Penn State is already a two-touchdown favorite in that game should the matchup materialize. But I still will ...

Player, coach movement kicking in

Some notes to digest as the Nittany Lions gear up for their first College Football Playoff appearance: n This is attrition season in college football, and it started for Penn State on Thursday with the announcement that safety Kevin Winston Jr. will enter the NFL Draft. Winston missed almost the entire year with a knee injury that required surgery after he left the Bowling Green game on Sept. 7. He was voted a team captain as a junior after a strong 2023 season, and his presence with Jaylen Reed gave the Lions two dynamic safeties. Winston’s absence was particularly noticeable ...