Penn State at Michigan: James Franklin breaks down Wolverines' strengths, J.J. McCarthy vs. Sean Clifford

The Peach Bowl between No. 10 Penn State and No. 11 Ole Miss should be one of the best bowl games of the season. The high-octane Rebels offense has been tough to stop, but the Nittany Lions defense has been one of the best and most consistent units in the country for the majority of the season. This is the second time in three seasons that the…

Now on paper, Ole Miss and Penn State have had some similar seasons. They both finished with 10 and two records and the two losses for both programs happened to be their biggest games of the year. Obviously, Ohio State and Michigan for Penn State and then Alabama and Georgia for Ole Miss.

After dropping two out of their last three games, the Penn State Nittany Lions are looking to finish the season strong with two games remaining on their schedule in 2023. That will begin on Saturday when they host the Rutgers. WGAL has some key storylines to keep an eye on for the Big Ten matchup. Penn State (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) vs. Rutgers (6-4, 3-4…

No. 3 Michigan has been the most dominant team in the country this season, but it's been forced to wear its strength of schedule as a scarlet letter on its chest the whole time. That will come to an end this weekend when the Wolverines go on the road to face No. 10 Penn State at Beaver Stadium in the biggest game of Week 11. In order to keep their…

The James Franklin narrative is impossible to escape from every time Penn State plays a top-10 team, which it will be doing this week with a home game against Michigan, no. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and no. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Franklin's history against top-ranked competition is not for the faint of heart and it rears its…

We're on the doorstep of one of the biggest college football games of the year and involves YOUR Ohio State Buckeyes against a top ten opponent, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Both teams have some pretty lofty dreams and goals that involve an East division title, Big Ten Championship, and College Football Playoff berth, and this game is a…

LINCOLN - Are you in middle management? Did you design the client-winning pitch only to see another get the account? Penn State's James Franklin is for you. He's won 70% of his games in Happy Valley and led PSU to four Top 10 rankings at the end of the season. He's won the Rose, Cotton and Fiesta Bowls and repeatedly recruited - and produced -…

The big whoop you might have heard in early June from the direction of the Keystone State was probably Penn State backers celebrating the ditching (effective next season) of the Big Ten's East-West format. Among other things, that means the Nittany Lions are not going to be obligated to play Ohio State and Michigan every year, as has been the case…

James Franklin has a new home in CBS Sports' annual rankings of college football's top coaches. The now 10th-year leader of the Penn State program checked in this year at No. 10. He came in at No. 15 a year ago. And, in 2021, he was No. 13. "Franklin had been a consistent top-10 finisher in the rankings for years but fell to No. 15 last year after…

James Franklin listened intently to the question Tuesday night, nodding his head and then seizing another opportunity to make his pitch. Franklin continued his two-year campaign for the Penn State athletic department to keep pace with the elite college football programs when it comes to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). He said Penn State has made…

LASCH BUILDING - It was almost Getaway Day here for Penn State football on Thursday afternoon. Inside the massive weight facility in Penn State Football's HQ, the Lasch Building, it was the last lifting session before the Nittany Lions dispersed from campus for spring break. That meant it was a scant lucky 13 hours until their first extended break…

Parker Washington's season is over. What remains to be seen is whether the wide receiver or some of his high-profile teammates have played their last games for Penn State. Nittany Lions coach James Franklin confirmed Tuesday that Washington suffered a season-ending injury last week while staying optimistic that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and left…

The 2022 Penn State football regular season concludes next Saturday in Beaver Stadium, as Michigan State visits for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff. Ranked 11th in the latest AP Top 25 poll, the Nittany Lions have rolled over Big Ten opponents in November, improving to 9-2 via three straight blowout victories. Penn State pounded Rutgers on Saturday, scoring…

Penn State's James Franklin pursues career win No. 100 in his 12 seasons as a head coach when the Nittany Lions visit Rutgers on Saturday. But the real question is whether Penn State will record consecutive shutouts for the first time under Franklin. Will it happen? To the prediction. When: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday Where: SHI Stadium, Piscataway,…

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Maryland coach Mike Locksley reminded his players this week that their annual trip to Penn State is not a rivalry game. It's been too one-sided to look at it that way. "Obviously, we have to compete a little better to get it to that point," Locksley said. "It's an opportunity for us to see where we line up and see how we…

Penn State's James Franklin and Maryland's Mike Locksley have worked together and recruited together, so it's no surprise that they occasionally think alike. Take their views on rivalries. Franklin goes out of his way to avoid even using the term. Though Locksley isn't afraid to say the word rivalry, he's clear to point out this Penn State-Maryland…

Ohio State's been incinerating every defense in its path, and while Penn State might not roll over, we think it's far more likely to fight fire with fire. See why our college football picks are backing the Over for this Big Ten showdown. At this point, it feels inevitable that once again, the winner of the regular season finale between the Ohio…

Penn State aims to deliver an upset victory in Beaver Stadium but the challenge is mighty, as unbeaten Ohio State rolls into town following a 54-10 victory over Iowa. Despite carrying a 6-1 record and playing in front of a home crowd, the No. 13 Nittany Lions are more than a two-touchdown underdog against the No. 2 Buckeyes. According to Caesars…

No. 10 Penn State takes on No. 5 Michigan in a top-10 Big Ten showdown at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET, and it will be televised on Fox. Penn State (5-0) had a bye week to prepare for the matchup at the Big House. Coach James Franklin has guided the program to road victories at Purdue and…

This could be the biggest game in the Big 10 conference all year, or at least until either Penn State or Michigan plays Ohio State. This isn't quite a title fight with the belt on the line, but the winner of this one firmly establishes themselves as the No. 1 contender to the heavyweight champion of the Big 10. It'll be a good one at the Big House…

Penn State needs to execute one more transaction to set up the Big Ten's first marquee matchup of the season. So when can we begin talking about Penn State vs. Michigan on Oct. 15? The No. 11 Lions host Northwestern looking for their third 5-0 start in the past four seasons. They're huge favorites over a team that has yet to win in the U.S. and is…

Penn State coach James Franklin was asked this week about the importance of the Nittany Lions being "cool." They are, in fact, 3-0, field one of the nation's most electrifying freshmen and helped Eli Manning introduce wannabe college football star Chad Powers to the world. Penn State football is in a good spot. Yet coach James Franklin, always…

Penn State and Ole Miss are set to meet at the 2023 Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 in Atlanta. According to a prominent betting service, the No. 10 Nittany Lions begin game prep considered a favorite by more than a field goal. Caesars Sportsbook lists Penn State as a four-point favorite over the No. 11 Rebels - a fellow 10-2 squad - as of Monday, Dec. 4 at…

a 24-15 loss to Michigan and the ensuing dismissal of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, this Penn State football season reaches a new phase in Game Week 11. Now eliminated from Big Ten title contention and the College Football Playoff conversation, the Nittany Lions will look to find motivation in achieving a 10-2 regular season that could send…

The Penn State football team has a monumental clash with Michigan on Saturday afternoon in State College. The Nittany Lions, ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, need a win to remain in the Big Ten and national championship chase. The No. 3-ranked Wolverines have dominated a soft schedule but have key matchups with Penn State and…