Penn State is capable of crashing College Football Playoff; Lions make an ‘outstanding’ hire in Marques Hagans, and more

Today’s Penn State football news headlines feature one national writer’s take that the Lions have what it takes to make the 2023 College Football Playoff, plus some follow-up pieces on what Penn State is getting in new wide receivers coach Marques Hagans.

Brandon Marcello of 247Sports laid out a list of off-the-radar programs that could crash the College Football Playoff this season. Penn State is among the teams to make the cut with a talented, experienced core coming back as the torch gets passed from Sean Clifford to Drew Allar at quarterback. Now is the time for coach James Franklin’s team to make a move, Marcello wrote, with so many key pieces seemingly in place for a Big Ten title run.

Penn State announced on Monday the hiring of longtime Virginia assistant Marques Hagans as the program’s new wide receivers coach. Hagans was billed as an “outstanding hire” by one Atlantic Coast Conference insider and developed a sterling reputation for both development and recruiting during his time with Virginia, his alma mater. He takes over for Taylor Stubblefield as the Lions’ receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator.

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