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Nick Saban is now a 'believer' in Penn State after pair of CFP wins: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•01/03/25•

GregPickel

Nick Saban
Kirby Lee | Imagn Images

Penn State news, notes, and updates for Jan. 3 include legendary coach Nick Saban’s thoughts on the Lions, headlines of the day, and more as the team continues its march toward the College Football Playoff semifinals. It’s time to cover Friday’s top talking points.

Penn State tweets of the day

Back on Monday, Penn State head coach James Franklin said he believes Nick Saban would be an ideal candidate to be the commissioner of college football, if such a position was ever created. The seven-time national champion then joked with the leader of the Lions over that comment on ‘College GameDay’ Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, he heaped praise on this year’s CFP six-seed after a pair of postseason victories that have it one win away from the title game. PSU faces Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl next Thursday.

“So, if you just go on how well teams are playing right now? You know, Penn State and Ohio State are probably playing the best,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “That doesn’t mean they necessarily are going to win or that Penn State’s going to win but I do think they’re playing extremely well.

“I think Penn State is playing well on both sides of the ball and I think, you know, they’re a very good team. “I’m a believer. I was not a believer in Penn State early on. I’m a believer right now.”

The reason for that belief is how the Lions are playing on both sides of the ball.

“Their offensive live, though, and those two running backs they have? These guys have been able to run the ball effectively in the last few games very impressively,” he said. “Then, to have a quarterback that can play behind the running game like that with play-action passes and staying out of long-yardage situations? I think they’re for real. Their defense is playing really well, too.”

Headlines of the day

What is the early Penn State-Notre Dame point spread for the Orange Bowl?: Pickel, BWI

James Franklin on an overlooked Penn State defender: ‘The guy is a turnover machine’: Flounders, PennLive

Penn State safety KJ Winston Jr., talks injury, how he’s helping the Lions still, and more: Pickel, BWI

Do Penn State Football Fans Believe in ‘1-0’ Now?: Jones, SI

What is on the Penn State to-do list in January? Get Abdul Carter healthy, the portal, more: Pickel, BWI

For Penn State and the Road to No. 1, the Final Four Has a Nice Ring to It: Poorman, Statecollege.com

Here’s how the Penn State defense shut down Ashton Jeanty: Film Study: Carr, BWI

Ohio State, Penn State continue to bolster Big Ten’s reputation — are we headed for a B1G finale?: Dochterman, The Athletic

Will the date of the Orange Bowl change for Penn State because of the day-delayed Sugar Bowl?: Pickel, BWI

Quote of the day

“It was so hard for me. I never expected to play my first game and then the next week in practice I was going to get hurt. But you know, I had to come back. Started this season off [and] my motivation was to be there for my teammates and be a leader on this team, no matter whether I’m on the field or not. I had to commit to that and make sure I’m here when [we’re] on the sideline and guys get frustrated. I got to be there to calm them down.

“Or, you know, the energy is low. I got to be there to lift it up. And that’s what I owe to them. I love these guys, and they love me back. And I feel that genuine love all the time. And that’s what they deserve as well.”

–PSU safety KJ Winston Jr., to BWI

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