Penn State among 16 teams 'best-suited' to make new 12-team Playoff: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for April 2 include the Lions’ spot in the early CFP pecking order plus headlines of the day and more.
It’s time to dive into Tuesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with one writer’s opinion of where Penn State fits in an early look at 16 college football teams who are ‘best-suited’ to make the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. CBS Sports’ Will Backus puts head coach James Franklin’s team at No. 10. Finishing the regular season at that spot would make the Lions a road team in the opening round of the tournament.
“Can James Franklin finally break through? There’s certainly a couple things working in his favor,” Backus writes. “The Big Ten’s new scheduling format allows Penn State to step out from behind the shadows cast by Michigan and Ohio State. In fact, the Nittany Lions avoid the Wolverines entirely over the next two seasons, and they get Ohio State at home in 2024. Franklin knocked it out of the park with two new coordinator hires, adding Kansas’ Andy Kotelnicki to revitalize a stagnant offense with schematic creativity and former Indiana coach Tom Allen to maintain one of the Big Ten’s best defensive units.
“There’s a lot of production returning, including quarterback Drew Allar and one of the country’s best running back duos in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. At least 10 wins — a perfectly attainable goal for Franklin — in a conference like the Big Ten should be enough to secure one of 12 spots.”
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Judkins surgery
Ohio State RB's timeline revealed
- 2
Uga, Bevo reunion off
Georgia mascot owner makes call
- 3New
Tony Bennett explains
UVA legend emotional about retirement
- 4
Ryan Williams ranks rivalries
Third Saturday on the rise for Bama frosh
- 5Hot
Urban backs James Franklin
Urban Meyer respected PSU coach's reaction
In other news, the Penn State women’s basketball season is over in the semifinal round of the WBIT Tournament. Villanova knocked off the top-seeded Nittany Lions 58-53 on Monday night in Indianapolis.
Headlines of the day
With Abdul Carter now at DE, what does that mean for Penn State’s linebacker group in 2024?: Flounders, PennLive
How Penn State target Matt Zollers fits with his final five schools’ offensive identities: Carr, BWI
Penn State’s Aaron Brooks Wins 2024 Hodge Trophy as Nation’s Top College Wrestler: Wogenrich, SI
Trimmings: Checking in on Penn State’s true freshmen in spring ball: Fitz, BWI
PSU letterman and alum Lydell Sargeant named Liberal Arts’ senior director of development: PSU
What is Penn State hoops getting with new transfer portal addition?: Bauer, BWI
Quote of the day
“The way I was looking at things before I came in, like as a freshman, I just wanted to run the ball. I just liked getting the ball and running the ball. But then, I started to figure like, you have to do more than just run the ball. You got to play without the ball. You have to catch the ball and help other players on your team. Block for them, just doing different things, and not just running the ball.
“I’m just trying to get better at everything. You can’t just be one-dimensional. I have to do everything for the team. Just do different things that I’m uncomfortable with doing. Just trying to get better.”
–PSU third-year RB Kaytron Allen on how he has grown as a player with the Nittany Lions.
