Penn State potentially 'will again be good, not great' in 2024, analyst predicts: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Jan. 18 include one reporter’s take on the Lions in 2024, 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 a very early look at the Lions in 2024. Most of the preliminary media top 25 rankings have head coach James Franklin’s team inside of the initial top 15 and all say they are a top 20 team. Could that lead to another good but not great season? ESPN analyst Heather Dinich tackled that question in a wide-ranging staff piece for the outlet that focused on overreactions from numerous bowl games.
“After flirting briefly with staff stability, there were changes again at the coordinator position, with defensive coordinator Manny Diaz leaving to become head coach at Duke, and Franklin hiring Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas, which should be an upgrade,” Dinich writes. “How much of rookie quarterback Drew Allar‘s struggles were a result of not having dependable receivers? How much did they have to do with his lack of accuracy, [and] how much had to do with coaching? Probably a combination of it all.
“Penn State has had enough trouble with Ohio State and Michigan, and now it has to worry about Washington, USC and UCLA. For most of Franklin’s decade leading the program, PSU has settled for being the league’s third-best team. With the Big Ten growing to 18 teams in 2024, even that could be a challenge. Penn State doesn’t only have to worry about beating the incoming Pac-12 powers, though. It should also be concerned about its season-opener at West Virginia — which beat North Carolina soundly in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.”
Headlines of the day
How Penn State football’s new transfer additions can impact the program in 2024: Sauber, CDT
The List: More than 40 prospects now confirmed for Penn State’s Jan. 20 junior day: Snyder, BWI
2024 USC Football Schedule: 3 Things To Know: College Football News
What is Penn State getting in new special teams coordinator Justin Lustig? How is he as a recruiter?: Pickel, BWI
Cael Sanderson, Penn State looking forward to weekend of wrestling in Michigan: Carlson, PennLive
Penn State, mercurial but capable, shows winning formula: Bauer, BWI
Quote of the day
“Growing up in Pennsylvania I have long held the Penn State program as the gold standard of college football. My family and I are incredibly excited for this opportunity to come back to our home state and join this historic program. I want to thank Coach Franklin for this opportunity to join the Penn State Football staff. I’m eager to get to work with this remarkable staff and community.”
–New PSU special teams coordinator Justin Lustig on joining the Nittany Lions after a stint at Vanderbilt.
