Panthers making frst trip to Happy Valley since 2007
Sorting through the blue and white mailbag:
Neil:
I was glued to the scoreboard to get results of No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State last week along with other Top-10 matchups involving ND, Clemson, LSU, Alabama and Florida State.
James Franklin is ahead of the curve with the three scrimmages before the White Out game — a real game.
If we lose to Oregon and for sure against OSU, we won’t make the big dance with the rest of the schedule.
Ed Hill Altoona
Ed:
Your scenario would compromise PSU’s case. But even at 10-2, depending on how the rest of the Big Ten fares, it’s possible.
Neil:
A good first game with many positives, but there are some concerns.
They need to get TDs and not settle for FGs, although the kicker was solid.
Also, Allar missed a wide-open Hudson in the end zone for a sure TD.
In a big game, that could be the difference between a win and a loss.
Bill Obert Bedford
Bill: I was in Bedford last week. A lot of old, stately homes.
Neil: 12-0? Not so fast my friend.
Dave Kule Laporte
Dave:
Did Lee Corso get this saying from you?
PENN STATE MAILBAG
Rudel vs. the oddsmakers
Line: Penn State is a 42.5-point favorite.
Inside the line: The teams have met once, in 2007, and PSU won, 59-0 … FIU was spotting 27.5 vs. Bethune Cookman last week and covered, 42-9 … Nits are 13-4 vs. spot in their last 17 September games … FIU is 5-1 vs. number in its last six games and 6-1 vs. spot in its last seven as an underdog … Over-under is 54.5 … Over has hit in fve of Nits’ last six in Week 2 games. (Source: Odds Shark).
Prediction: Penn State 62, Florida International 3
Prediction record: 1-0
PSU record vs. spread: 0-1
Prediction record vs. spread: 1-0
Neil:
Thanks for the coverage, and I had breakfast with our mutual friend, Massimo Manca, this week.
As an old lineman, I ask you to write more articles about the best line in Franklin’s tenure.
Dan
Wallace Lansdale
Dan:
It may be the best of CJF era, but to this point, the position hasn’t exactly been a strength. It also can’t be confused — yet — with the PSU lines of 1981, ’82 and ’94.
But I do think Phil Trautwein has done an excellent job. Regards to Massimo. He’s a friend to the NitWits.
Neil:
With championship aspirations, how can you explain Singleton with only 19 yards rushing?
Will Walk Spring, Texas
Will:
Despite a 35-point loss, I thought Nevada played hard and was well-coached. Nevada obviously made up its mind to keep Singleton in check. Good morning, Neil: Big Game James focuses on
explosive plays. But to win big games, you need to dominate the line of scrimmage and pound and ground.
They should have pounded Nevada into the turf, and they didn’t.
I still have no confidence they can win the big games until they dominate weak opponents.
Andy Goldberg Greensburg
Andy:
Overreaction to Week 1.
Neil:
As I look forward to this coming season, some thoughts to share:
n Drew Allar — Can he play well throughout a big-time game? I have yet to see him do just that, although I remain hopeful.
n James Franklin: Can he game-day coach well throughout a big-time game? I have yet to see him do just that, although I remain hopeful.
I’ll save more for later, although I remain hopeful.
Mitchell Naimark Severna Park, Md.
Neil:
I’m really excited about the season. It really feels like something special could be in the works.
The past few years, I’ve felt like Debbie Downer, always seeing the dark side of what’s wrong with the Lions. This year, I’ve awoken to see the birds chirping and the sun shining.
There is a very talented team in State College. You can quibble about the depth and quality of the defensive tackles, but from top to bottom there are more topnotch players at every position than ever before.
Add to that, what seems to be, great coaching, and there is a recipe for a trip to the national championship game. If only CJF, in the words of Paul Finebaum, doesn’t find a way to screw things up.
There was a coach at Penn State who used to say, “It’s not the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmys and Joes.”
It feels like this is the year that there’s enough talent that even Franklin’s questionable game management and coaching decisions can be overcome.
So I’m saying, batten down the hatches and throw caution to the wind — 12-0 this year, a win in the Big Ten championship game, two wins in the playoffs and a winner-take-all game in the final.
This is the year.
Steve Abrams Los Angeles
Steve:
The birds are chirping all right.
Mitchell:
Hopeful is a great characteristic.
Neil Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on X@neilrudel.
FIU (1-0) AT PENN STATE (1-0)
KICKOFF: Noon
WHERE: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium
RANKINGS: Penn State remains No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25 and the US LBM Coaches Poll while FIU is unranked.
COACHES: James Franklin is 102-42 in his 12th season at Penn State and 126-57 overall. Willie Simmons is 1-0 in his frst season at FIU and is 67-24 in his 10th career season with previous stops at Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M.
SERIES HISTORY:
This is only the second-ever meeting between the two programs. Florida International traveled to Beaver Stadium on Sept. 1, 2007, and the Nittany Lions rolled, 59-0.
QB Anthony Morelli was 23-of-38 with 295 passing yards and three touchdowns. LB Sean Lee led all defenders with seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
TV: Big Ten Network (Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth, Rhett Lewis)
RADIO: Steve Jones and Jack Ham handle call, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The game is carried locally on WRKY 104.9FM, WFBG 1290AM, WTNA 1430AM, WRAX 106.5FM and 1600AM, WLGJ 104.3FM and 1260AM, WOWY 103.1FM, WLEJ 103.7FM and 1450AM, WHUN 97.7FM, 103.5 FM and 1150 AM, WBUS 99.5 FM, WBHV 93.3FM and 1390AM, WJUN 1220AM and 107.5 FM
Neil Rudel
MIRROR GAME BREAKDOWN
Chris Masse analyzes the matchups vs. Florida International
PENN STATE FIU
Scoring on eight of its frst nine possessions last week was good. Settling for four feld goals was not. Nor was running game averaging just 3.8 yards per carry against Charmin-like defense. Says a lot that PSU’s receivers had nine frst-half catches after having just one game with double-digit receptions a year ago, that coming vs. Kent State.
Dani Dennis-Sutton is becoming Abdul Carter before our eyes. Holding Nevada to minus-8 yards on seven separate possessions is good start for Jim Knowles’ defense but again, it was Nevada so who can really tell where this unit is headed? Lots of focus on the receiver transfers, but don’t overlook linebacker Amare Campbell (North Carolina) who made team-high six solo tackles.
Panthers looked strong in coach Willie Simmons’ debut, scoring touchdowns on their frst four series with all four drives covering 67 or more yards. Equally impressive was the balance with nearly identical yardage totals, 233 rushing and 223 passing. Three running backs went over 49 yards and QB Keyone Jenkins scored twice while having an effcient passing night.
Ryan Barker built off last year’s success, drilling all four feldgoal attempts, although all were inside 40 yards. Barker is 19-of23 in his two seasons, and going 6-of-8 from 40 or more last year gives PSU a special teams weapon if trend continues. So could King Mack, who ripped off 73-yard kick return last week. Narrator’s voice: But it was Nevada.
FIU allowed 27 or more points eight times last season, but looked improved, not allowing a touchdown for the frst time since 2019. Panthers also made fourth-down stops on all three Bethune-Cookman attempts. They call linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr. “Chainsaw,” and he chopped down the offense with six solo tackles and a forced fumble.
TEAMS
Keep an eye on C’Quan Jnopierre — since he likely will be felding many kickoffs — after he averaged 25.8 yards on four returns a week ago. Punter Trey Wilhoit punted twice, and both were good ones, going for 51 yards each time. UAB transfer Noah Grant missed his one feld-goal attempt and is in a new role after being used as just a kickoff specialist a year ago.
COACHING/INTANGIBLES
Penn State did what it needed to do last week and likely will do so again Saturday. Honestly, I don’t know what beneft playing this cream puffs every week serves. I get it, the league is tough, but with playoffs now taking 12 teams, a non-conference schedule this weak is really inexcusable.
Simmons could be a coach who rises through the ranks after fourishing as Duke’s running back coach last fall and helping the Blue Devils go 9-3. He had an excellent six-year run at Florida A&M, turning the program around and going 45-13. His teams were especially strong in league play, going 34-5.
Prediction: I actually like the direction FIU is headed, but Penn State is not Bethune-Cookman. It’s another tune-up game for Lions, who will secure victory by halftime and keep trying to iron out the wrinkles before league play. Penn State 51, FIU 7
Brian Carson County Observer Editor
Penn State 45, FIU 6
Why? Why is this game being played? The Panthers will roll into Happy Valley, get crushed, and go back home with a million-dollar check as consolation. Easy win for the Nittany Lions.
SENTINEL STAFF PREDICTIONS
Greg Williams Sentinel Reporter
Penn State 54, FIU 10
QB Drew Allan pushes the ball downfeld and Penn State’s running game gets going as the Nittany Lions host the second of their three qualifed scrimmages. A feisty James Franklin keeps his foot on the gas until the fnal whistle after giving up a late score last week.
Penn State 49, FIU 7
Varner Sentinel Correspondent
Chris Masse is a sports writer for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, a sister paper of the Mirror and part of Ogden Newspapers.
CBS’ Danielson savoring final season of career
He’s been the lead college football analyst for any network that’s paid him for the past three-plus decades, and Gary Danielson’s fan-focused, pragmatic approach has been the key to that ongoing success.
Danielson, the No. 1 game analyst for CBS Sports, opened his 36th and final season last week as Penn State romped over Nevada — and he’ll probably see the Nittany Lions in person at least a couple more times this season.
No matter the game or location, though, his preparation remains consistent.
“I’ve always done it the same way,” says Danielson, who has Oklahoma State-Oregon this week. “I start out like I’m putting a puzzle together, the easy parts and edges first. Then you just keep working.”
For Danielson, game weeks begin by creating his two-deep game charts and then verifying the pronunciation of player names. He has access to notes and stories about the teams, plus the CBS broadcasters have their own interviews and production meetings later in the week.
Much more content exists than what Danielson had a decade ago, let alone two or three decades. Even with all that information, he often relies on his gut and his own approach and relationships.
Danielson appreciates hard work. He went to the NFL after playing at Purdue, and there was no expectation that he’d play 13 years as a pro QB — most of them with his hometown Detroit Lions.
Still, he’s been a better broadcaster than quarterback, otherwise he would not have lasted this long, or earned the assignments he has. He’s been with CBS Sports since 2006, and before that with ABC/ESPN (1997-2005).
He’s largely covered the Big Ten and SEC, along with assignments like the Army-Navy game
and some bowl games. Every game is a step closer to more time with his grandchildren and the golf course.
Still, Danielson, who turns 74 on Sept. 10, takes pride in what he’s done, no regrets.
“My whole career’s been a fight, and I’ve worked hard to improve,” he said. “I’ve learned from everyone I’ve worked with, and I don’t think anybody could’ve had it better in their career.”
Corso conclusion
ESPN and College GameDay did everything right with the farewell to analyst Lee Corso.
Maybe it seemed like a lot to some, but the former coach, his entertainment mindset and his headgear picks helped the pregame show achieve the cultural relevance it did during the past 38 years.
Plus, Corso’s likeability and personality endeared him to colleagues, so they were happy to invest in a big sendoff.
Most impressive was the final moments of the finale when Corso made his pick live inside Ohio Stadium.
The moment was shared with those in attendance, and most seemed quiet and respectful. Also, the Ohio State marching band spelled out CORSO on the field.
Stadium stuff
Another season opener at Beaver Stadium, and another season when the gameday production seemed, at best, in preseason form.
It always takes a couple of games for the production team that coordinates the video
TV/RADIO COMMENTARY
Associated Press fle photo
CBS play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler (left), sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl and color analyst Gary Danielson get a special visit from Tony The Tiger on Dec. 31, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.
Worth watching
Iowa at Iowa State Noon Saturday FOX
Oklahoma State at Oregon 3:30 p.m. Saturday CBS
Michigan at Oklahoma 7:30 p.m. Saturday ABC
Boston College at Michigan St. 7:30 p.m. Saturday NBC
boards and supporting action on gameday to get things ironed out, so the hiccups were not a surprise.
At the same time, there are only seven regular season home games each season and there’s an entire offseason to plan and
as always, no commitment to sharing out-of-town scores.
It might not have been a positive response to the final score of Texas-Ohio State, but that result should’ve been shared. Even if better wifi in the stadium means more fans can access scores, there’s something to be said for some shared information and response in a setting like that.
Penn State did a good job promoting the Jan. 31, 2026, hockey doubleheader at Beaver Stadium. That news was released a few days before the Nevada game and while some knew, not everyone in the stadium did. So, sharing it was important for awareness, energy and marketing.
Notable
ö ESPN dutifully noted that Lee Corso made Ohio State his last headgear pick, which resulted in his 287th victory. By comparison, he had 73 Ws in 15 seasons as a college football head coach at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.
ö ESPN’s Greg McElroy has picked Penn State to reach the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. He’s also tabbed coach James Franklin as one of the coaches facing the most pressure this season.
ö Anthony “Spice” Adams, the former defensive standout for the Nittany Lions who went on to the NFL and a media-related career, was recently named grand marshal for the Penn State homecoming parade in November.
practice.
This year’s fumbles included the usual inconsistent sound in parts of the stadium, along with sloppy on-screen production for those video boards.
There were also some public address live mic moments, and,
ö Oklahoma is selling access to its postgame news conferences this season. Fans can pay to attend the typically media-only sessions. Last week it was $461.61 for two people, and it sold out. For Sept. 6 vs. Michigan the price is $692.11, and that’s a little less for Auburn on Sept. 20 ($576.86).
Sampsell covers the broadcast end of Penn State football for Gameday. He can be reached at stevesampsell@ gmail.com
Steve Sampsell
CFP applying schedule metric is right call
It appears the College Football Playoff selection committee finally decided to administer some long-overdue tough love.
The introduction of a new metric to assess performance in relation to schedule strength will reward teams that defeat higher-quality opponents and minimize the impact of losing to one.
Conversely, the new metric will provide minimal reward for defeating a lower-quality opponent and impose a greater penalty for losing to one.
Justice, at last, has arrived for teams that don’t shy away from playing a challenging non-conference schedule.
Of the teams ranked in the Top 25 of the AP Preseason poll, No. 2 Penn State and No. 20 Indiana — both playoff teams a year ago — are the only teams that will not face either a Power 4 opponent, a Pac-12 team, or independent Notre Dame in non-conference play.
Still prevalent in college football, however, are the “paycheck games” against FCS opponents that take on the look, feel and character of exhibition games.
In addition to providing a financial guarantee to their overmatched opponent, host schools will now pay a price for underscheduling during the CFP evaluation process.
And rightfully, so.
At some point, pride should influence the scheduling of non-conference opponents.
When Penn State won the national title as an independent in 1982, the Lions played nationally ranked Nebraska, Alabama and Notre Dame. The games against the Tide and Irish were on the road.
During the 1986 national championship season, Penn State again played at Alabama and Notre Dame.
Obviously, Penn State’s distinguished legacy of competitive scheduling was not extended by contracting with Nevada, Florida International and Villanova.
Compliments to Notre Dame for producing a 2025 schedule that
includes opponents from the ACC, SEC and Big Ten.
All 12 of Notre Dame’s opponents compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, which is the highest level of college football, and all but two compete in Power 4 conferences.
It’s about time that the CFP selection committee stepped up and adopted a metric which addresses the common practice of scheduling mismatches that tarnish the integrity of the college game.
Ute gotta be impressed
In dominating UCLA, 43-10, Utah totaled 492 yards of total offense, converted 14-of-17 third downs, and scored on all six trips to the red zone.
“I’ve never been involved in a game that had that many thirddown opportunities converted at that high of a percentage, so that was a huge part of the success,” said Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Utah’s 286 net yards rushing topped UCLA’s total offense (220 yards).
Aloha, college football
Leading Cal to victory over Oregon State with three TD passes was Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who is only the second true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Golden Bears. The first was Jared Goff in 2013.
Sagapolutele became Hawaii’s all-time high school passing yards leader (10,653 yards) by surpassing Dillon Gabriel and Tua Tagovailoa.
H-Owling for more
A head coach with a championship pedigree has taken the reins at Temple, and his debut was an unqualified success.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier looks to pass during the second half of a game against UCLA on Aug. 30 in Pasadena, Calif.
In their first game under K.C. Keeler, the Owls defeated UMass on the road, 42-10.
Keeler led Sam Houston State and Delaware to FCS national championships in 2020 and 2003, respectively.
Temple is seeking its first winning season and first bowl appearance since 2019. The program’s record over the last five seasons is 13-42.
Wave deserves salute
The “Hawkeye Wave” has repeated as winner of USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best College Sports Tradition.
The “Hawkeye Wave” is conducted at the end of the first quarter at Iowa home football games when fans turn toward the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital overlooking Kinnick Stadium and wave to pediatric patients and their families who are watching the game from upper floors.
The ringing of cowbells at Mississippi State home games ranked second on the list of best traditions. The racing of the Sooner Schooner across the field at Oklahoma was third.
Kansas City. With a win over Montana State, Oregon extended its nation’s-best nonconference home winning streak to 35 games. Iowa entered the season as one of only seven programs to have posted 11 consecutive winning seasons. The others are Alabama, Boise State, Clemson, Georgia, Memphis and Ohio State.
USC’s point total in a 73-13 victory over Missouri State is its highest since a 74-0 win over California in 1930.
Quotable
“I think we showed the country that we didn’t go anywhere and we’re still the best defense in the country. I think it was our test to show the world what we can really do.”
Flash in the pan?
Kent State snapped the nation’s longest losing streak at 21 games by defeating FCS Merrimack College of North Andover, Mass., 21-17. Success might be shortlived, however.
The Golden Flashes will play their first three road games at Texas Tech, Florida State and Oklahoma.
Notable
In 14 games since taking over as head coach at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer is 6-4 against unranked teams. DeBoer’s predecessor, Nick Saban, was 124-4 against unranked opponents.
Since losing the home finale in 2021, Washington has won 21 consecutive home games. The school record for longest home win streak is 45 games from 1908-17, which was part of Washington’s NCAA record 64-game unbeaten streak.
In its first-ever game against an ACC opponent, Hawaii defeated Stanford, 23-20, in Week 0. The win was Hawaii’s first over a Power Conference opponent since 2019.
In only their second meeting, and first since 1906, Nebraska defeated Cincinnati, 20-17, in
— Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews on the statement made by the Buckeyes defense in a 14-7 win over No. 1 Texas
“I’ve told you guys all along, I haven’t tried to hide it. It’s a work-in-progress, and it will be all year long. We’ll get better and better.”
— Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano after his team’s defense allowed 440 total yards, including 201 net yards rushing, in a 34-31 win over Ohio
“Even though FBS and FCS football match-ups can sometimes be totally lopsided, Duquesne held its own and delivered an exciting game for a packed Acrisure Stadium.”
— Ken Gormley, President of Duquesne University, after the Dukes were defeated by Pitt, 61-9, in the first meeting between the city schools since 1939
“It’s a preseason game, really, that counts in the win-loss column.”
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi after the Panthers posted an average gain of 7.1 yards per play and forced 12 punts in the win over Duquesne.
Jim Caltagirone, a former member of Penn State’s sports information department, comments on the national scene for Gameday. He can be reached at jimclion4ever@gmail. com.
NATIONAL VIEW
Jim Caltagirone
The Associated Press
2025 PENN STATE STATISTICS
ST. 3½ Fresno St. MISSOURI 6½ Kansas NAVY 21½ UAB
OREGON 28½ Oklahoma St. CINCINNATI 21½ Bowling Green W. Virginia 3½ OHIO
WISCONSIN 28½ Middle Tenn
FLORIDA 17½ S. Florida
ARKANSAS 22½ Arkansas St.
MARSHALL 9½ Missouri St. Tulane 10½ S. ALABAMA Memphis 13½ GEORGIA ST.
N. Carolina 14½ CHARLOTTE
KANSAS ST. 17½ Army
TOLEDO 6½ W. Kentucky Houston 12½ RICE
MICHIGAN ST. 3½ Boston Coll VIRGINIA TECH 1½ Vanderbilt OKLAHOMA 5½ Michigan
LSU 37½ Louisiana Tech
USC 28½ Georgia S. Arizona St. 6½ MISSISSIPPI ST.
NEBRASKA 34½ Akron
AUBURN 43
Daryus Dixson
Karson Kiesewetter
Speca
Zane Durant
Mylachi Williams
Wafe
Jahmir Joseph
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
CONFERENCE: Big Ten
Aug. 30 Nevada W, 46-11
Sept. 6 FIU
Sept. 13 Villanova 3:30
Oct. 4 at UCLA
Oct. 18 at Iowa
Nov. 1 at Ohio State
8 Indiana
Nov. 15 at Michigan St.
Nov.
Aug.
2025 SCHEDULE
HEAD COACH
James Franklin Age: 53
Record Penn State: 102-42 (12th season) Career: 126-57
2025 SCHEDULE COACHING STAFF
Sept. 30 Delaware 6
Oct. 4 at Connecticut 3:30
Oct. 14 at W. Kentucky
Oct.
Oct.
Nov. 8 at Middle Tennessee
Nov. 15 Liberty
Nov. 22 Jacksonville State 3:30
Nov.
COACHING STAFF
Terry M. Smith, Associate head coach/ defensive recruiting coordinator/CBs
Jim Knowles, Defensive coordinator
Andy Kotelnicki, Offensive coordinator
Justin Lustig, Special teams coordinator/ outside LBs/Nickels
Anthony Poindexter, Co-defensive coordinator/ safeties
Phil Trautwein, Offensive line Dan Connor, LBs Danny O’Brien, QBs
FLORIDA NTERNATIONAL PANTHERS
Jovan Dewitt, Asstistant head coach/Defensive coordinator Nick Coleman, Offensive coordinator/QBs Kenneth Gilstrap, Special teams coordinator/safeties
Kenechi Udeze, Defensive line
Ryan Smith, Linebackers
Anthony Gaitor, Cornerbacks
Jelani Berassa, Wide receivers
Hyppolite
Pata
Big 12 has seen changes in 30 seasons
The Associated Press
The Big 12 is in its 30th football season, 20 years after last winning a national championship and now in a much different era of the game than when the conference started.
Like many 30-year-olds, the league has gotten bigger while going through plenty of ups and downs. There have already been some this season.
TCU provided a much better fnish to the Big 12’s holiday weekend than how it began. The Horned Frogs won 48-14 at North Carolina to spoil Bill Belichick’s debut in a prime-time Labor Day game highly anticipated because of the 73-year-old coach who won six Super Bowl titles before his frst college game.
While most talk nationally will still be about Beli-
chick’s loss, it was a boost for the Big 12 after losses in its frst three games this season against teams from other Power Four leagues: Cincinnati at Nebraska, and Colorado (to Georgia Tech) and Baylor (to Auburn) at home. No. 25 Utah won 43-10 at UCLA 43-10 late Saturday. But Kansas State that same day, a week after a 24-21 loss to Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, needed a last-minute touchdown to beat FCS team North Dakota.
Five different schools have been Big 12 champions the past fve seasons. Arizona State made the new 12team College Football Playoff last year after being the preseason pick to fnish last in its league debut.
All the other power conferences, even the now-rebuilding Pac-12, had multiple champions in that same period. The SEC (Alabama),
Big Ten (Michigan) and ACC (Clemson) have all had three-time champs in the 2020s. No. 16 Iowa State, No. 24 Texas Tech, newly ranked Utah and TCU are among the top contenders for the Big 12 title.
So are Arizona State and Baylor, which had won six regular-season games in a row before losing to Auburn. The Bears’ league title in 2021 ended Oklahoma’s record run of six consecutive championships, followed by Kansas State, Texas and the Sun Devils.
The Big 12’s three national championships came from undefeated teams in the conference’s frst 10 seasons: Nebraska in 1997, Oklahoma in 2000 and Texas in 2005.
All now play in different leagues.
Nebraska left in 2011, part of a tumultuous period in the Big 12’s teen years. The
Dennis-Sutton draws Parsons comparisons
It was telling just how good Dani DennisSutton was last weekend that James Franklin mentioned Dennis-Sutton in the same sentence as Micah Parsons.
Dennis-Sutton had two forced fumbles against Nevada, the first Nittany Lion to do that since Parsons in 2019. You know, that Micah Parsons. The guy that just signed the richest contract in NFL history for non-quarterbacks.
Andy Stine
PSU football commentary
Huskers went to the Big Ten at the same time Colorado left for the Pac-12 in the frst changes to the original 12team confguration that has since had seasons with 10, 14 and now 16 teams.
Texas A&M and Missouri departed for the SEC in 2012, when TCU and West Virginia entered the Big 12. Longtime independent BYU joined with American Athletic Conference teams Houston, Cincinnati and UCF a 14-team setup in 2023, a year before Texas and Oklahoma made their planned move to the SEC while Colorado returned from the dismantling Pac-12 along with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
TCU in 2022, its frst season with coach Sonny Dykes, was the only Big 12 team to make a national championship game appearance in the 10 seasons of the four-team playoff (2014-23).
Dennis-Sutton seemingly lived in the backfield on Saturday, harassing Nevada QB Chubba Purdy or any other poor running back that dared to try to break a run in his direction. He finished with five tackles, 2½ for a loss, the two forced fumbles, a sack, a pass breakup and another hit on the quarterback.
Just another day at the office for a guy who played like his hair was on fire during the College Football Playoff run last season.
“His motor is always on 100 from the snap to the whistle,” Franklin said. “He plays his tail off. And usually when you play hard, good things happen.
“He is hungry, he is motivated, he is driven. He wants to be great. A lot of guys say they want to be great. This guy eats, sleeps and dreams football and wants to be special. He’s been that way since we recruited him.”
Dennis-Sutton must be getting the attention of NFL scouts, too. He’s projected to be a firstround pick in the NFL by many outlets in 2026.
The obvious one is that elusive championship that seems to be within reach right now.
It’s the same reason why guys like Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Drew Allar and Zane Durant came back to Penn State.
Dennis-Sutton also admits he sometimes thinks about the career sack record at Penn State.
“I’m trying to leave a legacy,” Dennis-Sutton said. “I try not to get too involved in the stats. Sometimes you can have a great game and not have any stats.”
In order to get the career record, he would need 18.5 sacks for the year to break Courtney Brown’s mark set from 1996-99. That would also break the Nittany Lion single-season record, set by Carl Nassib in 2015 with 15.5 sacks.
“I made a promise to myself in high school that by the time I left college, I’d be the best defensive end in the country,” Dennis-Sutton said.
And just maybe someday, if he puts his signature in the Nittany Lions’ record books, he may also get to sign a paycheck as big as Parsons did recently.
He still has a long list of accomplishments he’d like to have by the end of the season.
Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror. com.
