Over a month after firing longtime head coach James Franklin, the Penn State Nittany Lions seemingly discovered a glimmer of hope with just a few games left. Saturday was the team’s second-straight win, a 37-10 victory over the visiting Nebraska Cornhuskers, behind another impressive game from running back Kaytron Allen.
He rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns, following up his previous performance, a 181-yard game against the Michigan State Spartans. That helped his squad move to with a game of evening their record, as bowl games approach.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions don’t have a permanent head coach yet, as they’ve relied upon interim head coach Terry Smith to guide them. However, there may be good news on the horizon as they officially seek to fill that position.
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On Sunday, CBS Sports’ National College Football reporter Brandon Marcello shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Smith will get a “formal interview” this week.
As of Oct. 12, Smith, 56, took over as interim head coach after the program fired James Franklin, who has since become the new head coach of the ACC’s Virginia Tech. Smith’s resume includes previously playing for the Nittany Lions and then coaching wide receivers under Matt Rhule at Temple in 2013. He’s spent most of the past 11 years working as a cornerback coach and associate head coach during Franklin’s tenure.
“These guys listen to me, they trust me, and they’re going out there playing great football. It’s my locker room,” he proclaimed following Saturday’s win over Nebraska.
“I was always ready to be a head coach,” Smith said. “I was a head coach for 12 years in high school. It’s a different level, but leading men is leading men. Coaching is coaching. It’s no different than when I worked for Matt Rhule as a receivers coach, and I came here for James Franklin, and I went to DB coach. Coaching is coaching,” he also said.
A day after Franklin’s firing from Penn State, athletic director Pat Kraft indicated that Smith was “absolutely” a candidate to take over the head coach job full-time. In addition, there is strong support for Smith among lettermen, with former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson endorsing him for the job.
Penn State (5-6) will wrap up its 2025 schedule with a game at Rutgers (5-6) next week, with the winner expected to earn a bowl game berth after the regular season.
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