Penn State is showing plenty of fight under interim head coach Terry Smith.
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The Nittany Lions nearly upset No. 2 Indiana on Nov. 8 before the Hoosiers scored a touchdown in the final minute to escape Happy Valley with a 27-24 win. In Week 12, PSU snapped a six-game losing streak by thumping Michigan State 28-10.
On Saturday, Penn State reached another level by blowing out Nebraska 37-10 in front of 105,038 fans at Beaver Stadium.
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The PSU student section chanted “Terry” as the team exited the field following the game.
The chants from the crowd echoed what players advocated for on the field. Multiple players were seen holding up a sign that read “Hire Terry Smith.”
PSU’s win over Nebraska (whose head coach, Matt Rhule, was thought to be a top choice for Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft early in the coaching search) came days after former head coach James Franklin accepted the open Virginia Tech job.
There’s a sense of urgency inside the locker room for PSU to name a new head coach now that Franklin is working in Blacksburg.
Earlier in the week, Smith suggested Franklin could take recruits away from Penn State while the national coaching search continues.
“The immediate threat is taking Penn State players,” Smith said. “With the uncertainty of the next head coach, the most important thing we can do is protect the locker room. When it comes to recruits, high school recruits, (Franklin) has an advantage right now because we don’t have a permanent head coach.”
Smith told the media it was possible he could join Franklin at Virginia Tech in 2026.
However, Smith wanted to focus on Nebraska in Week 13 before finishing the regular season on the road against Rutgers.
It’ll be interesting to see how the PSU administration handles the coaching search amid calls for Smith to land the permanent gig. Smith, 56, is 2-3 as the interim head coach. He has no other head coaching experience at the college level.
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