Penn State news, notes, and updates for Oct. 1 include new SP+ ratings from Bill Connelly, grades from Week 5, and more. It’s time to dive into Tuesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
We start with Week 5 rankings from CBS Sports. David Cobb gives the Nittany Lions an A- grade for their 21-7 win over Illinois.
“After allowing a game-opening touchdown drive, Penn State’s defense kicked it into gear and was vicious in a 21-7 win over Illinois,” Cobb writes . “The Nittany Lions racked up 13 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, and held the Illini to just 219 total yards. Offensively, Penn State relied on the steady running of veteran backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. Special teams may be Penn State’s only weakness at this point as kicker Sander Sahaydak missed two 40-yard field goal attempts .”
In other news, Penn State is up to No. 6 in Bill Connelly’s SP+ ratings. If Connelly’s metrics prove to be right at the end of the season, he thinks the Lions can make it to the semifinal of the College Football Playoff before losing to Ohio State.
In other news, UCLA coach DeShaun Foster is hoping starting quarterback Ethan Garbers can play on Saturday. But, his status for the game is up in the air following Foster’s Monday night news conference.
“Unless we hold him out, he’s going to try to get out there,” Foster said per the LA Times .
Headlines of the day
Penn State’s undefeated 1994 team is honored during Illinois game, see who attended : Hermitt, PennLive
Penn State locks in visit with key 2025 recruit currently committed elsewhere : Snyder, BWI
James Franklin Wants Penn State to Take a ‘Significant Step’ This Week : Woloson, SI
James Franklin sets injury expectations, developmental push, more : Bauer, BWI
Analyzing Penn State’s Snap Counts in Ranked Win Over Illinois : Engle, Statecollege.com
Penn State injury updates: James Franklin talks Dom DeLuca, Sal Wormley, and Jalen Kimber : Pickel, BWI
Penn State notebook | James Franklin talks injury updates, kicker situation : Alenstein, Daily Collegian
What is the Penn State plan for going for it or punting on fourth down? James Franklin explains : Pickel, BWI
Quote of the day
“The light has really gone on for him and that happens for players at different points in their career. Started like most of them on special teams. He was having success on special teams. That success has bled into defense and he’s having success there. The transition from safety to linebacker is something that he’s embraced and trusted us on. I think he’s having a lot of fun right now playing football and having success. He’s been acknowledged publically multiple times in front of his peers about how well he’s doing and how proud of him we are.
“That’s not an easy transition. Just like we talk about Abdul going from linebacker to DN. That’s a very different world. It’s obvious this is the right position for him and he’s doing some really good things. Very, very proud of him. Exciting thing is, again, this is really his first time doing it so he’s just going to get better as he gains experience and knowledge.
“But we’re excited about him at that position and on special teams. Really doing some nice things for us. With Dom being out last week he had to. Hopefully having Dom back this week creates some flexibility and hopefully a really good rotation with some of those guys.”
–PSU coach James Franklin on linebacker DaKaari Nelson.
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