Blink, and the fantasy football playoffs will be here. As Week 11 of the NFL season approaches, preparation for the fantasy postseason should begin sooner than later, with research into schedules and an understanding of which undervalued players could stand to benefit from a friendly run of opponents. Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer has much to gain this month with decent matchups and the returns of tight end Jordan Cameron…
KSN Podcast: Penn State recruiting update: Breaking down the Nittany Lions’ most important commits
Penn State is starting to create new momentum in its 2015 recruiting class with leads on a number of blue-chip recruits and a recent commitment from three-star quarterback Tommy Stevens. The Nittany Lions have now secured 19 verbal commitments to date and lay claim to a class that ranks No. 9 nationally by Scout.com. Coach James Franklin’s first full class at Penn State is positioned to help in a number…
KSN Podcast: Steelers-Jets review: Pittsburgh stumbles (again) facing a beatable foe
The Pittsburgh Steelers took a big step in the wrong direction on Sunday, dropping a 20-13 road contest to a woeful New York Jets team that entered the week on an eight-game losing streak. Pittsburgh was silenced after a run of three straight wins and back-to-back impressive outings against Indianapolis and Baltimore. The loss was not Pittsburgh’s finest hour and seemed to back a trend of unexpected losses to bad…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Indiana review: Nittany Lions knocking on the door for bowl eligibility
Penn State got back into the win column in Bloomington over the weekend, snapping a run of four straight losses with a 13-7 victory over the struggling Hoosiers. The result was different, but it was more of the same for the Nittany Lions with another strong defensive effort and continued struggles to score points. Penn State managed to keep the nation’s rushing leader, Tevin Coleman, under wraps and kept the…
KSN Podcast: Does Maryland loss have any impact on Penn State’s recruiting efforts?
“Let the rivalry begin,” Maryland coach Randy Edsall said after his Terrapins went into Beaver Stadium and left with an ugly 20-19 win over the Nittany Lions. His team survived and secured postseason eligibility, while James Franklin’s Penn State team suffered its fourth straight loss and took a hit to its own bowl hopes.
KSN Podcast: The College Football Playoff and an ‘elimination’ weekend for 1-loss teams
The top teams from the rugged Southeastern Conference get a little break from beating each other up, with only an Alabama-LSU matchup likely to have significance on the College Football Playoff race. The light SEC schedule frees up the national spotlight for a number of one-loss teams that go into a crucial elimination weekend for their national title hopes.
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Indiana preview: Nittany Lions favored in clash of struggling teams
Penn State’s struggles have mounted and they’re not going away. A young, ineffective offensive line has been a root problem for the team’s many struggles on that side of the ball. Special teams have been inconsistent, at best, in tilting the field in the Nittany Lions’ favor, and to make matters worse, coach James Franklin has precious few personnel upgrades to make with the lingering effects of NCAA sanctions.
KSN Podcast: Fantasy football Week 10 quick hits: Mark Sanchez, Charles Sims, others
Mark Sanchez is back as an NFL starter by default. The Philadelphia Eagles backup was thrust into duty when Nick Foles suffered a broken collarbone in the first quarter of a 31-21 win over the Houston Texans and finished with 202 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Sanchez should get a minimum of six starts in Foles’ absence, which could be more than enough to stake his claim to a…
KSN Podcast: Penn State Chapter of Uplifting Athletes holding Touchdown Pledge Drive throughout November
The Penn State State Chapter of Uplifting Athletes is looking to turn touchdowns into rare disease research dollars during the month of November. In order to support the Nittany Lions’ chosen rare disease, kidney cancer, the Penn State Chapter is holding a Touchdown Pledge Drive for five games in November. For the home games at Beaver Stadium against Maryland, Temple and Michigan State, plus road games at Indiana and Illinois….
KSN Podcast: Steelers-Ravens review: Can anyone in the NFL stop the red-hot Steelers?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL as they come off a second straight big offensive performance in a Week 9 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger’s second straight six-touchdown performance came in good time, too, in a key AFC North matchup with the rival Ravens.
KSN Podcast: Eagles-Texans review: Can Philadelphia win without Nick Foles, DeMeco Ryans?
Injuries loomed large over the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 9 win over the Houston Texans. Nick Foles (collarbone) and DeMeco Ryans (Achilles), signal callers of the team’s offense and defense, both suffered ailments that could change the complexion of both units. Foles is facing a likely 6-to-8 week timetable for a return, while Ryans’ torn Achilles ends his season.
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Maryland football review: Are Nittany Lions’ bowl hopes slipping away?
If Penn State didn’t recognize Maryland as a rivalry game before Saturday, it might now. The Terrapins invaded Beaver Stadium, refused to shake hands during the pregame coin toss and escaped with a 20-19 win. The Nittany Lions (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) dropped their fourth straight contest and turned up the pressure on their postseason bowl hopes. Maryland pushed the rivalry narrative hard, and coach Randy Edsall said it was…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Maryland preview: Are the Nittany Lions in danger after emotional OSU game?
Penn State made a frantic comeback bid in an eventual 31-24, double-overtime loss to No. 13 Ohio State last Saturday, igniting a “White Out” crowd and playing arguably its best game of the season. The Nittany Lions’ defense pitched a second-half shutout while the offense scratched and clawed for 10 points to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The game was charged with emotion and, of course, featured two…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Ohio State review: A tale of three games and, of course, horrible officiating
Penn State’s upset bid fell short in a 31-24 double-overtime loss to No. 13 Ohio State in a game that was marked by two officiating blunders and a dominant second-half performance by the Nittany Lions defense. But coach James Franklin said there were no “moral victories” to be had, instead chalking up the narrow loss as simply Penn State’s third straight defeat. The primetime game in front of a capacity…
KSN Podcast: Philadelphia Eagles-Arizona Cardinals review: Can turnovers dash Eagles’ Super Bowl hopes?
The Philadelphia Eagles were stunned on the road by the Arizona Cardinals in a 24-20 loss on Sunday, a late 75-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to John Brown ultimately making the difference. Big plays and turnovers were again issues for Philadelphia, which held sizable advantages in total yardage (521), plays (88) and first downs (27). Quarterback Nick Foles threw two more interceptions, bringing his season total to nine —…
KSN Podcast: Penn State recruiting updates, impact of Ohio State and Maryland games
Penn State got a jolt of energy to its recruiting efforts last weekend when the Nittany Lions put on a good show in front of a White Out crowd at Beaver Stadium. While Penn State lost to No. 13 Ohio State, 31-24, in two overtimes, coach James Franklin showcased an elite defense and raucous home environment to over 100 blue-chip high school recruits on the sideline. Among them were four-star…