The first round of the PIAA football championships kicks off in locales all across the state this weekend, and plenty more surprises could be expected. Four WPIAL champions will be determined at Heinz Field tomorrow, with state favorites likely emerging in the Class A and AA matchups.
KSN Podcast: Penn State quarterback recruits and the addition of Tommy Stevens
Penn State continues to build depth in key areas as the program recovers from heavy NCAA sanctions that were imposed in 2012 and lifted completely earlier this fall. The offensive line is facing its challenges now, and the same could be said about a young group of receivers that includes talented freshmen Saeed Blacknall, Chris Godwin, DaeSean Hamilton and DeAndre Thompkins. The Nittany Lions’ quarterback depth chart is less ominous…
KSN Podcast: Jonas Gray, Tre Mason, Isaiah Crowell and other fantasy football quick hits
The fantasy football season is approaching its most pivotal point as the final standings begin to shake out and postseason brackets take shape. With that in mind, the timing of rises from players such as Jonas Gray, Tre Mason, Isaiah Crowell is particularly helpful for those looking to make their final playoff push. Josh Gordon is another high-profile addition in leagues he has managed to stay available. The NFL’s reigning…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Temple review: Improved O-line play, Akeel Lynch big factors in PSU win
Penn State secured its postseason eligibility and made a statement against intrastate rival Temple with a 30-13 win that featured a season-best rushing performance. The Nittany Lions set a new season-high with 254 rushing yards and forced five turnovers to win their second straight game in advance of Saturday’s road trip to Illinois. The Penn State offense finished with a season-high 254 rushing yards behind big efforts from Akeel Lynch…
KSN Podcast: Eagles-Packers review: Philadelphia no match for Green Bay at Lambeau Field
The Philadelphia Eagles rode high into their Week 11 matchup at Lambeau Field and crashed hard, falling 53-20 to a Green Bay Packers team that also dropped 55 points on the Chicago Bears the week before. In a matchup of teams with Super Bowl aspirations, Aaron Rodgers picked their Eagles apart with precision and helped the Packers improve to 5-0 at home. The home/road dynamic is an interesting one for…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Temple preview: Nittany Lions favored to win big, clinch bowl eligibility
Penn State wraps up its non-conference schedule at Beaver Stadium this weekend against intrastate rival Temple in a noon kickoff at Beaver Stadium. The Owls and Nittany Lions both carry 5-4 records into the contest, making it a key week for both teams as they look to secure postseason eligibility. Penn State is 38-3-1 all-time against Temple in a series that dates back to the 1931 season. The Nittany Lions…
KSN Podcast: Fantasy football quick hits: Brian Hoyer, Tre Mason, Martavis Bryant, more
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.