Penn State knows where it's ranked (not that it matters). They'll sign up for finishing where they start, too. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, co-hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin of The Times-Tribune in Scranton discuss the Nittany Lions' season-opening No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press poll, which was released on Tuesday. Obviously, they will be happy to finish there in the College Football Playoff rankings, considering a No. 8 will get them a home game in the first ro...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Penn State's depth took a hit last week. Or, maybe more accurately, the reality of Penn State's depth at certain positions came to light. But as the Nittany Lions' local media day came and went last weekend. one theme emerged: There's guarded optimism around the program that enough players are ready to take the next step that we could be seeing a new era of Nittany Lions football once the season starts on Aug. 31 in West Virginia. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie C...
Aug 08, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Penn State will play football this month, so let the conjecture begin. And, there is certainly plenty to conject (granted, that might not be a word) about as the Nittany Lions opened training camp this week. Hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin give their thoughts on the suspensions of second-year standouts Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys and what their current status means for a defense that is on the thin side without them, especially at defensive end. Who could step up there, and is there any c...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Co-hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin of The Times-Tribune in Scranton wind down the second season of the Penn Stated podcast with a look ahead to training camp opening in a month. But, they also celebrate Independence Day with an honest look at the realities the program and its head coach are facing. In the opening segment, the hosts discuss the stories they're looking at closest as camp approaches, with each picking one of the new coordinators. They wind down with a look at the role coaching ...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 44
The Penn Stated podcast returns with discussion about expansions, and contractions. The Board of Trustees' approval to spend up to $690 million on the long-awaited renovation of Beaver Stadium dominates the discussion between hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin of The Scranton Times-Tribune, with both expressing concerns over the project and also recognizing its necessity. In the second half, they talk about Penn State baseball's sudden rise to prominence over the past week in the Big Ten tourna...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Fresh off the weekend's NFL Draft, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin took some time this week to discuss the landing spots for eight Nittany Lions chosen and the plight of some who weren't. Who went earlier than anticipated? What does the influx of Penn State players taken higher in the middle rounds than anticipated say about the program -- positively, or negatively? Penn State had twice as many players selected as Ohio State...what does that say about the 2023 season? And, does t...
May 03, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Well, the changes in the wide receiver room that most expected to see in the Blue-White Game last week started to take shape a few days before. Former top target KeAndre Lambert-Smith is in the transfer portal, and so is another veteran, Malick Meiga, who could have contributed toward replacing him. The question now for Penn State is, what's next at a position that has caused plenty of consternation in recent months? Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss Lambert-Smith's departu...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Sam Fremin will be on the desk on Saturday, but Penn Stated co-host Donnie Collins will be at Beaver Stadium for his "favorite" day of the year, the Blue-White Game at 2 p.m. on Saturday. But both hosts think this game has a chance to be one of the most educational spring-practice-ending games in recent memory. On this week's episode of Penn Stated, the hosts break down the positions to watch in Saturday's game, led by a group of talented but inexperienced cornerbacks and a receiving corps that ...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 40
It's finally over. And we're not just talking about the All-James Franklin team, either. As spring practice inches closer to the annual Blue-White Game at Beaver Stadium on April 13, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin open this week's podcast by breaking down the most interesting storylines of the spring to this point...and how they can manifest themselves in the spring-closing scrimmage next weekend. How much of new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's offense should fans expect to see in...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 39
As spring practice started in the last week, much of the conversation revolved around two position switches: The oft-talked-about move of Abdul Carter from linebacker to defensive end, and sophomore safety Mekhi Flowers' much-less-bandied-about move to receiver. Head coach James Franklin said during a press conference last week that both moves were precipitated by player request, which of course piqued the interest of both Penn Stated hosts, Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin. Is that indicative of a...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 38
With the latest round of betting odds on who will win the 2024 Big Ten football championship coming out this week, Penn State finds itself in a typical position: Behind both Ohio State and Michigan, with Oregon having better odds as well, at least when it comes to public perception. But, is that necessarily an accurate way to look at how the Big Ten is shaping up this fall? On this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss the odds, and why the Nittan...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 37
It sure seems that way, if the reaction to Penn State's typically benign "competitors of the day" for winter workouts is any indication. With backup quarterback Beau Pribula practically sweeping the honor from quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien in the early going during workouts, many commenters on social media are wondering if that gives the sophomore any edge in a potential quarterback battle with starter Drew Allar this spring. Well, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin have some new...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Another week has passed, and college football has changed even more. That's the story of the game now, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss Bill O'Brien to Boston College, Chip Kelly to Ohio State, and more moves that wouldn't have been expected in college football as recently as just a few years ago. They also talk about James Franklin's thoughts on the subject from his winter workou...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 35
National Letter of Intent Signing Day -- the "traditional" one, anyway -- came and went rather silently for Penn State in 2024. But there was still plenty of recruiting talk on the latest edition of the Penn Stated podcast. Hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin broke down the fall of the February signing period and delved into the reasons why arguably the biggest non-gameday of the year in college football lost importance and will continue to do so. But in celebration of what the day used to be, t...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 34
The longer you go without rules, the harder it will be to make rules. The NCAA might learn that lesson the hard way as it pursues sanctions against Tennessee for alleged recruiting violations stemming from a collective that works closely with athletes at the university in the Name, Image, Likeness realm. It's a story that affects all of college football, including Penn State, as collectives play a bigger and bigger role in attracting star athletes to the universities they choose to represent, pr...
Feb 01, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Shall they inherit the playing time? That's the question hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin set out to answer on this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, when they break down the 16 early enrollees on Penn State's spring roster. Which of them do Donnie and Sam believe will have the best chance to compete for playing time immediately with a big spring? Who is the prospect we'll learn most about simply by which position the coaching staff chooses to start him at? And will the highest-rated...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Changes abound in college football, and of course, Penn State wasn't immune to them in the last week. With special teams coordinator Stacy Collins off to Boise State, head coach James Franklin worked quickly to replace him by bringing in Vanderbilt's Justin Lustig. But the greater coaching chaos around the country obviously dwarfed the third coordinator change on Penn State's staff this offseason. This week on the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin talked about what areas L...
Jan 18, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 31
On a super-sized edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin don't just talk about the many issues of the day surrounding the Nittany Lions and college football. They break down the scary hypotheticals. What happens when the transfer portal doesn't bring in a difference-maker? Penn State battled that at receiver next year; Does that make it even more important for Julian Fleming to succeed in 2024? Is "fit" more important than "numbers?" Probably. But one can be measu...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Penn State lost the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. Penn State also played the game without four of its top players and saw a handful of other stars play only in the first half. In this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins (The Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (The Citizens Voice) review the 38-25 defeat at the hands of Ole Miss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with an eye toward the game's greater meaning. With Nittany Lions fans frustrated by the performance, it's wo...
Jan 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 29
And so it ends for Penn State in 2023. The Peach Bowl kicks off on Saturday at noon, and the Nittany Lions are a prohibitive favorite to end the 2023 season with 11 wins and hope for the 2024 season. But, will whatever happens on Saturday in Atlanta at Mercedez-Benz Stadium against No. 11 Ole Miss matter going forward? Hosts Donnie Collins (The Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (Citizens Voice) discuss that and just about every other topic surrounding Penn State -- opt outs, the transfer po...
Dec 30, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 28
There's a lot going on at Penn State and around college football, weeks after the regular season ended. The transfer portal remains open. Bowl prep is ongoing. National Letter of Intent Signing Day is a week away, and coaches everywhere are trying to lock down their final verbal commitments on the recruiting trail. Plus, in Happy Valley, there's the matter of finding someone to run the defense after Manny Diaz took the head coaching position at Duke last week. On this week's episode of the Penn ...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 27
Penn State has its bowl destination. It has another berth in a New Year's Six game. It has another chance to build excitement for 2024 with a signature win. Players have the transfer portal open, the right to reevaluate their current standing with a program, the chance to pursue something greater if they choose. It's the week of opportunity around college football (unless you're Florida State, of course), and the Nittany Lions are in the thick of it. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated pod...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Penn State made it official on Friday, announcing the hiring of former Kansas assistant coach Andy Kotelnicki as its next offensive coordinator. The news broke Thursday , and Nittany Lions fans have largely been expressing their pleasure with the move since. So have the national writers and analysts who praise Kotelnicki for his creativity and innovation. But, that doesn't mean there won't be questions about how successful he'll be at Penn State. Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins (Scranton Times)...
Dec 01, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 25
At some point in the next few days, it seems possible -- if not likely -- Penn State will name its next offensive coordinator. On this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, host Donnie Collins (Scranton Times-Tribune) makes his pitch against a big-name, outside-the-program hire to esteemed co-host Sam Fremin (Citizens Voice). That begs the question: Did running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider and tight ends coach Ty Howle do enough in their role as interim coordinators to make a case the job is ...
Nov 29, 2023•59 min
You may have heard, Penn State is in the market for an offensive coordinator. But, the most important coordinator to this team in 2024 is one that already is on the sidelines. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins (The Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (Citizens Voice) discuss both the contributions of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz over his two seasons with the program, and what keeping him around would mean for the future. Do either think Diaz would con...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Mike Yurcich is gone. Penn State's Big Ten championships hopes are, too. James Franklin is under questioning. And the Nittany Lions are going to be under the microscope as the season winds down. On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins (The Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (The Citizens Voice) break down Franklin's decision to fire Yurcich and pursue his sixth offensive coordinator in 11 seasons. What does it mean for Penn State's head coach, as he approaches...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 21
Coming off its best offensive performance in a month, No. 10 Penn State has a shot at redemption. The problem is, it comes against No. 3 Michigan. On this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins (Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (Citizens Voice) talk about what the dominant performance against Maryland might mean this week against the mighty Wolverines. But...does it mean anything? Donnie and Sam also talk with Scranton Times-Tribune wrestling writer and copy editor...
Nov 08, 2023•59 min
Guard your WiFi passwords. That man you don't know, sitting in your rocking chair...could be a Michigan operative. The rogue, low-level staffer still still seems quite chummy with Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan assistants as the Wolverines alleged signal-stealing scandal inches into November. And with new photos alleging that staffer, the ever slippery Connor Stalions, was on the Chippewas sideline to pilfer all the information he could during a game against Michigan rival Michigan State earlier ...
Nov 03, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 20
It's the question most Penn State fans have been wrestling with since the Nittany Lions lost the latest in a long line of existential struggles against Ohio State last Saturday, and frankly, they should be used to the feeling by now. Penn State's 11-game winning streak and circled the drain yet again against the Buckeyes, leaving the rest of what once was viewed as a potential breakthrough season very much in doubt. Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins (Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (Citize...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The date that has been circled for months is almost here. For Penn State, it's the day that means everything. With the No. 7 Nittany Lions preparing for its annual existential struggle against No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss every angle of the Big Ten's biggest game to this point in the 2023 season. The winner will be positioned to face Michigan in the de facto Big Ten East championship game in November, but for Penn State, the ga...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 18
