Locked On Nittany Lions - Daily Podcast On Penn State Nittany Lions Football & Wrestling

Matt Campbell has officially settled Penn State's starting offensive line heading into the season opener against Marshall, with Malachi Goodman earning the left tackle job alongside Trevor Buhr, Brock Riker, Cooper Cousins and Anthony Donkoh.

Zach Seyko and Black Shoe Diaries' Pat Koerbler (https://x.com/Poerbler) explain why this offensive line could become a legitimate strength for Penn State — and why Campbell's comments about the tight end room created some new questions entering Week 1.

They also discuss Andrew Rappleyea, Benjamin Brahmer, Finn Furmanek, Cooper Alexander and Brian Kortovich, plus the different mentality Rocco Becht an...

Penn State football is officially into Marshall week, and Matt Campbell, Taylor Mouser and Rocco Becht provided several important clues about how the Nittany Lions will look in Week 1.

Zach Seyko breaks down Penn State's four-man running back rotation featuring Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace, the improving depth at wide receiver and Campbell's confirmed starting offensive line. Plus, we examine the latest injury outlook for Jeremiah Cooper, Alex Tatsch and Gabe Burkle.

Then there's the part of Campbell's tight-end answer that stood out for another reason: Brian Kortovich and Cooper...

Matt Campbell's first Penn State football season is here, and expectations should be high in 2026.

In this complete Penn State season preview, Zach Seyko breaks down why this roster looks more like a reload than a rebuild, the identity I expect from Rocco Becht and the Nittany Lions, and the biggest misconceptions surrounding Campbell's Iowa State transfers.

Then we go through the 2026 schedule, including the defining stretch against Wisconsin, Northwestern, USC and Michigan, before making game-by-game predictions and projecting Penn State's final record and College Football Playoff chances.

Plus: team MVPs, breakout candidates...

Penn State football enters the 2026 season with Matt Campbell, Rocco Becht and an almost completely reworked roster — but what is this team actually capable of?

Penn State play-by-play voice Steve Jones joins Zach Seyko for an in-depth season preview covering why Becht could be the key to the transition, the strength of Penn State's offensive line, D'Anton Lynn's versatile defense and several underrated players including Carson Hansen, Zay Robinson, Max Granville and Jeremiah Cooper.

Steve also explains why Penn State's true identity won't become clear immediately, breaks down the favorable Big Ten schedule and identifies th...

Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht enters the 2026 season looking to bounce back from a difficult final year at Iowa State. But how much of his 2025 regression can be explained by injuries, and what should Nittany Lions fans actually expect from him in Matt Campbell and Taylor Mouser's offense?

Zach Seyko breaks down Becht's strengths, limitations, experience, supporting cast and why Penn State may be positioned to get a much better version of its new QB1.

Plus, Alex Manske has emerged as one of the biggest stories of training camp following his return from open-heart surgery...

College football is back, and we're going on the record with our complete 2026 Big Ten predictions.

Zach Seyko and Jacob Goins break down the conference hierarchy, why Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana stand above the field, Penn State's path to Indianapolis, USC's massive range of outcomes and the teams that could outperform their preseason win totals.

We also debate Julian Sayin and the Big Ten quarterback rankings, discuss Oregon's coordinator turnover, identify players you need to know — including A'Mauri Washington, Brandon Finney Jr., Anthony Smith and James Peoples — and make our picks for the Big Ten...

Big Ten sets the tone for college football as Tony Petitti leads a bold rule change, shutting out returning NFL players and prompting other power conferences to follow. Can this decisive action keep chaos at bay across the NCAA? Analysts weigh in on the repercussions for stars like Aaron Graves and examine how this “adult in the room” move shapes transfer eligibility and enforcement, with head coach suspensions and hefty fines on the table for violators. Week 0 kicks off with USC facing San Jose State, while Indiana’s projected 10.5 win total sparks lively debate. The squad discusses Big Ten conten...

Penn State wrestling star Masanosuke Ono defeated Ohio State NCAA finalist Ben Davino 4-0 at Real American Freestyle, but the way Ono won creates an important question about how his offense will translate to NCAA folkstyle wrestling. Ono controlled the center and scored at the edge, yet neither wrestler recorded a takedown.

Zach Seyko and Penn State wrestling broadcaster Jeff Byers break down Ono vs. Davino, Levi Haines' fifth-year eligibility situation, the potential Penn State lineup domino effect involving PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Tyler Kasak, Joe Sealey, William Henckel and Jayden James, plus James' wild 13-12 loss...

Penn State's 2025 roster was supposed to compete for a national championship. Instead, the Nittany Lions finished 7-6. So is Matt Campbell's 2026 Penn State team actually better—even if it may have less NFL talent on paper?

Andrew Kalista (https://x.com/KalistaAndrew) of the Blue-White Tailgate Podcast joins Zach Seyko to compare the two teams position by position, including Rocco Becht vs. Drew Allar, James Peoples and Carson Hansen vs. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Penn State's improved wide receiver and tight end depth, Ryan Clanton's offensive line and D'Anton Lynn's defense.

Plus, Penn State of...

Matt Campbell named more than two dozen Penn State football players who have impressed throughout training camp, but some names matter much more than others.

Zach Seyko breaks down why Malachi Goodman's emergence at offensive tackle could settle Penn State's starting offensive line, what Max Granville and Caleb Bacon are telling us about the pass rush, and why strong camps from Cam Smith and Cael Brezina could ease concerns about linebacker depth.

Plus, Penn State officially announced USC as the 2026 White Out opponent at Beaver Stadium. Why was USC the obvious choice, and what actual...

Penn State's depth chart is finally taking shape after training camp, with major position battles becoming much clearer across the offense, defense and special teams.

Zach Seyko breaks down why Alex Manske has separated himself as Rocco Becht's backup, how Carson Hansen and James Peoples could function as co-starters, and why Penn State may legitimately have seven wide receivers ready to contribute. We also project the offensive line, examine Penn State's surprisingly deep defensive front, explain why Tony Rojas may be the defense's most irreplaceable player, and sort through the battles at punter and returner.

...

James Peoples may be one of the most overlooked players in Penn State football training camp — and his role could be much bigger than a traditional RB2.

Matt Campbell has praised Peoples' complete skill set, including the pass protection that helped create touchdown throws during practice. Zach Seyko explains why Peoples could function as a co-starter alongside Carson Hansen, how Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace fit into Penn State's deep running-back rotation, and what Peoples himself had to say about becoming a three-down back.

Peoples also discusses Rocco Becht, Alex Manske, Savon Huggins and Ta...

Penn State wrestling star Masanosuke Ono returned to the spotlight with a 4-0 win over Ohio State NCAA finalist Ben Davino at Real American Freestyle — but the score doesn't tell the entire story. Ono controlled the match and surrendered zero points, yet neither wrestler recorded a takedown, raising an important question about what the performance actually tells us about Ono's transition to folkstyle.

Zach Seyko breaks down Ono vs. Davino, Ono's historic 2024 World Championship run, his Penn State folkstyle outlook and the difference between freestyle edge scoring and the offense he'll eventually need in the Nittany Lions li...

The NCAA's five-for-five eligibility fight changed again after the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the nationwide injunction that had opened the door for affected Class of 2022 athletes to compete for a fifth season.

Locked On Hoosiers host Jacob Goins and Locked On Nittany Lions host Zach Seyko break down what the ruling means for Indiana defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, why individual state-court injunctions still matter, and why the eligibility battle appears far from finished.

Then, we turn to the 2026 college football season and debate which games could realistically become No. 1 vs...

A major NCAA eligibility ruling has changed the path for Levi Haines and a potential fifth season with Penn State wrestling—but Friday's Tenth Circuit decision does not necessarily mean the possibility is completely dead.

Zach Seyko breaks down what the NCAA's court victory means for Haines, why individual legal action could become the next step, and how a Haines return would reshape Cael Sanderson's loaded 2026–27 Penn State wrestling lineup. We also examine the battle involving PJ Duke, Jayden James, Tyler Kasak and Joe Sealey at 157 pounds, Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, Haines at 174 and the ripple effects throughout Penn...

A wild new eligibility ruling could allow players who reached NFL training camps to return to college football, creating even more uncertainty around the NCAA and transfer portal.

Plus, Penn State could legitimately go 12-0 in Matt Campbell's first season — but does that actually mean the Nittany Lions are an elite College Football Playoff contender?

Zach Seyko and Locked On Hoosiers host Jacob Goins break down Penn State's unusually favorable 2026 schedule, why 11-1 could comfortably put the Nittany Lions in the CFP while 10-2 becomes much more dangerous, and what Zach has seen during fall ca...

Big Ten experts reveal what they REALLY think about Penn State football heading into the 2026 season.

The Locked On Big Ten Squad makes its biggest preseason predictions, including Penn State’s College Football Playoff chances, the Big Ten championship race, and which programs could rise or fall this season.

We debate where Penn State stacks up against Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, USC, Washington and the rest of the conference, while breaking down the biggest games and storylines that could shape the 2026 Big Ten season.

Can Penn State emerge as a true Big Ten ti...

David Taylor has publicly opened the door for an Oklahoma State vs. Penn State wrestling dual, saying the Cowboys are willing to save a date and travel to Penn State. Zach Seyko and On3 wrestling analyst Nick Kosko (https://x.com/nickkosko59) debate whether Cael Sanderson should accept the challenge, why Penn State holds the leverage, and whether a future Penn State-Oklahoma State showdown could become one of the biggest dual meets in college wrestling.

The show also dives deep into Penn State's potential 2026-27 lineup. What would a possible fifth season for Levi Haines mean at 174...

Penn State wrestling has a massive new lineup question after a federal preliminary injunction opened the door for Levi Haines to potentially return for a fifth season. Zach Seyko is joined by Penn State wrestling radio voice Jeff Byers to break down what another season of Haines could mean for Cael Sanderson and the 2026–27 Nittany Lions.

If Haines returns at 174 pounds, the biggest domino could fall at 157, where PJ Duke, Tyler Kasak, Joe Sealey and freshman Jayden James could all factor into an unbelievably deep lineup battle. The guys discuss Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State's middleweight depth, the 30-m...

Penn State football voice Steve Jones joins Locked On Nittany Lions to explain what he's seeing behind the scenes from Matt Campbell, Taylor Mouser, D'Anton Lynn and the new-look Nittany Lions.

Steve breaks down why Campbell's detailed, low-ego approach has translated so quickly to Penn State, the challenge of blending a dramatically different roster and why roster retention could become one of Campbell's biggest long-term strengths. We also dive into Taylor Mouser's offensive philosophy, Rocco Becht, James Peoples, Chase Sowell and what Penn State must do to create more explosive plays.

Plus, Steve explains D'Anton...

Penn State's defense flipped the script during the latest training camp practice, making life difficult for Rocco Becht and Alex Manske during 7-on-7 work—even with several important defenders unavailable or limited.

Zach Seyko breaks down which defensive players stood out, what the performance means for D'Anton Lynn's secondary, and why Peyton Falzone's move from quarterback to tight end already looks intriguing.

Plus, Taylor Mouser provided more insight into Penn State's offensive identity, Zay Robinson continues to emerge as one of camp's biggest breakout players, and Quinton Martin's versatile role could make the Nittany Lions' lo...

Penn State football has reached the midpoint of August training camp, and several players are changing the outlook of the 2026 roster.

Zach Seyko breaks down the biggest stock risers, led by James Peoples, Alex Manske, Zay Robinson, Josiah Zayas and Penn State's defensive tackles. Has Manske already established himself as the future at quarterback after Rocco Becht? And how will Peoples' emergence impact Carson Hansen and Quinton Martin in a loaded running back room?

Plus, we examine concerns surrounding Karon Brookins, Dominic Rulli and the secondary, the offensive tackle battle involving Malachi Goodman, Garrett Sexton...

Penn State wrestling's 2026-27 lineup could look dramatically different depending on Masanosuke Ono, Marcus Blaze, Levi Haines, PJ Duke, Jayden James and Tyler Kasak. MatScouts' Willie Saylor released his projected Nittany Lions lineup, including Ono at 141 pounds, Blaze at 133, Duke at 157 and Haines at 174.

Zach Seyko breaks down the biggest questions surrounding Penn State's projected lineup, including whether Ono is better suited for 133 or 141, how a possible Haines return affects Duke, James and Kasak, Mitchell Mesenbrink's place at 165, and the championship implications throughout Cael Sanderson's roster.

Plus, Penn State Class of 2027 commit Clinton Shepherd is...

Penn State freshman Peyton Falzone is working at tight end after beginning his career at quarterback — and the move has obvious Tyler Warren parallels.

Why did Matt Campbell and Taylor Mouser make the change during fall camp? We break down Falzone's athletic upside, what the move says about Penn State's quarterback and tight end rooms, Alex Manske's future and how creative the Nittany Lions could eventually become with Falzone.

Plus, former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar impressed in his Pittsburgh Steelers preseason debut, reopening the question of whether Penn State ever truly maximized its five-star qu...

Penn State could win 10 games in Matt Campbell's first season and still face a difficult College Football Playoff debate.

Locked On Nittany Lions' Zach Seyko is joined by Locked On Ducks and Locked On College Football host Spencer McLaughlin and Locked On Hoosiers host Jacob Goins to debate Penn State's CFP path, whether 10-2 would be enough, and whether Oregon or Indiana is actually more likely to miss the playoff.

Spencer also explains why Penn State is absent from his preseason Top 25, leading to a larger debate about how rankings should work in the transfer...

Big Ten challengers slam SEC supremacy as preseason poll debate heats up. Can Michigan and Oregon silence doubters and reclaim conference bragging rights? The Big 10 Squad calls out SEC bias in the On3 preseason Top 25, question Florida’s ranking, and dissect how brand bias skews College Football Playoff perspectives. The team roasts Purdue Athletic Director Tommy McClelland’s bold jab at Indiana’s championship pedigree, with reactions spanning ridicule to strategy breakdowns. Plus, the spotlight shifts to Oregon’s daunting 10.5 win total—the hosts break down the Ducks’ season outlook, key matchups against Ohio State and USC, injury updates, and title-or...

Penn State wrestling 2027 commit Grey Burnett joins Locked On Nittany Lions for an exclusive interview to explain why he chose Penn State over Ohio State and Nebraska — despite growing up in Ohio and having deep family ties to Nebraska wrestling.

Burnett discusses his relationship with Cael Sanderson and the Penn State coaching staff, Penn State's unique recruiting approach, training alongside Marcus Blaze at Perrysburg, growing up in the Burnett wrestling family, being coached by his father Scott Burnett, his pressure-heavy wrestling style, his projected college weight at 125 or 133 pounds and Penn State's loaded 2027 recruiting class.

Gr...

David Taylor wants Oklahoma State to wrestle Penn State wrestling—and the former Nittany Lion star has now publicly put the decision in Cael Sanderson's hands.

Zach Seyko breaks down what David Taylor is actually accomplishing with his Penn State challenge, why Oklahoma State has so much to gain, why Penn State doesn't necessarily need the Cowboys on its schedule, and whether refusing the dual would now look like Penn State is avoiding its biggest emerging challenger.

Plus: could Penn State vs. Oklahoma State become something much bigger than another sold-out Bryce Jordan Center dual? We...

College football's money era is accelerating, and Penn State is right in the middle of it.

Zach Seyko and Locked On Hoosiers host Jacob Goins break down the latest College Football Playoff expansion debate, including growing discussion around 20- and 24-team formats. Then they react to ESPN's reporting on what starting Power Four players cost in 2026 and explain why programs such as Penn State increasingly have to build rosters like NFL franchises.

Plus, former Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris is battling Ryland Gandy for a starting job at Indiana. What happened to Harris, and...

Penn State football may already have its quarterback of the future.

Zach Seyko breaks down what Alex Manske has shown during Nittany Lions fall camp, why his development could completely change Penn State's plans in the transfer portal after Rocco Becht leaves, and the one major question that still remains about Manske.

Plus, why is Becht being overlooked in Big Ten quarterback rankings? We examine what makes the veteran quarterback valuable to Matt Campbell's offense and hear directly from Penn State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters on Becht's leadership, the offensive line, running the football and...

Penn State wrestling 2027 commit Landon Sidun joins Locked On Nittany Lions for an exclusive interview about his commitment to Penn State, training inside the Nittany Lions wrestling room, his development entering his senior season and why he currently sees himself wrestling at 125 pounds in college.

Sidun explains what he has learned from training around Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze and Masanosuke Ono, how his relationship with the Penn State coaching staff has grown and why experiencing the Penn State wrestling room has made him even more confident in his college decision. He also discusses returning from a broken...

Penn State football was in full pads and went through 11-on-11 work, giving us one of the best looks yet at Matt Campbell's 2026 team—and Penn State's defensive line stole the show.

Zach Seyko breaks down why the Nittany Lions' defensive tackles dominated the line of scrimmage, where Anthony Donkoh, Malachi Goodman, Garrett Sexton and Owen Aliciene stand in the offensive tackle competition, and why Alex Manske continues to separate himself as Penn State's QB2 behind Rocco Becht. Plus: Chase Sowell's breakout practice, Quinton Martin Jr.'s growing role, Caleb Bacon at defensive end and Justin Lustig's cr...

Penn State football may already have a true freshman wide receiver ready to make an impact in 2026. Amarion Jackson continues to stand out during fall camp, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser says Jackson will play in a lot of games for the Nittany Lions this season.

We break down Jackson’s rapid rise, Jackson Ford’s push for snaps at defensive end, Josiah Zayas rotating into important secondary roles and freshman punter Lucas Tenbrock’s battle with Nathan Tiyce. Plus, what Matt Campbell’s first Penn State Media Day revealed about his culture, Rocco Becht, Alex Manske, the quar...

Penn State football enters the 2026 season with one of the most fascinating schedules in the Big Ten — and a real debate over just how good Matt Campbell's first Nittany Lions team can be. With Penn State's win total sitting at 9.5, is a 10-win season realistic, or are expectations getting too high?

Locked On Nittany Lions host Zach Seyko joins Spencer McLaughlin of Locked On College Football to debate Penn State's 2026 schedule, Rocco Becht, Matt Campbell, USC, Michigan, Washington and the possibility of a surprise loss to Northwestern. Can Penn State split its biggest toss-up games? Is the re...

Penn State wrestling Class of 2027 commit Clinton Shepherd joins Locked On Nittany Lions for an exclusive interview about why he chose Penn State, what changed after the Nittany Lions entered his recruitment late, and what convinced him that Cael Sanderson’s program was the right fit.

Shepherd discusses his projected 149/157-pound future, his aggressive wrestling style, training with Andrew Howe and Jon Morrison, recovering from an ACL tear, winning the 2026 Indiana state championship, his Fargo success, reaching the 2026 U20 World Team Trials final against Bo Bassett, and what he learned from facing elite national competition. Shepherd also br...

Penn State football training camp is already producing a fascinating position battle at left tackle. Malachi Goodman entered camp as the favorite to protect Rocco Becht’s blind side, but Anthony Donkoh and Garrett Sexton are making Penn State’s offensive line competition much more interesting after the first two practices.

We break down what the early rotations could mean for Goodman, Donkoh, Sexton, Owen Aliciene, Brock Riker and Dominic Rulli. Plus, Penn State’s wide receivers had a strong Day 2 as Brett Eskildsen made the catch of practice, Zay Robinson continued making plays and Koby Howard contin...

ESPN faces backlash over unchecked SEC bias, stirring questions about college football media narratives. The Big 10 Squad debates Peter Burns’ misleading SEC vs. Big Ten strength of schedule claims, examining how media giants influence perceptions and why networks like Fox and CBS hesitate to match ESPN’s promotional energy for the Big Ten. Ohio State’s and Penn State’s identical 9.5 win totals spark heated predictions. The roundtable breaks down Ryan Day’s daunting schedule—including Texas, USC, Oregon, and Michigan—and evaluates whether the Buckeyes can surpass lofty expectations or stumble amid fierce competition. Insights into Penn State’s revamped roste...

Penn State football 2028 cornerback commit Deonte “Duck” Flemings Jr. joins Locked On Nittany Lions to explain why he committed early and became the first member of Matt Campbell’s 2028 recruiting class.

Flemings discusses Penn State being his dream destination, his unexpected family connection to Matt Campbell, his long-standing relationship with Terry Smith and the Joey Porter Jr. comparison he received from Penn State’s staff. He also explains his relationship with quarterback commit James Armstrong, why he considers himself a cornerback rather than a safety and how playing quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker has helped him become a more c...

Penn State football training camp is underway, and Koby Howard and Alex Manske were two of the biggest standouts from the Nittany Lions’ first practice. Howard already looked like a potential go-to receiver for Rocco Becht, while Manske delivered an extremely encouraging first impression as Penn State’s possible quarterback of the future.

Zach Seyko breaks down Howard’s development, Zay Robinson’s surprising red-zone performance and the remaining questions surrounding Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, Karon Brookins, Amarion Jackson and the rest of Penn State’s wide receiver room. The episode also examines Manske’s accuracy, arm talent, mobi...

Penn State football training camp is underway, and the Nittany Lions have several position battles that could determine how far Matt Campbell’s team goes during the 2026 season. The biggest question may be at wide receiver, where Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, Koby Howard, Zay Robinson and Karon Brookins are competing to establish a dependable rotation.

Zach Seyko and Patrick Koerbler (https://x.com/Poerbler) debate whether Sowell can become Penn State’s true No. 1 receiver, how much the offense can expect from Howard, and whether the tight ends and running backs can compensate for uncertainty at wide rece...