Official '26 PSU - USC game thread

SkiSkiSki

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
3,941
1,424
113
That excuse does not float with transfers. We're you expecting true freshman to be big contributors?


Campbells seniors can't block or tackle.
Because Franklin was fired in October and Campbell wasn't hired until Dec 5th, top-tier, non-Iowa State portal prospects had already established weeks of communication with other programs. When Campbell arrived, he had no personal staff infrastructure in place to build the relationships required to land elite national transfers.

Meanwhile Franklin at VT and Knowles at Tenn had a golden opportunity to poach their former players from Penn State.

Campbell and Hoodjer had to frame the bulk of their 2026 NIL budget on internal roster retention rather than open-market bidding for transfers.

How would you have done in that position, Coach? Tell us how you would have handled it with your vast experience.
 

bdgan

All-American
Oct 12, 2021
5,461
5,308
113
Nice half, all things considered
By "things" I assume you mean a lack of defense. Maiava already has 210 yds passing.

Our DL is bad. We can't create pressure without blitzing and when we do there are big gaps in the D. 3rd and 10 used to be a down where we could tee off on the QB. Now we're only 50-50 on applying any pressure and forcing a punt. USC only punted once in the first half.

One good thing is that Kemajou got some pressure on a play or two. Good to see because he might be our future at DE.
 

JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
1,157
1,179
113
Missed it. What'd he say?

Blackledge didn't "explain it" - he criticized it (twit boy is fos as per usual). Blackledge said that he noticed reviewing film that they were throwing short of the line-to-gain repeatedly.... and they're still doing it tonight.... and he doesn't understand it. Said it needs to be fixed by the staff.... he said they can't keep throwing short of the stucks on 3rd down making it easy for defense.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
8,074
4,360
113
Blackledge didn't "explain it" - he criticized it (twit boy is fos as per usual). Blackledge said that he noticed reviewing film that they were throwing short of the line-to-gain repeatedly.... and they're still doing it tonight.... and he doesn't understand it. Said it needs to be fixed by the staff.... he said they can't keep throwing short of the stucks on 3rd down making it easy for defense.
Read what I wrote JoeBot
 
Nov 1, 2021
554
597
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Really. WTF are we doing here? Drop back pass that's unsurprisingly blocked. 2nd down run for an unsurprising 2 yards. 3rd pass drop that would've been way short of the first anyway.
 
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Moogy

All-American
Jul 28, 2017
7,807
5,528
113
If you're throwing short of the sticks on 3rd, it needs to be on a slant with a fast receiver in space. Otherwise, just friggin keep looking, and toss it away, if eventually needed.
 
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Moogy

All-American
Jul 28, 2017
7,807
5,528
113
Someone has to ask, in the post-game presser, if those 3rd down passes are his first read, or if he's just panicking (but ask it more nicely).
 
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