Official '26 PSU - USC game thread

[psu]

I still think Northwestern is way better than we realize
Their at Oregon, Iowa at Ohio State stretch will show us or prove me wrng

Nobody has to prove you're wrong. You do it to yourself all the time.

 

[KingLando]

So we want a RB who can block but not run…got it.

He can do both...again Big XII first team

 

[KingLando]

Nobody has to prove you're wrong. You do it to yourself all the time.

Awww...if I only I was wrong often that would be special for you

 

[SkiSkiSki]

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.

 

[Ludd]

He can do both...again Big XII first team

Who cares what he did in the Big XII…he hasn’t shown it here.

 

[bdgan]

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.

 

[KingLando]

Who cares what he did in the Big XII…he hasn’t shown it here.

Lol he has...and yes what he did in the past matters

 

[bdgan]

USC is 5-1 and ranked in the top 20…wouldn’t exactly call them awful or mediocre.

If they lose to PSU I'd call them awful or mediocre.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

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.

 

[Ludd]

Lol he has...and yes what he did in the past matters

No it doesn’t.

 

[BobPSU92]

Wow. PSU recovers a surprise usc onside kick to start the 2nd half.

 

[Catch1lion]

If they lose to PSU I'd call them awful or mediocre.

That's not how they do it in the SEC.

 

[Phils rug]

Great job staying alert on St's

 

[Phils rug]

Sowell back out there

 

[Phils rug]

Hansen finally made someone miss

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Carson "Astaire" Hansen!

 

[Moogy]

I was just about to suggest we pull random students from the stands to conduct in-game RB tryouts when Hansen makes his first move of the season.

 

[Phils rug]

Bad time for the deflection

 

[SkiSkiSki]

Can't be kicking FGs in this game..............

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

JFC, he throws it nearly like a submariner in baseball.

 

[SkiSkiSki]

3rd and 8. 3 yard pass going nowhere.

 

[KingLando]

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

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Again short of the sticks.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

Throws short of sticks yet again. Brutal.

 

[Phils rug]

FG good! 20-17 PSU

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Happy to have the lead, but would love to see the offense get 7 on that sequence.

 

[BobPSU92]

It’s maddening how PSU insists on throwing short of the sticks on 3rd down.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

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.

 

[Moogy]

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.

 

[m.knox]

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.

It's the blending of cultures.............

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

I have never rooted for a team to regularly calls third down plays that don’t reach the sticks.

On third down, you have to reach the first down marker. That’s how you get a first down in football. Mouser?

 

[OKLALionsFan]

Anyone seen the attendance? Looks pretty full.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Keep some sort of moving pocket! Becht cannot just drop back, stare down a receiver and not expect the pass to be batted down.

 

[Moogy]

We have the lead ... kill the lights!

 

[Tom McAndrew]

PSU kicks a FG with 11:23 left in the 3rd qtr to take their 1st lead of the game, 20-17

 

[KingLando]

I have never rooted for a team to regularly calls third down plays that don’t reach the sticks.

On third down, you have to reach the first down marker. That’s how you get a first down in football. Mouser?

As a Steelers fan, I'm used to this

 

[SleepyLion]

Anyone seen the attendance? Looks pretty full.

Just announced 114,419.

 

[Phils rug]

Anyone seen the attendance? Looks pretty full.

114k according to the tv announcers

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USC tried an onside kick to open the 2nd half, but PSU recovered

 

[Moogy]

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).