Penn State Football

Eli Manning's second chapter continues to be a hit.

The former New York Giants quarterback turned media personality went undercover for Penn State's walk-on tryouts, pretending to be a "Chad Powers" persona he created for ESPN's Eli's Places.

Hilarity ensued.

You've gotta hand it to the 41-year-old Manning—he can still sling it. Sean Clifford's job is probably safe, however, given that whole eligibility thing.

Instead, the next Manning we'll see in college football is the nephew of Eli and Peyton, Arch Manning, who has committed to Texas and is the top-ranked prospect and quarterback in the class of 2023, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and other Big Ten football players spoke with Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren this week about player benefits and representation, according to ESPN's Dan Murphy.

"It's been a collective group coming together," Clifford told Murphy. "Everyone wants players to have more of a voice."

Clifford discussed the group's goals with More Perfect Union, a media organization focused on American labor movements:

EXCLUSIVE: College football players are unionizing, and the first chapter will be at Penn State.

The College Football Players Association is already in negotiations with the Big Ten.

Led by quarterback Sean Clifford, players want revenue sharing and better medical care. pic.twitter.com/pwg3JGRZbc

— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) July 22, 2022

Warren also met with Jason Stahl, the founder and executive director of the College Football Players Association. Stahl raised the topics of player representation, medical insurance and media rights revenue, per Murphy.

Warren said in a statement to ESPN:

"The Big Ten Conference consistently communicates and collaborates with our student-athletes. We are in the process of formalizing a student-athlete advisory committee to seek input from our student-athletes about the changing landscape of college athletics. We continue to work with our member institutions to ensure our student-athletes have an outstanding and well-rounded experience, while promoting and safeguarding the mission of higher education, and prioritizing excellence and integrity in both academics and athletics."

The CFBPA formed last July under the guidance of Stahl, a former University of Minnesota professor. Any active college football player is eligible to join the association for $24 in annual dues.

"This is the next step," Stahl told Murphy last year. "If players don't get organized now, it's never going to happen. There's so much we can do right now."

A separate organization formed in 2001, the National College Players Association, is an advocacy group for all student-athletes.

Northwestern football players formed the College Athletes Players Association in 2014 in an attempt to unionize but were denied in 2015 by the National Labor Relations Board.

In September, NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo announced the board was set to reverse its prior stance and would make college athletes eligible for unionization efforts, allowing them to "act collectively to improve their terms and conditions of employment."

Abruzzo stated student-athletes should be viewed as "statutory employees" under common law.

A players union could represent the latest transformational shift for NCAA sports, which generated $18.9 billion in revenue for member schools in 2019, per Felix Richter of Statista.

In June 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the NCAA could no longer use the shield of amateurism to prevent athletes from profiting off their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights while they competed in college sports.

Opendorse, a firm that tracks endorsements, found college athletes earned an estimated $917 million in compensation during the first year of the NIL era, and that number is expected to reach $1.14 billion during the 2022-23 academic year, per Yahoo Sports' Josh Schafer.

Stahl told Murphy when the CFBPA was formed that revenue sharing between the NCAA, schools and players was likely years away, even in a unionized environment, and the initial focus would be on reinforcing the health, safety and welfare of players via increased medical benefits and practice restrictions.

Clifford, a 24-year-old Illinois native, is entering his sixth year at Penn State and will be one of the Big Ten's most high-profile players during the 2022 season.

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is focused on helping his fellow student-athletes off the field as he prepares for his sixth season with the Nittany Lions program.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Clifford launched the agency Limitless NIL, which will represent college athletes looking to make money under the NCAA's name, image and likeness legislation. There are five employees who work for the agency, and it has signed seven athletes from three different schools to this point.

"It's the agency that I was looking for that I couldn't find," Clifford said. "It's for the players, by the players. I wanted to do something to leave even more of a legacy than just on the field. And I thought that this was kind of the way that I wanted to go."

Thamel noted Limitless NIL is believed to be the first agency founded by a student-athlete with the purpose of helping others with NIL.

Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State women's basketball player Anna Camden and Kentucky tight end Brenden Bates are among those who have already signed, and there are planned recruiting trips to nearby schools such as Ohio State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pitt and West Virginia.

Clifford made more than $100,000 with NIL last year as Penn State's starting quarterback but realized agencies that are accustomed to working with professional athletes sometimes struggled to maximize the potential of college athletes with other time commitments and responsibilities.

"A lot of bigger agencies lack the strategy for content creation and the marketing specialty, what athletes should be posting day in and out," the 23-year-old said. "How they should be building their brand and interacting with community."

The quarterback also pointed out those who sign with Limitless NIL will have access to financial advisers to improve their financial literacy. The agency also features an internship program and education on time management and building social media followings.

The 2022 campaign will be Clifford's fourth as Penn State's starting quarterback, and expectations will be high after he completed 61.0 percent of his passes for 3,107 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year.

Penn State struggled as a whole, though, on the way to a 7-6 record and Outback Bowl loss after going 4-5 during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Bouncing back this year may require Clifford to take another step against a schedule that includes showdowns with Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn and Michigan State.

Yet even if the Nittany Lions underperform on the field for the third straight season, Clifford has already proved to be a leader off it and will surely look to continue expanding the agency.             

HEIGHT: 6'5 5/8"

WEIGHT: 313

HAND: 10 5/8"

ARM: 33 5/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'8 1/2"

40-YARD DASH: DNP

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: DNP

BROAD: DNP

POSITIVES

— Stout, thick build with good length and core strength.

— Impressive blend of size, athletic ability and natural power.

— Shows the initial explosiveness to get to his landmarks in his vertical set against Wide 9 rushers who attack the corner, with the foot quickness to redirect smoothly up the arc and inside.

— Has the ability to cut grass with the in-steps of his feet and generate tremendous force through the ground, brace and find his anchor quickly.

— Strong, heavy hands with a tight clasp to create leverage on blocks and very good lower-body strength to uproot, steer and finish defenders in the run game.

NEGATIVES

— Overly reliant on the two-hand strike in pass protection, shrinking his margin for error and leaving him vulnerable to swinging open his hips/shoulders and creating soft edges.

— Takes inconsistent angles at the second level and gets too far upfield, allowing 'backers to run through the back door.

— Needs major work on his set points in pass protection to reduce over- and under-setting different alignments and rushers.

— Doesn't adjust quickly enough to post-snap movement across his face; will dip his head and lunge into contact rather than keep his eyes up and head out of blocks.

2021 STATISTICS

- 10 starts at left tackle.

NOTES

— Former 4-star recruit and top-four prospect in the state of Maryland out of North Point High School.

— 32 career starts, all at left tackle.

— Missed the final three games of the 2021 season with a bone bruise on his knee that he suffered against Iowa in Week 6

— Turns 22-years old in February.

OVERALL

Rasheed Walker was a three-year starter at left tackle for Penn State, with 32 starts in three offensive systems and under two line coaches. He most recently operated inside offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's power-based run game centered on inside-zone and duo concepts.

He injured his knee in Week 6 against Iowa and was hampered by it over the next four games before getting shut down and missing the last three games of the season.

Walker has a sturdy, thick all-around build with good arm length. He has a special blend of size, natural power and body control to generate movement, stay balanced and finish through contact.

Walker utilized vertical and 45-degree sets in pass protection, with the juice and initial explosiveness out of his stance to reach his landmarks quickly against a variety of rush alignments. He uses strong, jolting strikes to stun rushers, clasp and create leverage and has the body control to redirect up the arc or power step inside to cut-off counter moves.

Walker transitions into his anchor smoothly and quickly by generating tremendous force through the ground to arrest and halt power-rushers who attempt to go down the middle of his frame. In the run game, he excels at uprooting defenders with his lower-body strength and ability to generate torque on angle-drive, base and kick-out blocks.

While Walker's physical tools and flashes are abundant, he's inconsistent in pass protection with his set points. He often over- or under-sets rushers, with a glaring overreliance on using two-hand strikes to initiate contact. That causes his hips and shoulders to fly open, creating soft edges for rushers to exploit and win quickly both around the corner and inside. He also takes inconsistent angles to the second level and tends to dip his head and lunge into contact in the run game versus post-snap movement across his face.

Overall, Walker's blend of size, natural power and body control are special enough to suggest that he can start early in his NFL career despite a rudimentary toolkit and erratic technique. He will need to be coached hard and improve quickly to bridge the gap between his talent and current skill set, but his youth gives him the necessary runway to reach his considerable upside.

GRADE: 7.3 (High-level backup/Potential starter - 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 79

POSITION RANK: OT8

PRO COMPARISON: Bobby Massie

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Arkansas scored a 24-10 victory over Penn State in the 2022 Outback Bowl on New Year's Day at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Razorbacks (9-4) staged a three-act season: a 4-0 start highlighted by an upset of Texas A&M, a three-game losing streak and a 5-1 finish with the sole loss coming to College Football playoff finalist Alabama. The bowl triumph caps a strong year for the Hogs.

The Nittany Lions (7-6) reached as high as No. 4 in the rankings following a 5-0 start that featured two wins over ranked opponents, Wisconsin and Auburn. They lost five of their last seven games during the regular season and failed to bounce back in the bowl game, though.

---

Notable Stats

QB KJ Jefferson (ARK): 14 of 19, 98 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT; 110 rushing yards, 1 TD

QB Sean Clifford (PSU): 14 of 32, 195 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

RB Raheim Sanders (ARK): 79 rushing yards, 2 TD

RB Dominique Johnson (ARK): 77 rushing yards

WR Parker Washington (PSU): 98 receiving yards

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (PSU): 74 receiving yards, 1 TD

DB Ji'Ayir Brown (PSU): 2 interceptions

---

Future of Arkansas Rushing Attack on Full Display in Second Half

After a lackluster seven-point first half, the Razorbacks came out of halftime with a clear intent: start controlling the game with their ground game. The strategy worked as the Hogs outscored the Nittany Lions 17-0 in the third quarter.

Here's the play breakdown of their three scoring drives in the third:

• Touchdown: 7 runs, 0 passes (75 yards)
• Field Goal: 6 runs, 3 passes (45 yards)
  
• Touchdown: 4 runs, 0 passes (79 yards)
  

Penn State had no answer for the trio of Jefferson, Johnson and Sanders, all of whom were able to consistently find holes in the PSU front seven.

QB KJ Jefferson is the first Arkansas signal-caller to run for 100 yards in a game since QB Matt Jones in 2004. pic.twitter.com/gTJzvda17j

— Razorback Communications (@RazorbackComms) January 1, 2022

Those three key members of the offense are all slated to return in 2022, and the rushing attack figures to remain a focal point when the new season gets underway.

Arkansas already featured a run-heavy approach in 2021—530 rushing attempts compared to 294 passing attempts entering the bowl game—and their leading receiver, Treylon Burks, declared for the NFL draft, creating another void in that sector of the offense.

In there like swimwear pic.twitter.com/jkncYcC0nB

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) January 1, 2022

Backup quarterback Malik Hornsby also showed off impressive speed in limited snaps Saturday and could become a bigger factor in select packages as a redshirt sophomore.

If the Hogs' offensive line can dominate at the line of scrimmage like it did in the third quarter of the bowl game next season, they're capable of making some serious noise in the SEC.

---

PSU's Parker Washington Shows Potential with Highlight-Reel Day

Jahan Dotson, Penn State's leading receiver during the regular season, opted out of the bowl game to begin preparations for the 2022 NFL draft. Both Washington and Lambert-Smith took advantage of the opportunity to play a larger role, but it was the nature of Washington's plays that made him stand out.

The sophomore wideout showed off his speed on the opening drive as he got behind the Arkansas secondary and made a nice over-the-shoulder catch for a 42-yard gain:

https://twitter.com/FTB_Vids_YT/status/1477326351765884930

He then made a terrific twisting, one-handed grab early in the second quarter:

THIS ONE-HANDED CATCH BY PARKER WASHINGTON 🤯 pic.twitter.com/7qPlwwyDcX

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2022

Washington has all the tools to become the nation's top slot receiver in 2022. What he lacks in size at 5'10'', he more than makes up for with a second gear when running deep routes, small-area quickness and great hands that were on full display with that one-handed catch.

The former 4-star prospect also has a well-built frame at 207 pounds, which should help alleviate any potential durability concerns over his remaining time at PSU or heading toward the NFL.

While there's always concern about how the departure of a player like Dotson, who could land in the first round of the NFL draft, will impact the offense, Saturday's game showed the Nittany Lions' receiver room should be in fine shape with Washington and Lambert-Smith leading the way.

With Clifford also set to return in 2022, the Penn State passing game should benefit from plenty of continuity when next season gets underway.

---

What's Next?

Penn State is scheduled to open the 2022 season on Sept. 3 when it visits Ross-Ade Stadium to take on Purdue in a Big Ten clash.

Arkansas will also kick off the new campaign on Sept. 3 when it welcomes Cincinnati, one of this year's College Football Playoff semifinalists, to Razorback Stadium.

Following his firing this week as the head football coach at the University of Miami, Penn State announced Saturday that Manny Diaz has been hired as the Nittany Lions' new defensive coordinator.

Diaz said the following regarding his arrival at Penn State, per the school's official athletics website:

"My family and I are so excited to come to Happy Valley and join the Penn State family. The opportunity to lead Linebacker U is an honor and I will work every day to uphold that tradition. Penn State's defense has been among the nation's best, both historically and under Coach [James] Franklin. I will continue to pursue excellence with our defensive unit on a daily basis. I can't wait to get on the field with this talented group, to get to know them, and to ultimately develop them as football players, students and young men. Penn State's fans are the best in the country, and I look forward to seeing them this fall in Beaver Stadium!" 

Diaz spent the previous three seasons as the head coach at Miami, but he was fired Monday just as Miami came to terms with former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal to become its new head coach.

The 47-year-old Diaz spent the past six seasons with Miami, including the past three as head coach. Overall, he posted a 21-15 record and led the Hurricanes to a bowl game each time.

After going 6-7 in 2019, Miami improved to 8-3 last season and was ranked as high as No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Miami began this season ranked No. 14, but it was unable to maintain the momentum gained last season and finished the regular season with a 7-5 mark.

Prior to becoming the head coach at Miami, Diaz was the Hurricanes' defensive coordinator from 2016-18. He also has extensive experience as a DC at Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Texas and Louisiana Tech.

Diaz will join the coaching staff of a Penn State team that was ranked as high as No. 4 this season but ultimately disappointed and finished the regular season 7-5.

Defense wasn't the issue for the Nittany Lions, though, as they ranked seventh in the nation, allowing just 16.8 points per game.

Diaz will serve as the replacement for Brent Pry, who was PSU's DC from 2016-21 before being named head coach at Virginia Tech last month.

Coming off two losses in their previous three games, the Michigan State Spartans got back on track in Saturday's regular-season finale with a 30-27 victory over Penn State at Spartan Stadium. 

Michigan State entered November looking like a potential College Football Playoff contender with an 8-0 record. Things took a sharp turn with a loss to Purdue on Nov. 6, and the bottom dropped out with last week's 56-7 defeat against Ohio State. 

The Nittany Lions entered this week also trying to right the ship after a rough stretch. They have lost five of their last seven games after a 5-0 start. The previous four losses came by a total of 18 points. 

Snowy weather certainly played a role in the game, especially for Penn State. The Nittany Lions were held to 61 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Kicker Jordan Stout missed his only field-goal attempt and one of his three extra-point opportunities. 

Meanwhile, Kenneth Walker III had no problems finding openings in the snow. The Spartans running back finished with 138 rushing yards and one touchdown on 30 carries. 

Both quarterbacks, though, had success throwing the ball. Penn State's Sean Clifford racked up 313 yards and three touchdowns. Michigan State's Payton Thorne finished with 268 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

Thorne's 20-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed on 4th-and-15 with 5:10 remaining was the difference in the game. 

Penn State did get a late score from Parker Washington to cut the deficit to three points, but Spartans recovered the onside kick to end the game.

Notable Game Stats

• Payton Thorne (MSU): 19-of-30, 268 yards, 2 TD, INT; 8 carries, 39 yards, TD
• Kenneth Walker III (MSU): 30 carries, 138 yards, TD
• Jayden Reed (MSU): 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
• Sean Clifford (PSU): 23-of-34, 313 yards, 3 TD
• Jahan Dotson (PSU): 8 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD
  
• Keyvone Lee (PSU): 15 carries, 79 yards
  

Walker Boosts Heisman Resume in Spartans' Win

There's an argument that Walker was the Heisman favorite coming into Saturday's slate of games. The junior entered this week with 1,597 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in 11 games. 

To no one's surprise, Michigan State fed the ball to its star running back early in the game. He carried the ball four times out of eight plays on the team's first possession, including a touchdown from two yards out. 

Some B1G weather in East Lansing today. 👀@Kenneth_Walker9 puts No. 12 @MSU_Football up early. pic.twitter.com/XOBUTTVp93

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 27, 2021

After Penn State pinned the Spartans at their own one-yard line following a punt, Walker gave the offense plenty of breathing room with a 35-yard run on first down. He followed that up with a 15-yard scamper on the next play. 

Kenneth Walker never misses a hole when it’s there. Vision and burst is unreal.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 27, 2021

Michigan State drove 99 yards on nine plays to take a 14-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

Just when it looked like a blowout was on the horizon, the Spartans' unreliable defense allowed Penn State to get back in the game. Then, Daequan Hardy picked off Thorne and took the ball to the house to put the Nittany Lions up 20-17 in the third quarter. 

Mel Tucker went back to the ground game on the ensuing possession to get the Spartans back on top. Walker once again started the drive with a big play, gaining 27 yards to get the ball in Penn State territory. 

After the Nittany Lions defense kept Walker out of the end zone on back-to-back runs near the goal line, Thorne called his own number on 3rd-and-goal from the one for the score. 

Clinging to a 23-20 lead late in the fourth quarter, Tucker's decision to go for it on 4th-and-15 from Penn State's 20-yard line rather than attempting a field goal in the driving snow turned out to be the difference. 

Thorne just threw a jump ball to Reed, who was facing single coverage in the end zone. The Spartans wide receiver came down with it to extend the lead to 10 with 5:10 to play. 

No. 12 @MSU_Football went for it on 4th-and-15.

The result: TD 🙌 pic.twitter.com/IWHvpbIJvL

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 27, 2021

Walker certainly wasn't the only Spartans player creating big plays in this game, but he was the center of everything they did. They ran 77 total plays on offense, with Walker carrying the ball 30 times. 

The Heisman Trophy race is far from settled, especially with Ohio State losing and Alabama struggling against Auburn on Saturday. Walker's resume this season is as strong as any of the top contenders. His 138-yard performance in poor weather conditions could be enough to catapult him to the top of the ballot.     

Key Mistakes Doom Penn State's Upset Hopes

In a year that's been defined by missed opportunities and crucial mistakes in big moments, it's only fitting that Penn State would make several errors in the regular-season finale. 

The issues began on the Nittany Lions' first offensive possession when Keyvone Lee was stopped short of the sticks on 3rd-and-2. James Franklin elected to punt the ball away from his own 47-yard line rather than go for it on 4th-and-1. 

It seemed like a wise decision since Penn State downed the ball at the Spartans' one-yard line, but the defense gave up 99 yards on nine plays to go down by two touchdowns. 

Penn State did respond with a 68-yard scoring drive of its own, capped off by Jahan Dotson's 27-yard touchdown reception from Sean Clifford. 

Advice: Stay for the sweet replays of Jahan Dotson's latest TD. 💯

@H55ZY // @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/6WCMxOxEeD

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 27, 2021

Each of the next three drives by both teams ended in punts before Penn State was able to get in the end zone again to tie the score. Dotson once again made the big play with a 30-yard catch for his second touchdown of the game. 

Hardy's pick-six in the third quarter could have turned the game in the Nittany Lions' favor. They took their first lead at that point, but a missed extra point kept the score at 20-17. 

.@PennStateFball has its first lead of the day.@DaequanHardy's Pick-6 makes it 20-17. pic.twitter.com/HLPRvpLHLe

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 27, 2021

The missed extra point was the second missed opportunity of the game for Penn State. Jordan Stout missed a 27-yard field goal right before halftime that would have tied the score at 17. 

After Michigan State went back on top 23-20, Penn State was faced with a 4th-and-1 from the Spartans' 16-yard line. Franklin chose to go for it rather than have Stout attempt a 33-yard field goal. 

Keyvone Lee was stopped short of the first-down marker, giving Michigan State possession early in the fourth quarter. 

Penn State's defense did force a punt, but the offense again made a blunder when Lee fumbled the ball away. Drew Beesley recovered to help set up the decisive touchdown for the Spartans. 

The reason Penn State's season fell apart is because of miscues and turnovers. The defense gave up a 44-yard touchdown to Nico Ragaini midway through the fourth quarter in a 23-20 loss to Iowa. 

Illinois held Penn State to 18 points in a game that featured nine overtimes. The offense had to settle for a field goal in the red zone after forcing a fourth-quarter turnover against Michigan. That allowed the Wolverines to drive 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a 21-17 win. 

Saturday's loss was a perfect microcosm of everything that has gone wrong for Franklin's squad down the stretch in 2021.    

What's Next?

Penn State and Michigan State will learn which bowl game they will play in after the CFP field is announced on Dec. 5.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

Penn State head football coach James Franklin has signed a new 10-year contract to remain with the Nittany Lions after being rumored as a candidate for the LSU and USC coaching vacancies.

Stewart Mandel of The Athletic shared the details of Franklin's new deal:

James Franklin's new deal is 10 years at $8.5M per year.

-- $7M salary
-- $500K retention bonus
-- $1M life insurance loan

The school buyout is his full remaining salary + loan.

His buyout if he leaves this year is $12M, $8M next year, $6M in '23.

This is his Jimbo contract.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 23, 2021

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg first reported Tuesday that Franklin's situation is "expected to be settled very soon" as the idea of rebuilding the Tigers' or Trojans' roster wasn't "overly appealing" for the 49-year-old Pennsylvania native. 

In October, Franklin addressed the LSU and USC speculation by pointing to his past actions of staying at Penn State amid rumors of a potential move:

I think I have shown my loyalty to this team, to this program, to this community. I think I've been pretty consistent with that. There's times that you're put in challenging situations, and I just always want to be able, when I say something, it's done, and it's in stone. And when you're talking about the future, that can be challenging at times.

So I am fiercely loyal to Penn State. I am fiercely loyal, most importantly, to these players and the staff. But there's a lot of moving parts with all of these things.

Franklin, who signed a six-year contract extension worth up to $38.2 million in 2019, took over the Nittany Lions in 2014. It marked his second head coaching stint following three years at Vanderbilt.

The 2016 winner of the Woody Hayes Trophy as college football's top coach has guided Penn State to a 67-32 record across eight seasons, but the team's bowl record over that span is 3-3, and it's posted a mediocre 11-9 mark since the start of the 2020 campaign.

Last week, 247Sports' Cooper Petagna reported it was possible Franklin and Penn State were "kind of heading for a mutual departure" with the coach having potentially "maxed it out" in terms of what he could do with the resources available.

While the Nittany Lions' 7-4 record this season doesn't jump off the page, three of their four losses came against teams ranked in the Top Six at the time of the meeting, and the other was a nine-overtime defeat to Illinois. They wrap up the regular season with another tough test against No. 7 Michigan State on the road Saturday.

While they weren't among the nation's elite, they only had one bad loss and scored two wins over ranked opponents in Wisconsin and Auburn. Add in the nation's fifth-ranked recruiting class for 2022 (via 247Sports), and there's reason for optimism.

Rittenberg previously noted Franklin was set to sign an "enhanced contract," but doing so amid rumors is nothing new in the coaching world, and it doesn't eliminate the possibility of a move in the future if a high-profile job were to become available.

Steve Smith, a former Penn State fullback who also played seven seasons with the NFL's Raiders, has died from Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 57.

"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Steve Smith, who valiantly battled Lou Gehrig's Disease for two decades," the Raiders said in a statement Saturday. "Steve and his wife Chie are an inspiration, smiling every day while always working for a cure for ALS. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Chie, their children Dante and Jazmin, and their grandson Little Steve."

“He’s the toughest fullback I’ve ever seen.”

Rest in peace to the great Steve Smith 🖤 pic.twitter.com/giM4IjGCTK

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 21, 2021

Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis about 20 years ago. He was unable to walk or talk in recent years and communicated, in part, with a computer system.

The Raiders selected Smith in the third round of the 1987 NFL draft out of Penn State, where he helped the Nittany Lions win their last national championship during the 1986 season.

Smith served as the Raiders' lead blocker for much of his career, blocking for stars such as Bo Jackson, one of the best two-sport athletes of all time. Jackson told the York Daily Record in December of 2019 that he frequently visited with Smith:

"He laid his body on the line for me hundreds of times," Jackson said. "I'm just glad God let him stay around as long as he has so I can go see him. ... I want to do my part to make sure he's not forgotten."

Smith ran for 1,627 yards and nine touchdowns on 429 carries and caught 131 passes for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns in his NFL career. In addition to the Raiders, he played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring after the 1995 campaign.  

Amid rumors about his future with Penn State football, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin said he is "not going anywhere" while speaking at the State College Quarterback Club on Wednesday, per Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. 

Recent reports have linked Franklin to USC as the school looks to replace Clay Helton, who was fired in September. 

Franklin has been head coach of the Nittany Lions since 2014. He also coached the Vanderbilt Commodores from 2011-13. The 49-year-old is 66-32 at Penn State and has one Big Ten title, a win in the Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl. 

Penn State is 6-4 this season. The Nittany Lions got out to a 5-0 start before losing to Iowa, Illinois and Ohio State. They defeated Maryland after those three straight defeats but lost to Michigan on Saturday. 

Franklin has addressed his future with Penn State several times this season, most recently during his weekly press conference Tuesday, via 247Sports:

"We've been in the same situation before, and we've had really strong seasons. I think you're also in a situation, obviously, this year where we've lost some games that we had a chance to win and our record looks a little bit different. So I get people are trying to connect the dots. All the things that I'm able to control, I'm controlling. But I get it. I understand the business. I understand people's concerns.

"Again, I would just say, looking at my my track record over my time here — eight years — my actions and my behaviors. I think have been consistent since I've been here."

In addition to USC, Franklin has been linked to LSU. The Tigers are parting ways with head coach Ed Orgeron at the end of the 2021 season. Lincoln Riley and Jimbo Fisher have also been linked to the LSU job, among others.