It took until Week 12, but Penn State has finally beaten a Power 4 opponent in the 2025 season. Interim head coach Terry Smith got his first win since taking over for James Franklin on Saturday, beating Michigan State 28-10 for the Land Grant Trophy. Still, it hasn’t been a great week for the Penn State football program.
While James Franklin nears a deal with Virginia Tech, which will take a considerable chunk out of his $50 million buyout, Penn State’s options to replace him keep coming off the board. On Saturday morning, before orchestrating the biggest comeback in program history, New Jersey native Mike Elko finalized a six-year contract extension with Texas A&M.