The excitement is still buzzing around Penn State about Gavin McKenna and men's hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky had his first press conference following the commitment. On top of that, the College Football Playoff format remains at a standstill with Big Ten stubbornness, football strength coach Chuck Losey gave a few statements on summer player development, baseball had a huge Day Two of the 2025 MLB Draft, and the expectations are building on Drew Allar's senior season.
Needless to say, there's been a lot. Here's everything you missed.
Penn State men's hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky says Gavin McKenna reminds him of legend Wayne Gretzky
In his first press conference since McKenna's commitment, Gadowsky expressed his excitement for the young forward to land in Happy Valley. He said the commitment is huge for both Penn State and college hockey in general given the level of talent McKenna has. His trajectory will put him up there with NHL legends, like Wayne Gretzy. Gadowsky compared McKenna's mentality to Gretzy's.
"I think one of the things that makes [McKenna] so special is that he is so creative. His mind is just very different. And there's no way that I or anybody else on our staff thinks like Gavin does. He is a very, very special athlete who thinks very differently," Gadowsky said. ". . . By no means am I ever going to talk to him about how his mind creates. That's him, and it's going to be really fun to watch."
McKenna's debut for Penn State will be Oct. 3 and 4 for the Nittany Lions' series at Arizona State. Friday's game is slated for 9 p.m. EST and puck drop on Saturday is 7 p.m. EST.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti won't back down from 4 AQ CFP model
The 2026 CFP model is still up in the air, and it can be expected that the format won't be finalized until very close to, if not on, the Dec. 1 deadline.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is adamant on backing the 4 AQ model, which gives Big Ten and SEC schools four definite qualifiers while the ACC and Big 12 have two each. All other Power Four conferences have disagreed with this, opting for a 5+11 format (five conference champions and 11 at-large teams for a 16-team bracket).
However Petitti won't support the 5+11 format if the SEC doesn't add a ninth conference game to its schedules (SEC schools currently play eight conference and four non-conference games while the Big Ten plays nine conference and three non-conference games).
As the conferences continue to fight for their preferred models, it is likely that the 2026 CFP format will be last year's format and adjustments to it will be put on hold until after the season.
Penn State football strength coach Chuck Losey is excited for the new Nittany Lions and returning faces
Strength coach Chuck Losey was available for media on Monday following a weight lifting session. Penn State football, according to Losey, is right on track where it needs to be as a whole.
As for specific players, Losey said that getting transfers, like Trebor Pena and Amare Campbell, comfortable with the team and system was the priority more so than development since they're not new to the NCAA. For incoming freshmen, he said the defensemen are particular impressive and he's excited to see them in action as powerful, strong, "high output" players.
Moving onto returning players, Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Vega Ioane, Tony Rojas, Zakee Wheatley, Ethan Grunkemeyer, and Jaxon Smolik were in conversation on Monday. Losey said he's "a huge Drew Allar fan" and is generally excited for what's to come with this group of experienced Nittany Lions. He also said that the plan for Ioane "is for him to be an All-American football player this year."
Penn State baseball has five players selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, record-tying in program history
In 2007, Penn State baseball had a program record of five players selected in the MLB Draft. On Day Two of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Nittany Lions tied their record.
Outfielder Paxton Kling, shortstop Ryan Weingartner, pitcher Ryan DeSanto, pitcher Chase Renner, and third baseman Bryce Molinaro were drafted on July 14. Kling was taken by the Texas Rangers in the seventh round (205th overall), the St. Louis Cardinals picked Weingartner in the eighth round (240th overall), DeSanto was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 12th round (372nd overall), the Miami Marlins called Renner's name in the 13th round (378th overall), and Bryce Molinaro was drafted by the Washington Nationals (501st overall).
Quarterback Drew Allar has high expectations piling up ahead of 2025-26 season
Head coach James Franklin isn't the only one facing the heat ahead of the upcoming season. According to ESPN, Allar is Penn State's "X factor" in 2025. More specifically, his performances in big games and big moments where he fell short in 2024.
Due to his lack of production in high-pressure situations, On3's Andy Staples' Big Ten quarterback ranking can be controversial as Allar sits in that No. 1 spot. Out of the conference quarterbacks, though, the Nittany Lion is the safest option for now as there are a lot of unproven guys hitting the field in 2025. However, this also means that Allar has the potential to keep that top rank if he can make a leap in his game.