Penn State football head coach had his weekly midweek press conference on Monday, Sept. 1 and unveiled who he was impressed with in Week 1's game against Nevada. The Nittany Lions also remained consistent on polls and rankings following their blowout against the Wolf Pack, but have a Week 2 non-conference game on the horizon as women's volleyball seeks redemption from a two-game losing streak.
Here's everything you missed.
James Franklin gives insight on backup quarterback battle
Ethan Grunkemeyer and Jaxon Smolik both saw time against Nevada, but only one was impressive enough for Franklin.
Grunkemeyer threw for a 77.8 completion percentage with seven of nine passes caught for 86 yards. He also had a rushing touchdown against the Wolf Pack that got starting quarterback Drew Allar amped up.
As for Smolik, he only took to the field once for a two-point conversion attempt that failed drastically. Franklin took the blame, saying it was a coaching mishap, but it still looks like the QB2 job is Grunkemeyer's until further notice.
Defensive players that stood out to James Franklin and could get more snaps
From true freshmen to redshirt sophomores to players back from injury to transfers, Franklin is happy with his defensive depth this season.
Freshmen Chaz Coleman and Yvan Kemajou, redshirt freshmen Xavier Gilliam, Owen Wafle, Mylachi Williams, and Jaylen Harvey, redshirt sophomores Mason Robinson and Ty Blanding, redshirt junior transfer Enai White, and returning redshirt junior from injury Keon Wylie were all mentioned by name in Franklin's press conference. He hopes that the fresh and returning talent pairs well long-term with the veteran experience in 2025.
Tight end battle is loaded even without Tyler Warren
Khalil Dinkins, Luke Reynolds, and Andrew Rappleyea make up a solid tight end room for Penn State. The Nittany Lions rely on Dinkins to be the No. 1 TE, but Reynolds and Rappleyea are not out of the picture entirely. The two are vying for the No. 2 spot behind the senior tight end, and the battle is heating up.
"Everybody talks about [Reynolds] and deservedly so, but you probably wouldn't have saw [him] last year if [Rappleyea] didn't get hurt because we probably would have red-shirted [Reynolds]," Franklin said at midweek media. ". . . [Rappleyea], you saw obviously the obvious, you know, plays that he made in the passing game, but he's a physical guy as well. So, we're excited about that room."
Penn State stays No. 2 across AP Top 25 Poll, Coaches Poll, and Super 16
The updated AP Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday and the Nittany Lions were unchanged from the preseason. They still claim the No. 2 spot as Ohio State rose to the top. After facing Nevada, they have a few weeks to go before they can be considered for No. 1.
Penn State bumped up a spot after Texas took a tumble on the Coaches Poll. It now sits behind conference foe Ohio State. The Buckeyes received 59 first-place votes to the Nittany Lions' six, but the landslide was expected to be the case. Penn State sits second on the Coaches Poll with 1,574 points.
The FWAA-NFF Super 16 rankings also put the Nittany Lions at No. 2 behind Ohio State. This is the highest ranking Penn State has had on the Super 16 since claiming second place in October 2017.
Penn State football prepares for Week 2 at Beaver Stadium against FIU
Penn State has its second non-conference match of the season, facing FIU at home on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Nittany Lions and Panthers hold a 1-0 record after Week 1, but the blue and white shouldn't have any problems coming away with a win.
Kickoff at Beaver Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET and the game can be watched on Big Ten Network or streamed on fuboTV. Penn State is favored on the spread at -41.5 (-118). The over/under is set at -110.
Penn State women's volleyball prepares for their Penn State Invitational
The No. 5 Nittany Lions are coming off a two-game losing streak after falling to No.7 Arizona State and No. 24 TCU. After dropping down three spots on the rankings, they're seeking redemption in their upcoming weekend slate.
Penn State faces No. 4 Kentucky in its first game of the Penn State Invitational. The match is slated for Friday, Sept. 5 with first serve at 8 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on FOX. After New Hampshire and the Wildcats in Saturday's match, the Nittany Lions take the court again on Sunday to face UNH. First serve on Sept. 7 is set for 2 p.m. ET and it can be watched on Big Ten Plus.
With home court advantage for both games, Penn State should have the advantage. After two tough losses, though, it'll have to dig deep to find its new identity with a young team coming off a national championship season.
Penn State men's hockey is one month away from first puck drop of the 2025-26 season
Men's hockey kicks off its 2025-26 season on Oct. 3 and 4 in an away series against Arizona State. The Nittany Lions have a chance to come away with non-conference sweeps, but will have a tough battle in a stacked Big Ten conference slate. The full schedule breakdown and season predictions here.