Interim coach Terry Smith won his first game last week against Michigan State. And the 56-year-old long-time Nittany Lions assistant and former player absolutely won the post-game press conference with his raw emotion.
Now Smith has won the locker room, with current players endorsing Smith as the next Penn State coach after the way he has handled a delicate situation following the departure of James Franklin. Is a promotion that seemed unlikely a month ago on the table for Penn State?
Terry Smith appreciates the Nittany Lion players who have vouched for him to become the permanent Penn State football coach. But right now, Smith’s full focus is on Saturday night:
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) November 20, 2025
“Those guys play hard for me. We’re one. We are a family. I take bullets for them. They take… pic.twitter.com/tSsuKmKTdN
Will Penn State miss out on a "big-name" hire?
When Franklin was fired on October 13, Penn State was immediately the best job on the market and the names flying around were some of the best coaches in college football. Curt Cignetti, Matt Rhule, Lane Kiffin, Jeff Brohm, etc.
Then Florida and LSU opened up. There's rumors of Steve Sarkisian leaving Texas and, as the result of these things happening, the Penn State became more of a leverage play for coaches than a desirable destination.
Cignetti and Rhule signed extensions with their current programs and Brohm is likely to do the same at Louisville. Kiffin seems to be caught in an SEC love triangle between Ole Miss, LSU and Florida. Where does that leave Penn State?
There are still good names out there. Iowa State's Matt Campbell is always a candidate for a Big Ten job. NFL coordinators like Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills) and Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens). What about former Boise State and Washington coach Chris Petersen? Would he be enticed to leave television for a run with the Nittany Lions?
Former Nittany Lions stand with Smith
Smith's former teammate, 1992 All-American wide receiver O.J. McDuffie made a passionate plea for Penn State to remove the interim tag from Smith's title.
There is and never will be a better candidate for the position. Terry Smith is exactly what Penn State needs and deserves. pic.twitter.com/9GKUkyOlm2
— OJ McDuffie (@ojmcduffie81) November 20, 2025
"All he cares about is Penn State. You want someone in here that doesn't give a damn about Penn State?"O.J. McDuffie on Terry Smith
Players that played under Smith, like former Nittany Lions defensive back and current assistant Jordan Lucas, have also come out in support of him. Lucas, who played for Penn State from 2012-2015, said that Smith's commitment to the school is unmatched.
"He's a leader of men, he's trustworthy, he's a man of his word, and he's a go-getter," Lucas said. "These kids believe in him. They really believe in him and that speaks volumes."