Overview
- Penn State enters Senior Night at 4-6 and must defeat Nebraska and then Rutgers to reach bowl eligibility.
- Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium with national TV coverage on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
- Smith cautioned that delays in naming a permanent coach could cost Penn State recruits and current players, with concern about departures to James Franklin’s new Virginia Tech staff.
- Players have publicly backed Smith for the full-time job, and he acknowledged any future move is possible while emphasizing his focus on the upcoming games.
- Nebraska features Big Ten rushing leader Emmett Johnson and dual-threat QB TJ Lateef, as Penn State’s run-first approach faces a Huskers defense that has struggled against the run; Matt Rhule noted his longstanding respect for Smith.