Temple may have not had the inaugural season that they were hoping for under KC Keeler. The Owls finished the season 5–7 but were in contention for a Bowl bid in November. Now — with Anthony Chiccitt, Evan Simon and Gevani McCoy are all gone. But it appears that that Temple has another option at quarterback.
Last week — Temple got more depth at the quarterback position when former Penn State signal caller Jaxon Smolik entered the Transfer Portal and joined the Owls. Smolik joined Penn State in 2023. After being injured in 2024 — Smolik played as the third quarterback behind Ethan Grunkemeyer this season.
Saquon Barkley finds open space and run for a touchdown against Ohio State. Saturday, October 28, 2017. Special to the Reading Eagle: Chris Sponagle
Saquon Barkley finds open space and run for a touchdown against Ohio State. Saturday, October 28, 2017. Special to the Reading Eagle: Chris Sponagle
The Eagles love running backs from local programs. In his five seasons with the Eagles — Sirianni has gone to the Super Bowl with Pennsylvania talent at running backs. Now — he has the opportunity to return there with Saquon Barkley again in 2026 — and the Eagles may get an opportunity to add one or two more.
Penn State running back Kaytron Allen has decided to forgo his senior season at Penn State after over 4,000 yards and almost 500 receiving including two campaigns over 1,000 yards. Also from the Penn State backfield — Nicholas Singleton enters the 2026 NFL Draft with nearly 1,000 yards receiving and almost 3,500 yards. Singleton also averaged nearly 29 yards per kickoff return over four seasons at Penn State. Five-star recruit Quentin Martin, Jr. will return to the program next season.
In 2023 — the Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII with Miles Sanders in the backfield. Disillusioned about under utilization in the championship against the Chiefs — Sanders departed for Carolina that off-season. His replacement — St. Joe’s Prep product Deandre Swift — would rush for over 1,000 yards with the Eagles before signing with the Bears. Many thought that the Eagles would attempt to re-sign him — but instead they pursued Whitehall native and New York Giant Saquon Barkley.
Many thought that when the Eagles drafted running back Miles Sanders with the 53rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, it was a makeup pick for a year earlier when the Giantsselected Penn State star Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick. Now Barkley is with the Eagles, and Sanders was relegated to a role with the Carolina Panthers, which may very well be behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks. Barkley returned to Pennsylvania by signing a 3-year $37.75 Million deal in March.
For Allen and Singleton who are starting NFL careers — there is good news. The Eagles love Pennsylvania talent at the running back position.
Penn State Nittany Lion Football will look different in 2026. Gone is James Franklin’s leadership that crafted Penn State into a National Championship Contender only a year ago. Next season’s sideline at Penn State will have former Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell walking between the hash-marks at Beaver Stadium.
On Saturday — a disappointing campaign culminated with a quality win with a 22–10 over Clemson — another nationally-recognized program trying to retain the on-field glory of seasons past.
The 2025 Bad Boy Mowers PinStipe Bowl kicked off with a defensive struggle between Terry Smith’s Nittany Lions Dabo Sweeney’s Clemson Tigers. After a late second quarter drive and a 6–3 halftime lead — the Nittany Lions pulled out to a 15–3 advantage after a 43-yard field goal and a 73-yard touchdown connection between Grunkemeyer and Trebor Pena and missed two-point conversion.
Clemson appeared to be back in the game when Adam Randall scored a touchdown Penn State turned the ball over on downs. But then Grunkemeyer found Andrew Rappleyeafor an eleven-yard score with just under five minutes left in the contest.
Penn State’s offense got hot in frigid temperatures. The snow cleared sidelines had a 19-degree temperature at kickoff at Yankee Stadium.
Penn State will go only as far as Drew Allar can take them. That’s not pressure — it’s just reality. On Saturday night in double overtime against undefeated Oregon (ranked #6) — Allar threw an interception in double overtime to Oregon Duck Dillon Thieneman sealing the 30–24 win in front of over 111,000 fans in a near total Penn State whiteout at Beaver Stadium. The loss drops James Franklin to 4–21 against top 10 opponents during his tenure as Head Coach at Penn State.
This year — complete with Philly talent helping to a 3–0 start — Penn State kicked off its season where they left off for most of 2024 with Imhotep Charter’s Mylachi Williams, Jabree Coleman, and Tyseer Denmark among other Philly connections who helped to routed the Nevada Wolfpack and quarterback Chubba Purdy by a final score of 46–11 — including three takeaways and 438 yards of total offense.
In the second half — The Nittany Lions (3–1) mounted a comeback after being down 17–3. In the third quarter — Penn State began a furious comeback with a 35-yard strike from Allar to Ross to cut Oregon’s lead from 17–10. Allar then threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ross with 30 seconds left.
After a Kaytron Allen four yard touchdown run in overtime for Penn State — Oregon responded with two scoring passes from Dante Moore — one in each overtime. Allar’s interception in double overtime sealed the win for Oregon.
It’s Another Fresh Start for All of Philly’s College Football Programs.
Sure, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial start of the college football around our region. But it’s the following weekend (September 6th, this year) that all of Philly’s collegiate football teams will be in action — the first time since the end of 2024.
For Philadelphia — whose city is rooted deep the history of the very beginnings of our great country — college football greatness runs equally as deep in our history. So far — we’ve only got one true football dynasty — the Penn Quakers football team who won the national championship in 1894, 1895, 1897, and again in 1904, and 1907–1908 (unless the present-day Eagles make it happen of course.)
Last weekend — Philly college’s season began on a high-note. Temple Football began the K.C. Keeler opened his chapter as Head Coach with a 42–10 win over UMass including a 128-yard performance from Jay Ducker and 467 total yards of offense and six touchdowns from quarterback Eric Simon.
Just over 145 miles away in Happy Valley — Penn State kicked off its season where they left off for most of 2024 with Imhotep Charter’s Mylachi Williams, Jabree Coleman, and Tyseer Denmark among other Philly connections who helped to routed the Nevada Wolfpack and quarterback Chubba Purdy by a final score of 46–11 — including three takeaways and 438 yards of total offense. Fans enjoyed frozen treats on campus from the legendary Penn State Berkey Creamery — whose research program started as far back as as 160 years ago during the American Civil War with over 200 cows still on campus.
It will be a tough act to follow — with both ABC and ESPN recording a record-setting over ten million viewers for just three games. But for all of Philadelphia’s collegiate programs in action this Saturday for the first time in 2025 — the best is yet to come.
On Saturday, Bowling Green Gave Penn State All That It Could Handle.
Nearly three hours before Northern Illinois defeated #5 Notre Dame 16–14 in regulation on Saturday, the Nittany Lions escaped a hard-fought game at Beaver Stadium against Bowling Green with a 34–27 victory.
Nearly twenty-four hours after the Eagles took the field at Corinthians Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil to play the Green Bay Packers — close to 107,000 fans packed into Beaver Stadium for the home opener of Penn State Football vs. Bowling Green. What they saw during the first three quarters was a Bowling Green Football Program giving the Nittany Lions all that they could handle.
Bowing Green opened the scoring when Connor Bazelek passed to Fannin Jr. for a six-yard score. After Drew Allar answered with a five-yard run for PSU — Bazelak connected with Johnson Jr. for a fifteen-yard score to take a 17–7 Bowling Green lead. Penn State’s comeback included eight receptions for 146 for PSU Tight End Tyler Warren (a Penn State record,) a fourteen yard touchdown pass from Allar to Nick Singleton in the third quarter, and a second quarter touchdown pass from Allar to Omar Evans.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
During a frustrating day for Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter, Bowling Green quarterback Connor Bazelek and Bowling Green took the ball on their own fourteen yard line down 27–24. But on 3rd and long, Penn State came up with the interception when Bazelak overthrew his receiver and Zakee Wheatley intercepted the pass. On the very next play, Nick Singleton blasted right through the Bowling Green defense for a 41-yard touchdown.
Before the beginning of the fourth quarter, a sea of white at Beaver Stadium broke into an Eagles chant.
Hey, the Nittany Lions are now 2–0 and the Eagles are 1–0. It’s a good month for Pennsylvania football.
