Live updates: Terry Smith weekly press conference
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith is meeting with reporters on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference. Follow along with our live updates from the session from Beaver Stadium’s media room.
Penn State interim coach Terry Smith press conference
(Press conference has ended at 12:23 p.m.)
AK response to his demands
10/27/2025 11:25:11 AMHe’s been awesome. Not anything challenging. Demanding probably not the right word. Saying hey, listen, this is what he was thinking. They’re on the same page. Thinking alike. In this profession, when you lose four games in a row, everyone is humbled. All trying to find the problem and the solution. Working toward that and the best thing to move forward. AK has been awesome with that.
Two QB system
10/27/2025 11:22:28 AMWas in discussion with offensive staff. Thought it would be something more for opponent to prepare for. Thought it was successful how it went down. Going forward, want to be creative, multiple, get the ball to guys in space so it’s still an option on the table.
Dividing time
10/27/2025 11:21:32 AMMore balanced now. First week, didn’t do much football. Now things have settled and he’s finding routine and rhythm. Sitting with both staffs and coordinators and understanding expectations for both sides. Thinks both units continue to get better. Defensively, have to get critical stops. That’s been the challenge. Can they get fourth quarter stops? Offensively, moving the ball when needed and converting on third, fourth downs, scoring touchdowns not field goals. Feels good that they’re working toward those goals.
The ultimate truth-teller
10/27/2025 11:20:11 AMIs known in the building as the truth teller. Have had some touhg conversations. The only way he’s built. Would want to know if he is falling short so he can fix it. How he was raised and brought up. The one thing he worked very hard on in truth telling is not be so direct and deliver such a hard message. Working really hard on that. But have had those conversations with staff members. Everyone understanding and open to it. Continuing to work and push forward in that sense and trying to figure out how to get a victory. They’re necessary conversations.
Receivers at Penn State
10/27/2025 11:18:36 AMThe production isn’t where you want it to be. That’s the truth of the matter. How do you get it better? Establish the run to play-action pass and throw some balls behind the LBs. Chatter about throwing it downfield, and want to take calculated risks with that. Going to give young receivers a chance to inject some life with that group. Grunk a new QB at the helm. A lot of dynamics to the pass game. Demanding from AK that he’s creative in the pass game in a sense to not throw the ball so much horizontally, throw it vertically.
Recruiting
10/27/2025 11:17:00 AMThe committed guys and others have been great. It’s similar to the staff. No one knows what’s next, so everyone trying to figure it out. All on standby. All communicating, FaceTimes, calls. Just doing the best they can to keep open line of communication and stay in touch until they know what’s next. Trying to get a victory on Saturday.
Dynamic with players changing
10/27/2025 11:16:01 AMA little different. Was always Coach T as CB coach in his role prior. Got along with everyone. Was an OG coach. One of the older ones on the staff. And now see him in a different light. Gets quiet when he walks in. But it’s positive that he’s still Coach T and the guy still getting along with everyone. Job to rally them together. Wants to give the players a voice to how this story ends and how do they write the next chapter. There is a video of Urban Meyer talking about one of his former coaches being one of the interim coaches at Florida. Have however many opportunities left in the season, and have to coach to show on film that they’re deserving of next job. And owe it to these guys to pour into them. Going to work their tails off. Job to make sure that staff doesn’t come up short. Will demand excellence as always. Promised at Iowa that they would play hard. Will double down on that for Ohio State. Effort will never be an issue for any team he coaches. Going to try to figure out how to give that maximum effort with a win.
Young linebackers
10/27/2025 11:13:15 AMCam Smith is another kid that has an opportunity. Alex has had a good start to his freshman year. Talented kid. Big, strong, fast. He’s learning the system as they all are. Have to create more depth at LB. When Tony Rojas went down, that’s a big gap they haven’t replaced yet. So searching for answers to help the DL stop the run game. Gotta be able to protect that front seven.
Staying on after this season
10/27/2025 11:12:11 AMLoves Penn State. Any opportunity to stay at Penn State, would pray on it and entertain any offer that would include that. But grounded where his feet are. Just worried about beating Ohio State.
Point spread
10/27/2025 11:11:27 AMCan use it as motivation, but not sure if can talk about it with gambling rules now. No one is giving them a chance. Haven’t been 20 point underdogs since he’s been here. But it’s motivation. Will come out and fight like at Iowa, but will fight a little harder.
Young guys opportunities
10/27/2025 11:10:41 AMJahmir Joseph, Alex Tatsch being considered. Howard and Denmark. Trying to be creative to get some young talent on the field and give them an opportunity.
Cooper Cousins and Vega Ioane availability
10/27/2025 11:09:55 AMBoth of those guys will be available this week. Looking forward to getting them both out there.
Grunk/Kritza
10/27/2025 11:09:41 AMNeed pass plays off the run game. Need to give him some throws that are one or two read and not overcomplicate it for him. Kritza, he’s coming off an injury but available this week. If he had an opportunity to go into the game, it would be very similar. Simple to have success. And the offensive line has to step up. Veteran crew, so have to run the football and continue to focus on Kaytron.
Staying together
10/27/2025 11:07:31 AMIt’s a challenge. Starts with his title. Interim head coach could be portrayed as the substitute teacher. Someone different at the helm. Tweaked schedule slightly. DOing things a little different on how he would like to do it and guys in the locker room have bought into it. Each day they get closer and work harder. Great leadership in the locker room. Drew Allar has been around and present. Stopped in this morning to ask him how he can support him. Have that kind of leadership. Buying into it. To beat Ohio State, have to do it together, as one. Cannot make mistakes. Have to be efficient with the football. Have to be able to run the football, outrush Ohio State to have a chance. That’s an elite defense. Elite talent. Big up front, fast in the middle, and cover on the back end. Have to be creative on offense to run it, get Kaytron going, find a way to get Nick going as two best offensive weapons. Have to play mistake free football and when they need to make a play, have to come up with a scheme to do it.
Ohio State receivers
10/27/2025 11:04:57 AMGreat history of great receivers. These are two of the better ones as they’ve had. Was hoping Smith would have a sophomore slump, but he’s not. Big, strong, fast, great routes, competes. Will have hands full. Have to make those guys earn it. Limit explosive plays, keep ball in front of them, and not give up one play scores.
Jaxon Smolik and Zuriah Fisher updates
10/27/2025 11:03:26 AMNo update on Jaxon. Bekkem Kritza will be available if Jaxon isn’t around. Zuriah should be back this week.
Opening statement
10/27/2025 11:01:12 AMWrapped up a really productive week. Reset and looked at where they are, and how to grow as a team. Extremely happy with the players and how they approached the bye. Energy in the building was positive, proud of leaders on the team. Have a tremendous opportunity going to Ohio State this weekend. Very talented team. This is why you come to Penn State on this stage to play in games like this and have an opportunity to beat those guys. The staff is confident with how they’ve prepared so far. Had a good week last week, looking forward to this week. Everyone is positive and ready to go.