Live updates: Terry Smith weekly press conference
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith is taking questions at Beaver Stadium for his weekly press conference. Follow our live updates:
Live updates: Terry Smith weekly press conference
(Press conference has ended at 12:22 p.m.)
Dixson
11/10/2025 11:21:46 AMHe has always been a playmaker. Hit a wall earlier this season and slowed down his progress, but back on track now. Will continue to play the rest of the season. When he’s out there, he makes plays and delivers. Had the strip sack and the ball bounced right back to the QB, but that’s a play, that’s a playmaker. Turnovers change game. Will continue to play him.
Terry role moving forward
11/10/2025 11:20:37 AMHave real conversations. So when guys ask him about his future, the truth is, he doesn’t know. No one has given him confirmation that he’s going to be here. Live in the moment. Is the head coach right now and making these decisions. Loves Penn State. Would examine any position to stay at Penn State. But concern right now is how to beat Michigan State.
Koby Howard
11/10/2025 11:19:34 AMPleasantly surprised. Better blocker than he anticipated. He’s competitive. Will continue to push him forward and try to get him more opportunities. Trebor had a big game. Want someone to step forward each week in that room and deliver that type of game.
Player future plans
11/10/2025 11:18:38 AMHave had some conversations with players talking about the future and their plans. The consensus right now is wait and see. Don’t know. Depends on who next head coach is and make decisions from there, because it’s the style of play. What type of defense and offense will he play? All in wait and see if it fits them.
Michigan State QB
11/10/2025 11:17:38 AMTrying to get more film on him. Marsh is a good receiver. Challenge because not a lot of film on QB, but have it on other positions. Feel they can take advantage of their front. Key to defense is creating pressure and they’re going to try to do that this week.
Singleton
11/10/2025 11:16:40 AMBack full confident. It started at Ohio State for him. Had some good runs and performances at Ohio State. Then obviously three touchdowns this weekend. Hopeful to have the old Nick back moving forward. Going to continue to try to get him and Kaytron going. Goal was for 35 touches between them. They had 36. Want it to be 30 plus this weekend, and if they get there, have a chance to win. Two best offensive players and going to continue to concentrate on getting them the ball.
Grunk future
11/10/2025 11:15:16 AMRelationship with him has grown tremendously. The HC and QB, you’re partners in crime. Going through this together. In turmoil together. His decisionmaking, Grunk’s decisionmaking, impacts entire program. Things could change in December. But living in the moment, preparing each day, and Terry doing the same. Helping him to have an ease and presence in the pocket and deliver. He did that in the second half. Looking forward to him this Saturday and seeing more growth this weekend.
Chaz and Yvan
11/10/2025 11:13:52 AMHopeful to have Chaz back this week. He is day to day. Yvan having a great year. Huge part of Penn State’s future. Love his work ethic and tenacity. He’s going to be one of their special players in a year or two.
Defensive evolution
11/10/2025 11:13:08 AMJim Knowles is in control of the defense. As they talk through things and personnel, trying to get young guys involved, know they can’t run the whole playbook and have to simplify it for their success. Can’t have whole playbook for Tatsch. It’s too much. Have to put guys in positions to succeed and Jim doing a good job with that.
Downfield passing
11/10/2025 11:12:06 AMDidn’t make those playcalls in the first half. Went into halftime and made sure they made them in the second half. Then when they were made, that helped run for Nick. Have to grow and build on that. Going to be super aggressive at Michigan State. Mix iit with play action and run because that is formula for success.
Defensive improvement
11/10/2025 11:08:57 AMGetting a better grasp as the season goes on. Have simplified it. Have drawn up more blitzes to get pressure. Guys playing a little faster and looser. Saw on Saturday they looked like old Penn State defense. Got after it, had fun. Got three sacks. Have to turn more of those pressures into sacks. Mendoza was elusive on Saturday. But guys settling into defense and mastering it. Putting pressure on quarterback, continue it and build on it.
Pat Kraft
11/10/2025 11:06:26 AMHe’s given him full support to make the decisions necessary for the team. Has done everything he’s been asked. Done a great job of supporting them.
Grunk
11/10/2025 11:06:12 AMBig time in the second half. Battled back. Made big throws. Started throwing it down the field. Fought them back into the game. His growth continues to get better. QB for the future. Will continue to develop and push it down the field to give him opportunities to make plays. A couple of the screens to be improved. Can clean up in practice. Grew up bigtime in second half.
Secondary
11/10/2025 11:05:29 AMPlayed extremely well throughout the game. Really competitive. Covered really well. Even in two minute situation, Indiana made the plays. Tough, 50-50 plays. The one on the sideline with AC, and the game-winning touchdown were highly contested plays. Tough for the outcome to be that. But they made plays, Penn State didn’t make mistakes. Played a lot better this week.
Opening statement
11/10/2025 11:03:52 AMProud of how the guys played Saturday. Battled back. Effort was there. Didn’t finish how they wanted. Offense could end it on their terms. And then defense went out and didn’t get that done as well.
Offensive: Six explosives more than last three games combined. Middle eight, had turnover before the half, then another out of the half, which was 10 points critical to game outcome.
Defense: Guys played really hard. Started to look like old defense. Physical up front. Pressure on quarterback. A couple of sacks and hit kid all game. Two minute defense room for growth.
Special teams: Continues to be a positive. Will build on that. Penalty at the end with false start.
Looking forward to Michigan State. Guys hungry. No quit in this team.
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