Penn State guard Vega Ioane called NFL Draft riser by top analyst: Newsstand

Penn State news, notes, and updates for Nov. 5 include good news for Vega Ioane, headlines of the day, and more. Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner, who are NFL Draft analysts for The Athletic, picked 10 college football players whose stock is rising with a month to go in the regular season. Ioane, who has started all but one game for the Lions at left guard this year, is one of them.

“The below-average play on Penn State’s offensive line has been a microcosm of the Nittany Lions’ disaster season, but Ioane continues to perform like one of the best O-linemen in the country,” Brugler writes. “Even in a 38-14 loss to No. 1 Ohio State, Ioane was consistently stout in pass protection and put his versatility in the run game on display.

“On the Nittany Lions’ first touchdown, Ioane showed off his range on an overload pin-pull sweep, walling off the lane for RB Nicholas Singleton to walk into the end zone. A fourth-year junior, Ioane continues to stack clean games and has the skill set to be the first interior offensive lineman drafted in April.”

Ioane will very likely be the first Nittany Lion to go in the 2026 NFL Draft. If he is the first interior offensive lineman to go, that will mean he’s an early Day 2 pick if not a Day 1 selection.

Penn State headlines of the day

Where are Penn State wrestlers in the latest rankings? Here’s the first November update: Pickel, BWI

Penn State picked for an interesting bowl game matchup; Will Koby Howard actually play more this week?: Pickel, BWI

Buzzworthy: Where Penn State’s coaching search stands as November starts: Bauer, BWI

Tracking Penn State’s remaining defensive commits amid coaching uncertainty: Snyder, BWI

What did interim Penn State head coach Terry Smith say at his first news conference of Indiana week?: Pickel, BWI

Quote of the day

“They’re in the top 25 in the ESPN football power index. 22, I think, still,” Cignetti said. “Same guys they started the year with for the most part that was ranked No. 1 to No. 3 in the country, so a lot of good football players at all positions, playing really hard here. Terry has done a really good job of sort of rejuvenating these guys, and it’ll be his first opportunity to play a game at home. Tough place to play, 100,000 plus people. They’re a really good football team.

“They’ve had some tough times, and we’ve got to have a great day today and a great week to stack days just like always. Be prepared, have the right mindset, play really, really well, first play to last play. Been a change up there, obviously. James Franklin, fifth in the country last year. Was about 105-40 after 11 years. Did a tremendous job, has always represented himself with class. A lot of respect for him and Penn State. Always have had a lot of respect for Penn State, too.”

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti on PSU.