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Top Penn State sights, sounds, and quotes from Big Ten Media Days

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel07/24/25GregPickel
NCAA Football: Big Ten Media Days
Penn State head coach James Franklin speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. (Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for July 24 include highlights from the Lions’ trip to Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas. Head coach James Franklin plus Drew Allar, Nick Dawkins, and Zakee Wheatley spent Wednesday speaking with the media at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino during the second of three days that signal the annual unofficial kickoff to a new season. One of the top quotes was Franklin’s response to a question about what his team must do to get over the proverbial hump in 2025.

“We got to play well against really, really good teams,” Franklin said. “That’s what it comes down to. I think there’ll be moments where we’re going to have to step up and make great plays. There’s moments we’re going to have to make great calls. We’re going to have to handle being on the road and dealing with it with the attendance and the crowd, and that will be a factor in it as well.

“We’ve been one of the most consistent programs in college football over the last nine years, and specifically the last three years. There’s another step to take for us, and we recognize that. Embrace it. And the good thing and exciting thing is, we’re gonna have the opportunity to do that this year.”

See the top Penn State tweets from around the web below.

Headlines of the day

4 things we learned about Penn State football at Big Ten Media Days: Pickel, BWI

James Franklin: Penn State’s trenches, transfers, and tough talk: Bauer, BWI

Will Penn State ever play Pitt again? James Franklin didn’t rule it out, but some things would need to change in college football first: Pickel, BWI

Penn State’s Drew Allar: Playoffs are ‘the standard now’: Bauer, BWI

Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said at the podium during Big Ten Media Days: Pickel, BWI

3 Penn State player thoughts from Big Ten Media Days: On outside expectations, a Lion needing more buzz, and more: Pickel, BWI

James Franklin: “The only rankings that matter are at the end”: Bauer, BWI

Quote of the day

“This is the best combined personnel that I think we’ve had at Penn State, and when I talk about personnel, I’m talking about players and staff, from a depth, from a talent standpoint, and from an experience standpoint. So we’re very excited about that.”

PSU coach James Franklin at Big Ten Media Days