Ep. 202 | Rumor Has It

Ep. 202 | Rumor Has It

Author: Hardcore Penn State Football October 16, 2025 Duration: 1:22:33
Buckle up, Nittany Nation! In this raw, unfiltered episode of Hardcore Penn State Football, we dive headfirst into the chaos that's gripped Happy Valley as the 2025 season spirals into madness. With James Franklin's stunning midseason firing still sending shockwaves through the program—just days after a gut-wrenching 3-3 skid—Penn State heads into the lion's den at Kinnick Stadium for a brutal Week 8 clash against a surging Iowa squad (4-2) on October 18. Is this the rock-bottom revenge tour nobody saw coming, or the spark that reignites our playoff dreams? We break it all down with zero punches pulled. Penn State vs. Iowa Preview: Trap Game or Total Meltdown? The Hawkeyes are rolling with a punishing ground attack—led by Xavier Williams' two-TD explosion last outing and QB Mark Gronowski's dual-threat nightmare fuel. Kinnick's nightmarish atmosphere under the lights (7 p.m. ET on Peacock) has crushed bigger dreams than ours. We dissect first time-starting QB Ethan Grunkmeyer, Interim HC Terry Smith's presser, and whether our D-line (shoutout Dani Dennis-Sutton's punt-block heroics) can stuff Iowa's rush before it stuffs us.   Franklin Out, Who's Next? Holy buyout, Batman—what a bloodbath! Franklin's pink slip (after a 104-45 tenure, a '24 playoff semi, and that elusive natty) joins a 2025 carousel on steroids: UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State (RIP Mike Gundy), Arkansas (Sam Pittman gone), Oregon State, and even Stanford's wild Frank Reich interim experiment. Is Penn State boosters' cash vault eyeing a splash like Marcus Freeman, Matt Rhule, or Urban Meyer? We discuss who we have heard, who is real, and who is not. Whether you're tailgating in Iowa's cornfields or rage-scrolling from your Beaver Stadium man cave, this ep is your survival guide to the storm. WE ARE... STILL HERE! Smash that like button, subscribe for weekly roasts, and drop your wildest coaching carousel predictions in the comments. Visit rhettcoblentz.com for your graphic design needs! #WeAre #PennStateFootball #nittanylions WEEK 8 PICK'EM: https://forms.gle/Bd7xBWV6ZZy9XbCy9

Hardcore Penn State Football operates from the ground up, a fan-built project for those who live and breathe Nittany Lions football. This isn't polished studio talk; it’s the sound of deep fandom, where analysis comes with the grit of a practice field. You'll hear breakdowns that go beyond the scoreboard, digging into the useful stats that tell the real story of a game and the roster moves that shape a season. The conversations aim to bring you credible news from a trusted perspective, cutting through the noise to focus on what matters for the team. Each episode weaves in intriguing stories from the program's rich past and its current chapter, often through unique interviews with voices close to the action. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the core of Penn State football culture, where the discussion is as passionate as the fan base itself. It’s for listeners who want their coverage straight, detailed, and fueled by the same dedication found in Beaver Stadium on a Saturday. The focus remains squarely on delivering substance-informed talk, historical context, and forward-looking analysis-for the hardcore fan who craves more than the usual highlights.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Hardcore Penn State Football
Podcast Episodes
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Ep. 204 | Pilot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
In this fresh episode of Hardcore Penn State Football, we dive deep into the hottest topics surrounding the Nittany Lions as the 2025 season heats up! Donnie Collins, Scranton Times-Tribune, fills in for Shawn Kane. Firs…
Ep. 203 | Hawked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:09
In this episode of Hardcore Penn State Football, we break down Penn State's heartbreaking 25-24 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium—the Nittany Lions' fourth straight defeat in Iowa City by five points or fewer.…
Ep. 201 | Speechless [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:53
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Ep. 200 | Battle Within [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:39
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Ep. 199 | Hotel California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:03
In this episode of Hardcore Penn State Football, we dive deep into the Nittany Lions' heartbreaking 42-37 loss to UCLA. We kick things off by breaking down how the defense struggled to get off the field, allowing the Bru…
Ep. 198 | Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:34
Join us for the latest episode of Hardcore Penn State Football as we dive deep into the Nittany Lions' upcoming clash with UCLA this weekend! In this preview, we break down the massive shakeup at UCLA with the recent fir…
Ep. 197 | Big Game James [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:21
Buckle up for the Hardcore Penn State Football Podcast as we unpack the gut-wrenching 30-24 double-overtime loss to No. 6 Oregon in Week 6's White Out thriller at Beaver Stadium! In front of a shattering 111,015 fans cla…