Ep. 203 | Hawked

Ep. 203 | Hawked

Author: Hardcore Penn State Football October 22, 2025 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. Join us as we dissect how the defense, ranked 71st against the run, crumbled in the second half, giving up massive chunks on the ground including a game-changing 67-yard scamper by Iowa QB Mark Gronowski that set up the winning touchdown. Iowa racked up 245 rushing yards at 7.4 yards per carry, exposing ongoing vulnerabilities that have plagued PSU in recent games. We also dive into the two-QB system deployed in the absence of starter Drew Allar, with redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer getting the nod (15/28 for 93 yards, but two costly INTs) and backup Jaxon Smolik rotating in for key scrambles and option plays— a strategy reminiscent of last season's approach but one that couldn't seal the deal. Plus, the latest on Penn State's head coaching search following James Franklin's firing: Interim coach Terry Smith dropped his debut, but he's emerging as a candidate himself. We discuss top names like Nebraska's Matt Rhule (the early favorite), Texas A&M's Mike Elko, and dark horses such as Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, as the search enters its second week with no clear frontrunner yet. Tune in for expert analysis, fan reactions, and what this means for Penn State with Ohio State and Indiana looming after the BYE week. We also answer your fan questions! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more college football breakdowns! Visit rhettcoblentz.com for your graphic design needs! #WeAre #PennStateFootball #nittanylions WEEK 9 PICK'EM: https://forms.gle/AdoLrKnEbcnsJgQ58

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
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 166 | Beau On It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:29
Cory & Shawn thankfully prepare for the Maryland Terrapins Other topics: -College Football Playoff Rankings -Maryland Preview -B1G Pickem -Predictions B1G PICK'EM: https://t.co/BT1G3ade5a MERCH: https://shop.teammercury.…
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 165 | Go-pher It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:37
Shawn & Cory discuss PSU's scare at Minnesota 26-25 Other topics: -Franklin wins game -Defense & special teams struggle -Reactions -CFB landscape B1G PICK'EM: Not Out Yet MERCH: https://shop.teammercury.io/ FOLLOW HARDCO…
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 164 | Pur-dy Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:36
Shawn & Cory breakdown Penn State's 49-10 beat down of Purdue -68 players get into the game -Warren for Heisman? -Reactions -CFB landscape MERCH: https://shop.teammercury.io/ FOLLOW HARDCORE PSU HERE: ► TWITTER | / hardc…
Hardcore PSU: Ep.163: On Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:12
Shawn & Cory breakdown the latest in the CFB Playoff Rankings & preview Penn State - Purdue Other topics: -CFB Playoff Rankings -Notes from Practice -Purdue Preview -Predictions B1G PICK'EM: https://forms.gle/DCdsKuVc8Eo…
Hardcore PSU: Ep.162: White Wash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:49
Cory & Shawn revisit Penn State's 35-6 demolition of Washington during their annual White Out Other topics: -Fan questions -Streaming killing White Out -Washington Review -Film room B1G PICK'EM: https://forms.gle/DCdsKuV…
Hardcore PSU: Ep.161: Peacock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:42
MERCH: https://shop.teammercury.io/ FOLLOW HARDCORE PSU HERE: ► TWITTER | / hardcorepsufb ► TIKTOK | / hardcorepsufb ► INSTAGRAM | / hardcorepsufb ► YOUTUBE | / @statemediapsu ► APPLE | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podc…
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 160 | Purgatory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:35
Cory & Shawn reflect on Penn State's 20-13 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in front of a record-setting crowd of 111K. Other topics covered in today's episode include: • Instant Reaction • Film Room • Fan Questions • Was…
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 159 | Buckeyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:09
Shawn & Cory quickly recap Penn State's Wisconsin win before turning to the biggest game of the season: Ohio State vs. Penn State. Other topics covered in today's episode include: • Wisconsin Reactions • Latest from Prac…
Hardcore PSU: Ep. 158 | Jumping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:09
Cory & Shawn come off the BYE prepared for Wisconsin Other topics covered in today's episode include: • Fan Questions • Latest from Practice • Wisconsin Preview • Predictions B1G PICK'EM: https://forms.gle/YnGw8oQFxzaFyi…
Hardcore PSU: Ep.157: California Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:52
Shawn & Cory recover from a Penn State 33-30 victory over USC in overtime. Other topics covered in today's episode include: • How did Penn State pull off the T-2 largest comeback in James Franklin's tenure? • What did we…