In this episode, the guys discuss Penn State’s national championship expectations and Ryan Day’s new offensive staff.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
For years Penn State was predicted as the biggest beneficiary if the Big Ten got rid of divisions and the sport went to a 12-team College Football Playoff. In their first season under this new format, they made the Big Ten Championship Game and made the semi-finals of the CFP.
After the success of their 2024 season, the decision of star players to come back for their senior year and the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator, just being good isn’t good enough. If Penn State is ever going to join the upper echelon of the sport instead of being a step behind Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama, they must deal with the expectations the other programs handle yearly.
It was natty or bust for Ohio State in 2024, and its natty or bust for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in 2025. If they can’t at least make it to a national championship next season, when will they?
After winning his first national championship, Ryan Day’s Ohio State coaching staff was raided, losing both coordinators, his offensive line coach, as well as some low-level staffers, analysts, and recruiting staff. Day rebuilt his offensive staff by promoting Brian Hartline, who already held the offensive coordinator title, to offensive play-caller. He also promoted analyst and former Akron and UCLA offensive coordinator Billy Fessler to quarterbacks coach. In his final move, he stole Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen to serve as his offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Day has earned respect and the ability to build his staff, but there will be questions about promoting internally and having a first-time play caller in 2025. There are still decisions to make on the defensive side of the ball, but the offensive staff is now complete.
In other news, Dante talks about the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to his Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. We also give our predictions on the Super Bowl. In their weekly pitstop, Jordan talks about the impending fight between the NFL and the NFLPA over Roger Goddell’s desire to move to an 18-game regular season, while Dante recaps the WWE’s Royal Rumble.
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You can also find Jordan’s article ‘B1G Thoughts’ on Land-Grant Holy Land.
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