By Matt AudiletShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Penn State Nittany Lions closed out their regular-season schedule with a 40-36 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, making the program bowl eligible with a 6-6 finish.
Penn State has been operating under interim head coach Terry Smith since now-former program leader James Franklin was fired after a 3-3 start to the 2025 college football season. The Nittany Lions went 0-3 in their first three games with Smith at the helm, but closed out the year with three consecutive wins over Michigan State, Nebraska and Rutgers.
Several big name coaches like BYU's Kalani Sitake, Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and JMU's Bob Chesney are rumored candidates to take over the head coaching gig in Happy Valley. But with his strong finish to the 2025 season, Smith is also being floated as a potential longterm solution for the Nittany Lions.
Several Penn State stars have shown public support for Smith as the program's next head coach, holding "hire Terry Smith" signs after each of the team's last few wins.
...More Football: Kentucky’s Mark Stoops Announces Major Decision on Coaching Future
Smith, who was visually emotional after Saturday night's victory, shared a postgame embrace with Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft.
Even if Smith doesn't get Penn State's full-time head coaching job, he's prepared to take his new knowledge into the next chapter of his coaching career.
"It taught me a lot. It taught me that I know I can truly do this job," Smith said in his postgame press conference. "It taught me patience. It taught me the role of one of the biggest jobs in college football. And it taught me that I have a special bond with people and my players. And that when I go forward in coaching, I have to take advantage of that and really build on that."
"It's been a good run for me," Smith concluded.
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More Football: Auburn, Arkansas ‘Intersect’ Over Top Coaching Candidate
Smith and the Nittany Lions will now await their bowl game assignment as Penn State continues its search for the program's next head coach.
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