Locked On Nittany Lions - Daily Podcast On Penn State Nittany Lions Football & Wrestling

Matt Campbell has Penn State recruiting moving in the right direction, but this episode asks the bigger question: can he fix the one thing James Franklin never fully solved? Penn State may need to recruit outside its traditional footprint more aggressively if it wants to land truly elite talent at the next level. In this crossover episode with Brian Smith, we break down Penn State’s changing recru...

Penn State wrestling is heading into the NCAA Championships with massive expectations, but not every title contender feels the same. Zach Seyko breaks down which Penn State wrestlers look unbeatable, which stars still have vulnerabilities, and which paths to a national title feel much tougher than fans may want to admit. Become an every-dayer! Subscribe to Locked On Nittany Lions on YouTube: https...

Could the NCAA’s grip on college football finally be slipping? In this Locked On crossover, we discuss whether the Big Ten and SEC are getting closer to breaking away from the NCAA entirely and what that could mean for programs like Penn State and Indiana. We break down the growing super-league conversation, why the current NIL system feels unsustainable, and how the Nebraska clearinghouse controv...

Penn State wrestling has 8 legitimate NCAA title contenders, but the biggest debate in college wrestling might be whether Oklahoma State star Jax Forrest actually deserved the No. 1 seed at 133. In this Locked On crossover, Zach Seyko and Cody Stovall break down Penn State’s path to another national title, Oklahoma State’s push to finish second, the Jax Forrest seeding controversy, and why 133 and...

Tampering and NIL controversies shake up the Big Ten as Nebraska challenges the College Sports Commission's rulings on NIL deals—are new regulations the answer, or just adding fuel to the fire? The Big 10 Squad breaks down Tony Petitti’s embattled leadership, ongoing tampering scandals, and the uncertain power dynamics shaping college football’s future. Key topics include the Big Ten’s stance on t...

Penn State and Oregon are battling for one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2027 recruiting class: Will Menzel. Zach Seyko and Spencer McLaughlin break down why this recruitment matters for Matt Campbell’s first season in Happy Valley and how Oregon’s quarterback timeline could influence the decision. Then the conversation shifts to the Big Ten title race: could Penn State surprise people a...

The NCAA Wrestling Championship brackets are officially out, and it's time to break down where every Penn State wrestler landed. In this LIVE episode of Locked On Nittany Lions, Zach Seyko reacts in real time to the NCAA bracket release and analyzes the paths ahead for the Nittany Lions as they chase another national title. Become an every-dayer! Subscribe to Locked On Nittany Lions on YouTube: ht...

The NCAA wrestling brackets are about to be released, so it’s time to predict the seeds and potential matchups for Penn State’s lineup. Zach Seyko breaks down where wrestlers like Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze, Braeden Davis, Shayne Van Ness, PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Rocco Welsh, Josh Barr, and Cole Mirasola could land in the NCAA tournament seeding. Which matchups should Penn Sta...

Penn State wrestling has a reputation for peaking at the right time. Let's explain why the “Cael tax” might be the secret behind it. Zach Seyko and special guest Justin Basch break down PJ Duke’s adjustment against Antrell Taylor, why Marcus Blaze could flip the script against Ben Davino at NCAAs, and whether Rocco Welsh truly escaped with a controversial win over Max McEnelly. Plus, the debate ov...

Penn State spring football is about to feature several major position battles. Zach Seyko breaks down the biggest competitions on offense, including the quarterback battle behind Rocco Becht, a loaded running back rotation featuring Carson Hansen, Quinton Martin, and Ohio State transfer James Peoples, and a wide receiver room looking for new playmakers. Then we hear directly from new Penn State wi...

Penn State wrestling just made history at the Big Ten Championships with 7 individual champions and 8 finalists, the most ever by one team. Zach Seyko breaks down every key performance from Luke Lilledahl, Shayne Van Ness, PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Josh Barr, and Rocco Welsh. But the biggest debate of the tournament came in the finals when Welsh narrowly escaped a takedown from Ma...

A new NIL tax law in Mississippi could give SEC programs a huge recruiting advantage — and it’s already raising questions across college football. Zach Seyko and Jacob Goins break down the controversial policy, discuss how it could impact recruiting battles between the SEC and Big Ten, and examine why Indiana’s recruiting momentum is surging under Curt Cignetti while Penn State still waits for its...

Eight Penn State wrestlers are heading to the Big Ten Championship finals — and we break down every single matchup. Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze, Shayne Van Ness, PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Rocco Welsh, and Josh Barr will all compete for conference titles. Which Nittany Lions have the toughest draws? Which matches could preview the NCAA Championships? And how many Big Ten champions...

Penn State wrestling is putting on a show! After a dominant semifinal round, the Nittany Lions have eight wrestlers advancing to the Big Ten Championship matches, putting themselves in prime position for another conference title. Host Zach Seyko is live from the Bryce Jordan Center with a special solo edition of *Locked On Nittany Lions* to break down everything that happened in the semifinals. We...

Penn State wrestling made a massive statement in Session 1 of the 2026 Big Ten Championships — sending **nine wrestlers into the semifinals** and putting themselves firmly in position to chase another conference title. On this **live episode of Locked On Nittany Lions**, host Zach Seyko is joined by Penn State wrestling legends and insiders — Zain Retherford, Morgan McIntosh, Jeff Byers, and John...

The Big Ten Wrestling Tournament bracket is officially set, and there were some important changes. Levi Haynes moves up to the #1 seed at 174, Braeden Davis avoids a brutal opening matchup, and Penn State now has seven wrestlers seeded #1. Zach Seyko breaks down every Penn State path from 125 through heavyweight and gives final predictions before the Big Ten Tournament begins in State College. Wil...

Penn State and Iowa head into the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament in very different positions. Zach Seyko and Trent Condon break down the pressure mounting on Iowa and Tom Brands as the Hawkeyes fight just to stay relevant in the conference race. They analyze the controversial Big Ten pre-seeding formula, explain why wrestlers like Angelo Ferrari and Dean Peterson were seeded where they were, and pre...

Who will emerge as the Big Ten’s top quarterback in 2026—Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, or a surprise contender? The Big 10 Squad debates Tom Fornelli’s latest rankings, spotlighting rising stars like De’Mon Williams, Jayden Maiava, Josh Hoover, and Bryce Underwood. Heated discussions erupt over Josh Hoover’s upside at Indiana, Malik Washington’s raw talent at Maryland, and whether Rocco Becht or Cade...

Part 2 of the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament preview is here. Zach Seyko and Jeff Byers break down every weight class from 165 through heavyweight, including Mitchell Messenbrink’s dominance at 165, Levi Haines’ chance to capture a fourth Big Ten title, and a loaded 184 bracket featuring Rocco Welsh, Angelo Ferrari, and Max McEnelly. Then the conversation turns to heavyweight chaos, where Cole Miras...

The Big Ten Wrestling Tournament is here — and the seeding system created chaos. Zach Seyko and Jeff Byers break down the controversial pre-seeds, including Levi Haines being placed behind a wrestler with four losses. Then we preview every Penn State path from 125 through 157, including Luke Lilledahl’s rematch potential with Dean Peterson, Marcus Blaze’s loaded 133 bracket, Braeden Davis’s brutal...

Penn State just took another hit on the injury front. Star offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh will miss all of spring camp, joining Tony Rojas and Andrew Rappleyea on the list of key players unavailable this spring. Zach Seyko explains why Donkoh’s absence matters for a Penn State offensive line replacing four starters, how the position battles will unfold, and why Cooper Cousins and Trevor Buhr rem...

Penn State still has zero commits in the class of 2027, but is that actually a problem? Zach Seyko and recruiting expert Brian Smith break down why Matt Campbell’s recruiting strategy is still trending in the right direction and why commitments could start arriving once spring visits begin. They also dive into the recruitment of top-10 quarterback Peter Bourque, who is deciding between Penn State,...

Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht revealed he played through multiple injuries last season, including a torn labrum that required surgery. Zach Seyko breaks down what the injuries mean for spring football, how Becht’s leadership is shaping the quarterback room, and why Alex Manske and Connor Berry could benefit from extra reps this spring. Then we address the recruiting question: why does Penn St...

Penn State tight end Andrew Rappleyea will miss all of spring ball — and that’s a bigger deal than most fans realize. Zach Seyko breaks down what the injury means for Matt Campbell’s 12 and 13 personnel offense, why Rappleyea’s leadership matters, and how Penn State’s depth prevents panic. Then the Drew Allar draft debate returns. Is he really a first-round quarterback? Why he won’t fall to Round...

The Big Ten pre-seeds are out — and they make absolutely no sense. Zach Seyko reacts to the bracket chaos, including Levi Haines being seeded second, PJ Duke facing Brandon Cannon early, and Rocco Welsh potentially drawing Angelo Ferrari in the quarterfinals. Cael Sanderson publicly criticized the system, and this year’s algorithm-heavy formula may have overcorrected. We break down every Penn Stat...