Black Shoe Diaries
DOMINATE THE STATE
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Penn State Announces Stripe Out Game for Week 1
Beaver Stadium will be looking extra sharp for the 2026 season opener against Marshall. The week one contest, set for Saturday, September 5, 2026, will be the annual Stripe Out game, with each section decked out in white or blue. The Stripe Out seat map will be released in the near future, so fans can […]
Penn State Hockey Preview: Defensemen
Penn State hockey struggled defensively last season and lost veterans Carter Schade, Jarod Crespo, and Cade Christenson from the roster. Scoring is never a problem for Guy Gadowsky’s teams, but the defense is always a wild card. Any improvement on the blue line would help Penn State contend against the top teams in the Big […]
The Best Big Ten Game of the Week for all of 2026
WEEK 0 (Aug. 29) San Jose State at USC This is the pick by default as USC is the only Big Ten squad appearing in week 0. San Jose State is coming off a 3-9 season which ended on a four-game losing skid. I don’t expect them to put up much of a fight against […]
Camp Is Here: Penn State Football Practice Starts Today
Folks, we have made it. Football season is just around the corner as Penn State starts its fall camp today. There’s so much different with this Penn State football program from the last time we saw them. Stalwarts of the program like Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and Dani Dennis-Sutton are gone. The iconic […]
Only Marcus Neal Until Penn State Football
We’re down to just 31 short days until Penn State and Marshall kick off the 2026 season! If you are ranking the many newcomers on the Penn State roster, Marcus Neal may be at the very top. The safety is coming off a wildly productive sophomore year, and could be one of the Big Ten’s […]
Penn State Football Ranked No. 17 In Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Penn State football checked in at No. 17 in the preseason Coaches’ Poll earlier today: The Nittany Lions will start outside the top 10 for the first time since 2022. In total, eight Big Ten teams are ranked in the poll, with Ohio State and Oregon taking the top two spaces. Defending national champion Indiana […]
Only John Klosterman Until Penn State Football
We’re down to 32 days until the start of the 2026 Penn State Football season! John Klosterman is one of the many Iowa State transplants to follow Matt Campbell to Happy Valley. Klosterman is set to begin his fifth-year senior season, and will be one and done as a Nittany Lion. He has been with […]
Penn State Hockey Preview: Forwards
There are just 67 days until Penn State hockey’s season opener against UConn. The roster has taken shape, and after experiencing heavy turnover at forward in the offseason, Penn State will have a blend of veteran pieces and fresh faces. First Line Dane Dowiak-Reese Laubach-Justin Poirier Reese Laubach has been one of the more underappreciated […]
MMQB – Would You Rather
We are in the home stretch of the off-season, with preseason camp getting going, and the first college football games happening at the end of this month! There’s been a lot of hemming and hawing on how Matt Campbell’s team will look this fall, and I still plant myself firmly in the “offense will be […]
Only Alexander McPherson Until Penn State Football
We’re only 33 more days away from Penn State’s week one clash with Marshall! Another day of the countdown, and another new face for the Nittany Lions. Alexander McPherson comes to Happy Valley after spending his freshman season at Colorado. Her performed quite well for just his first season out of high school, ending the […]
Only Chris Fileppo Until Penn State Football
We’re down to just 34 days until the start of a brand new season of Penn State Football! Chris Fileppo is one of the many new faces to join the Nittany Lions in 2026. He began his career at West Virginia, but decided to return to his home state after one season as a Mountaineer. […]
Oh, Hello: Kohyn Eshkawkogan Commits To Penn State Hockey
Penn State hockey picked up its fourth defenseman of the 2027 class with a commitment from Kohyn Eshkawkogan earlier on Saturday: Eshkawkogan hails from Ontario and finished his first two seasons in the OHL with 73 points (12 goals, 61 assists) in 120 games with the Ottawa 67’s. His 53 points in 68 games during […]
Only Blaise Sokach-Minnick Until Penn State Football
We are now just five weeks away from Penn State kicking off the 2026 season against Marshall. Let’s mark the occasion by honoring one of the most underappreciated positions in football – the long snapper. Blaise Sokach-Minnick is entering his fifth season with the Nittany Lions, and his patience looks to be rewarded with a […]
Former Penn State Great Michael Mauti Set To Join Matt Campbell’s Staff
You can’t keep him away for long! Michael Mauti is set to join Penn State’s staff under Matt Campbell as Director of Football Engagement. The Penn State athletics website already reflects the change, showing this had likely been in the works for some time. Mauti, a former All-American, has been a vocal advocate of the […]
Only Amar’e Glover Until Penn State Football
We’re down to 36 days until the start of Penn State’s 2026 season! It will also mark the first game day as a Nittany Lion for freshman running back Amar’e Glover. The three-star running back committed to Penn State after a long recruitment that spanned both James Franklin and Matt Campbell. Despite landing offers from […]
Only Derek Moye’s 37-Yard TD Against LSU Until Penn State Football
We are just 37 days away from Penn State football. To celebrate the “37” we’re going back to a swampy 2010 Capital One Bowl when Penn State upended LSU to cap off an 11-2 2009 season. The first touchdown from that game? A 37-yard strike to Derek Moye. Thanks to some play-action and *maybe* a […]
Summer Summary: July 30th
Lots of different thoughts from Big Ten Media Days-first, and most importantly, our recap. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg interviewed the head coach. Also, some thoughts from former PSU beat writer Heather Dinich: Brad Crawford has overall thoughts on the conference, including the Nittany Lions. According to Rece Davis, the Blue and White may be headed for […]
Three Reasons For Concern: Special Teams
While there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Penn State football’s special teams unit heading into 2026, every coin has two sides. Today, we’re going to lay out why you might want to have some caution about Justin Lustig’s crew under the new regime. 1. Matt Campbell’s Shaky Track Record The good news? […]
Only Nathan Tiyce Until Penn State Football
We’re 38 days away from Penn State football. Today, we profile #38 Nathan Tiyce. Tiyce is originally from Australia, and he spent the 2025 season at Mississippi State. He punted 12 times for the Bulldogs, averaging 39 yards per punt with two going over 50 yards. He entered the transfer portal and found his way […]
Three Reasons for Optimism: Special Teams
We continue are look at reasons to be excited or…oh so scared…as the season kicks off by heading to where the ball actually is kicked: special teams. Let’s look at reasons you should feel good about the Lions heading into 2026. Barker has moved from steady and consistent, to downright good at the placekicker position. […]
Recapping Matt Campbell At Big Ten Media Day
Matt Campbell took the podium yesterday at Big Ten media day. You can watch his whole press conference below: Of course, I’m here to summarize some of the more intriguing things he said.
Only Ty Blanding Until Penn State Football
39 days, friends. That’s how far away we are from Penn State kicking off against Marshall. Today we take a look at #39, Ty Blanding. I actually had a post about Blanding yesterday, as he was one of the defensive tackles I view as a potential breakout player. Here’s what I said about Blanding: Speaking […]
Penn State 2026 Breakout Candidates: Defensive Tackle
There was a ton movement at defensive tackle for Penn State over the offseason, and it’s clear with the moves that were made, Matt Campbell wanted to get bigger — much bigger — inside. While this group currently lacks anyone who projects as an all-conference performer, there’s a couple guys I’m keeping my eye on […]
MMQB: Gun To Your Head
Much has been said about Penn State’s 2026 season under new head coach Matt Campbell. Iowa State East (more on that later), the schedule, player health, and a host of other topics, one constant is both the relative certainty AND uncertainty going into this season. On the one hand, the uncertainty is exciting. After over […]
BSD Mailbag: 7.27.26
Who is your player to watch this season? -BW042 I’ll give one for each side of the ball. My pick for the defense is cornerback Daryus Dixson. He impressed as a true freshman and things really started to click for him toward the end of the season, culminating with his standout performance in the Pinstripe […]
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