Blue-White Breakdown | A Penn State Football Podcast from Pennlive.com

<p>You'll never miss a moment of Penn State commentary, analysis, recruiting updates, team news, and more thanks to PennLive's Blue-White Breakdown. Hosts Bob Flounders, Johnny McGonigal and Max Ralph offer pregame analysis, weekly predictions, and postgame takes! Visit pennlive.com/pennstatefootball for more and subscribe to the Blue-White Breakdown today.</p>

Penn State's Ethan Grunkemeyer passes a huge test with flying colors, and a Chaz Coleman update

PennLive's Max Ralph and Bob Flounders react to Penn State head coach Terry Smith's Monday press conference with the Nittany Lions prepping to face Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing. The Nittany Lions, losers of six consecutive games, extended No. 2 Indiana to the limit on Saturday before a late IU touchdown foiled PSU's upset bid. Smith praised redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer for his second-half performance against the Hoosiers and had some interesting comments on why the Lions' vertical passing game finally got untracked. Plus, Max and Bob share a couple of updates on edge rusher Chaz Coleman and offensive lineman TJ Shanahan Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-10
34:04

Can Penn State END 5-GAME LOSING STREAK vs. No. 2 Indiana?

This week’s Thursday show features Bob Flounders and Max Ralph making their predictions for Penn State's matchup with No. 2 Indiana. They also offer their thoughts on the ongoing coaching search. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-06
50:10

Penn State’s Terry Smith has a lot of issues to “fix” ahead of the Indiana game. What are his priorities?

PennLive’s Bob Flounders and Max Ralph are back to share their takeaways from Penn State coach Terry Smith’s Monday press conference. The 3-5 Nittany Lions, losers of five consecutive games, tangle with No. 2 Indiana on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Smith had some interesting thoughts on the Penn State cornerbacks’ woeful play in the team’s 38-14 loss to Ohio State last Saturday in Columbus.  Bob and Max also discuss true freshman wideout Koby Howard’s role moving forward as Smith and his offensive assistants look to add some juice to the Penn State passing game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-03
34:33

Instant analysis after Ohio State blows out Penn State

PennLive’s Bob Flounders and Max Ralph analyze the Nittany Lions’ collapse after a competitive first half. They highlight significant post-snap breakdowns on Penn State’s defense, particularly in the secondary, which allowed Ohio State’s receivers to dominate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-01
08:22

Can Penn State UPSET No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus?

Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal dive into their predictions for the Penn State-Ohio State game this week, where the Nittany Lions are nearly three-touchdown underdogs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-30
01:02:57

Special guest Doug Lesmerises on who Penn State should be looking for as its next head coach

PennLive’s Bob Flounders is joined by Doug Lesmerises on this episode. Lesmerises, a former Ohio State football columnist for Cleveland.com, writes about Ohio State football and is part of “The Bill and Doug Show” podcast with Bill Landis.  Bob and Doug discuss what went wrong for James Franklin at Penn State and focus on what the program should be looking for in its next permanent head coach. Doug makes it clear that PSU should not be considering Brian Kelly.  Plus, Doug discusses what makes the Penn State coaching job such an attractive position. Bob and Doug also mention some coaching candidates PSU should consider. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-29
48:13

Guest Stephen Means on Ohio State’s repeat bid, Penn State’s struggles

PennLive’s Bob Flounders is joined by special guest Stephen Means of Cleveland.com to discuss Penn State’s 2025 demise and the unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes’ bid to repeat as national champions.  OSU hosts Terry Smith’s Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon at the Horseshoe. Means goes into detail on how Ohio State has produced another fantastic season after losing so many talented players from its 2024 championship team.  Stephen also shares his thoughts on how last year’s Buckeyes were able to rebound from a crushing regular-season loss to Michigan and why Penn State never recovered from this year’s Oregon loss.  Plus, check out the Buckeye Talk podcast on Cleveland.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-27
48:48

WHAT'S WRONG with the Penn State offense?

Penn State ranks as one of the nation's worst offenses despite bringing back a ton of veteran talent and a second-year play caller. Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal dive into what they've seen from the Nittany Lions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-23
55:30

Reacting to Penn State's loss at Iowa, Kaytron Allen's effort, and PSU's outlook coming out of a bye week

PennLive's Bob Flounders and Max Ralph have a lot of ground to cover on this episode.Playing under the direction of interim head coach Terry Smith, Penn State pushed Iowa to the limit before losing in Iowa City on Saturday night. What were the positive takeaways from the Nittany Lions' effort? What were the main reasons PSU's losing streak is at four games and counting? Bob and Max also discuss Kaytron Allen's standout effort vs. the Hawkeyes and the impact safety Zake Wheatley has made in recent games. Plus, Penn State's veteran wideouts ... what's the deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-20
42:55

Penn State battles, but falls to Iowa: instant analysis from Iowa City

PennLive's Bob Flounders analyzes Penn State's 25-24 loss at Iowa. It was interim head coach Terry Smith's first game as well as the start of the Ethan Grunkemeyer era at quarterback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-19
05:34

Can Penn State win its first game WITHOUT JAMES FRANKLIN? Making our PSU-Iowa picks

PennLive's Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal break down the early portion of Penn State's coaching search and dive into what will happen in Iowa City this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-16
57:52

INSTANT ANALYSIS: Breaking down Penn State AD's press conference following James Franklin firing

Head coach James Franklin is out at Penn State, cornerbacks coach Terry Smith is in. PennLive's Bob Flounders and Max Ralph analysis from Athletic Director Pat Kraft's press conference the day after the firing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-13
18:56

James Franklin is gone. What does this mean for Penn State?

Bob Flounders and Max Ralph dive into the sudden departure of James Franklin as Penn State's head coach. They discuss the implications of this change, the interim leadership of Terry Smith, and what it means for the future of Penn State football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-12
43:15

Penn State falls to Northwestern, Allar is out for the season. Is Franklin in trouble?

PennLive's Bob Flounders and Max Ralph analyze Penn State's 22-21 loss to Northwestern as Drew Allar is knocked out for the season. The Nittany Lions fall to 3-3 on the season, is James Franklin in trouble? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-12
08:33

Special guest David Jones on Penn State’s UCLA effort, and whether James Franklin should stay at PSU

PennLive’s Bob Flounders welcomes back retiree David Jones to the Blue-White Breakdown podcast to discuss what has gone wrong for James Franklin’s Penn State program in the last two games. Jones, a longtime PSU football sports columnist for PennLive and The Patriot-News, watched the Nittany Lions’ stunning 42-37 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl and shared his thoughts on their performance. Franklin, Penn State’s 12th-year head coaching, is under fire after losses to Oregon and UCLA. The Lions have some major problems to solve when they host Northwestern on Saturday. Jones has some strong opinions on the Lions’ defense, Drew Allar, PSU football's culture and Franklin's relationship with the program's large fan base. Plus, what would Dave have written about Franklin last Saturday following the UCLA upset? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-10
49:49

Can Penn State RIGHT THE SHIP vs. Northwestern?

Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal make their picks for the Homecoming game and discuss Penn State fans’ calls to fire coach James Franklin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-09
59:04

Penn State's James Franklin discusses Kaytron Allen's role moving forward, plus what happened to the defense vs. UCLA?

PennLive's Max Ralph and Bob Flounders react to James Franklin's Monday news conference following Penn State's stunning loss to UCLA last Saturday at the Rose Bowl. What happened to Jim Knowles' defense? Franklin discussed PSU's plan at linebacker without Tony Rojas and had some thoughts on why Allen was not more involved in the Lions' offense.  Penn State hosts Northwestern on Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-06
35:02

Worst loss in James Franklin era at Penn State? Instant Analysis from Bob Flounders

Worst loss in James Franklin era at Penn State? Worst loss in program history? Penn State is reeling after 42-37 upset loss to UCLA. and Bob Flounders is out in California with his take on what he saw on the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-05
05:48

Will Penn State, Drew Allar BOUNCE BACK vs. UCLA? Making our picks

Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal go deep on an important injury for Penn State and make their predictions for the UCLA game. Plus, does Drew Allar fit in Andy Kotelnicki’s scheme? Did Penn State make the wrong choice in letting Beau Pribula leave? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-02
01:00:23

Is it first down or third down that is crippling Penn State's offense? Plus, Oregon thoughts

PennLive's Max Ralph and Bob Flounders react to James Franklin's Monday news conference with the Lions' coming off a disheartening loss to Oregon at home. Penn State's offense was stuck in neutral for 45 minutes vs. the Ducks before waking up in the fourth quarter and in OT. Franklin brought up all of the issues the offense had on first down and how it impacted third down.Bob and Max discuss some poor offensive line play and some poor Drew Allar play. Who should be getting the bulk of the "touches" in Andy Kotelnicki's offense? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-29
48:47

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