What Big Ten college football players love eating at Thanksgiving
IndyStar’s Nathan Baird asked Big Ten football players what their favorite Thanksgiving foods are, their answers may surprise you.
- Penn State football is aiming to become bowl-eligible by defeating Rutgers in its final regular-season game.
- Interim head coach Terry Smith anticipates most players, including seniors, will participate in a potential bowl game.
- Possible bowl destinations for the 6-6 Lions include Detroit, New York City, Nashville, or Tampa.
This Penn State football team faces a most unplanned situation on Thanksgiving weekend: Trying to finish its disappointing season with as many wins as losses.
Beating Rutgers on the road just to qualify for a bowl game − any type of bowl?
Such a postseason could be murky.
Would these Penn State seniors and leaders actually play in the game? (Top college players often sit out bowl games not part of the College Football Playoff, choosing to begin NFL preparations and not risk injury).
PSU interim head coach Terry Smith, however, certainly believes he will have team buy-in now.
And at least one of his veteran players agrees.
The Lions, at 6-6, may be slotted for low-profile bowl games in Detroit or New York City, a day or two after Christmas. Their ceiling appears to be games in Nashville, Tennessee or Tampa, Florida around New Year’s Eve.
That’s a long way from their semifinal College Football Playoff run last season.
“I would anticipate that our guys are going to play (in a bowl),” Terry Smith said this week. “I’m sure there may be a one-off or a two-off, here or there, with some type of circumstance. We’ll just work through that.
“I have full anticipation our guys are going to play.”
The focus would be on seniors and preseason All-America candidates such as defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, tailbacks Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, safety Zakee Wheatley and multiple offensive linemen, starting with guard Vega Ioane.
The Lions did have several players opt-out of the ReliaQuest Bowl after the 2021 season and the Peach Bowl two years ago.
Junior linebacker Amare Campbell said he expects to play. He’s one of the top defensive leaders.
“I’m always here for the team, I’m always here for Penn State,” Campbell said. “I’m one of those guys, I’ll play until I’m not allowed to … Bowl game means a lot and I’m excited, if we make a bowl game, to hang out with the guys.”
First up, of course, is beating Rutgers Saturday on the road. The two-touchdown favorite Lions certainly have elevated their play in recent weeks to end a six-game losing streak.
“This is like a playoff game. We’re playing to get that extra game,” Smith said. “Our guys are excited to finish the year out. So far preparation has gone great. The energy is still in the building.
“Rutgers is all that matters. It means everything to us in the building, and we’re trying to go out and get this victory.”
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
