James Franklin commends players and extends an apology following Penn State’s victory over Wisconsin. Additionally, there’s the story of Donald Trump attending the Penn State-Ohio State game. Here’s the update.

James Franklin had strong words to characterize Penn State football’s second consecutive comeback victory.

He also offered a form of apology in the postgame interview room on Saturday night in Madison, Wisconsin. Franklin began by describing the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win as a “gutsy, culture win, from my perspective.” “You lose your starting quarterback, your starting defensive end, your starting offensive tackle. Next man up. No excuses,” Franklin remarked.

“At times, as coaches and fans, we can be too close to the situation, and I understand that we want every win to look perfect. However, that was one of the prettiest yet ugliest wins we’ve experienced.” Franklin commended backup quarterback Beau Pribula, senior safety Jaylen Reed, running back Nick Singleton, and tight end Khalil Dinkins for seizing pivotal opportunities that changed the game.

Penn State football coach James Franklin praised Drew Allar, who exited the game late in the second quarter after sustaining a knee injury during a sack. Allar returned to the field before the start of the third quarter, wearing a knee brace, but did not go back into the game. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula took over for the remainder of the match, completing 11 of 13 passes and directing two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter.

“It was a matter of whether (Allar) would be mobile enough to run the offense the way we intended,” Franklin said. “Ultimately, it depended on Drew once he came out. I asked him to be completely honest, and he just didn’t feel capable … Even at the end of the (first) half, you could see that throwing was a challenge for him.” However, according to Franklin, Allar remained committed to his leadership role even while on the sidelines.

“I think that’s crucial; it ties back to that sense of unselfishness, right? Drew, you’re a leader for us, and even though you may not be playing the role you envisioned, we still need you. How you carry yourself, how you interact with your teammates, and how you support Beau— all of that is essential. We can’t achieve this without you. So it’s really great to see.”

Penn State football coach James Franklin concluded his postgame press conference by apologizing for his handling of a situation during a midweek press conference involving two of his former players. Last Wednesday evening, Franklin was asked twice about Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys, former defensive players who were charged with multiple felony sex crimes in Centre County Court last week. The alleged crimes took place during a July incident while they were still members of the Penn State team.

They were dismissed from the team and the university by the first week of August.

Last week, Franklin declined to answer any questions regarding Lyons and Keys, stepping away from the interview podium on two occasions. This followed a brief statement from a Penn State spokesperson indicating that university officials would not comment on the situation.

On Saturday night, Franklin addressed the issue, saying:

“I didn’t handle Wednesday well. It was a difficult situation, and I need to take responsibility for not managing it properly. I understand you all have a job to do and need to ask those questions, and I respect that. The university issued a statement, and the truth is, I don’t have much more to add beyond that. It’s an ongoing legal matter, and it’s challenging for everyone involved.”

“At the end of the day, I did not handle that situation well, nor did I represent this program the way it should be represented. I wanted to take a moment to apologize for that and acknowledge that you all have a job to do. I didn’t manage it effectively. I’m working to improve, like everyone else, in a challenging situation. That’s a significant part of what this is about—it’s a tough and challenging situation. I apologize.”

Last week, arraignments for Lyons and Keys resulted in both being released on unsecured bail. Their preliminary hearings are set for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30. Both players face charges of felony rape, aggravated assault without consent, and other crimes related to their alleged involvement with a 17-year-old girl in their apartment on July 7.

Just days ahead of Election Day, a presidential candidate is said to be planning to attend one of the highly anticipated games in Happy Valley.

Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has reportedly received an invitation from a private citizen to attend next weekend’s home game for Penn State against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Penn State officials have confirmed that the university is coordinating with local law enforcement and the United States Secret Service to ensure proper accommodations for the anticipated visit from the presidential candidate.

As if filling the seats in Beaver Stadium for a noon kickoff wasn’t challenging enough, fans should prepare for increased security and allocate extra time to reach their seats for next weekend’s Big Ten matchup between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes. Ross Dellenger was the first to report this information on social media.

Penn State will already be in the national spotlight in the college football landscape, as it hosts just the second top-five matchup in the series history against Ohio State. Both ESPN and Fox are sending their traveling pregame shows to Happy Valley for the game, which has significant implications for the Big Ten championship race as the season progresses. Additionally, this matchup is relevant to the College Football Playoff conversation, with Penn State still undefeated following a road victory at Wisconsin, and Ohio State among the top one-loss teams in the nation.

Trump, the 45th president of the United States and the Republican nominee for this election cycle, has developed a notable history of attending significant college football games over the past eight years. He has been present at several SEC games as well as the Army-Navy Game. This would mark his second visit to a Big Ten stadium this season, following his attendance at the Iowa-Iowa State game earlier in the year.

This would also mark Trump’s second consecutive weekend on Penn State’s campus, following a rally he held at the Bryce Jordan Center this past weekend.