Taking over a program that’s wobbling after three straight losses to ranked teams is not everyone’s cup of tea. Yet, interim head coach Terry Smith stepped in after three tough losses against Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio State and still managed to lead his team to its first win against MSU under his leadership. And the grind’s paying off big time as CBS Sports slides him into its weekly rankings.

After handing a real scare to second-ranked Indiana with a close loss of 24-27, Terry Smith showed what he’s capable of, especially playing with freshman Etahn Grunkmeyer, after QB Drew Allar went out for the season with an injury. All of his efforts finally showed up on paper after CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz dropped their conference head coaches of the week and had Smith’s name right on it. What’s even better is that Smith’s name is tied right with Lincoln Riley in the Big Ten coaches section.

Well, the way Terry Smith is turning the team’s weaknesses into strengths makes sense. Penn State’s defensive line was a significant reason for their fall, as they failed to contain Nico Iamaleava’s run, and even the pass rush struggled significantly, recording just five sacks in five games. But after Indiana’s game, they started showing up, sacking Fernando Mendoza three times. And against Michigan State, they piled up five QB sacks and six QB hurries.

“It’s a more aggressive defense,” Smith said. “We put more pass rushers in. (Former defensive coordinator) Manny Diaz brought that years ago, and teams don’t have an answer. So we brought that back. We’re blitzing five a little bit more to create some pressure and have it again.” Even the offense had star players, such as running back Kaytron Allen, who rushed for 181 yards against MSU and broke Journey Brown’s 180-yard record set in 2019.

Now, CBS Sports recognition adds up to Smith’s resume, as he’s already in consideration for the permanent role. Even though there has been no formal conversation yet, AD Pat Kraft made it clear that he’s among their top choices. But for now, rebuilding Penn State is Smith’s concern. “This place is special; it’s amazing. I just want to give back to it,” Smith said. “I want to make sure I uphold my end of the bargain in putting out a team everyone can be proud of.”

Knowing Terry Smith’s deep ties with Penn State, he is a perfect fit. He himself played wide receiver for them in the late 1980s and early 1990s under coach Joe Paterno. Then, later, he returned as a coach and has been on the staff for almost 12 years, starting with James Franklin’s arrival in 2014. He knows every small detail of the program, which makes him a perfect fit.

Terry Smith gets emotional after his first win

The moment Penn State won its road game against Michigan State, two offensive linemen carried him off the field, and that moment stayed with him. He had to juggle between two phones as they started exploding with messages from friends and fans, and he couldn’t hold back his emotions, getting carried away with all the love his fans and family were showering on him.

Talking about the overwhelming response, he couldn’t hold back his tears. “I have been reached out to [by] basically every person I have ever known in my entire life,” he said, before his voice cracked. “People are super proud of me, and, you know, it just—I get it—it is really humbling for me.” This win marked a turning point for the team, which had been seeking stability throughout the entire season.

This victory means more to Terry Smith than anything, as his father graduated from Penn State in 1968, and this place has given him everything in his life. “I’m from a small town called Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and it’s not a very nice place. ​​My dad, through his education at Penn State, moved us to the other side of Pittsburgh, to Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and he gave us a better life because of his education here.”

Now, let’s wait and see if this momentum continues against Nebraska.