Change isn’t new to college football, but in Happy Valley, it hit like a thunderclap. Less than 24 hours after Penn State’s gut-wrenching 22-21 home loss to Northwestern, the school pulled the trigger, firing longtime HC James Franklin. It gave a clear message. The program needed a reset, fast. But amid the chaos, one man had to rally the troops. Terry Smith, the new interim head coach is now tasked with trying to steady a shaken locker room.

And what a moment that was. After their third straight defeat, the preseason No. 2-ranked Nittany Lions looked lost, emotionally drained, and leaderless. Terry Smith knew it. “I have to get these guys emotionally ready to go play a football game,” he admitted after his first practice via an X post on October 15. “Sunday was really traumatizing for them.” He wasn’t exaggerating. Not only had the Lions lost their HC, but they also saw starting QB Drew Allar go down with a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter. That’s two blows in one weekend.

Terry Smith is just the second interim head coach in Penn State football history. The first was Tom Bradley, the defensive coordinator who took over after Joe Paterno’s firing in 2011. The parallels are eerie. Both men Penn State alums, both inheriting programs reeling from shockwaves. Smith even reached out to Bradley after his appointment, seeking wisdom from someone who’s walked this lonely path before.

It’s not just history repeating itself. This is also a test of how quickly Terry Smith can inject belief back into a fractured team. And that starts with accountability. “We all failed Coach Franklin,” he said emotionally. “That’s why he’s not here.” That kind of honesty hits differently inside a locker room that’s been tiptoeing around failure. And it’s already sparking a reaction.

LB Dominic DeLuca, one of Penn State’s leaders, didn’t mince words. “I just love the way Coach Smith is going about this whole process,” he said. “Everyone is behind him, and just be able to live up to the standard of Penn State. He lives that and we’re proud to have him.” So who exactly is this man tasked with cleaning up the mess James Franklin left behind? Turns out, he’s been bleeding blue and white longer than most fans have been alive.

Terry Smith is a loyal Nittany Lion

Terry Smith isn’t some outsider parachuting into the storm. He was a standout wide receiver for Penn State from 1988–1991, setting school records with 55 catches, 846 yards, and eight touchdowns in his senior year. He’s been part of the fabric since 2014, serving as the defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach, helping shape the very players he’s now leading.

Now, with a redshirt freshman QB Ethan Grunkemeyer and a battered team trying to shake off three straight losses, his challenge is monumental. “My message to all of them is: You signed up to play football,” the 56-year-old said. “We love the game of football and let’s keep the main thing the main thing… So my message is: We have an opportunity to come together, win the season, shock the world, and we all can have success together.” But belief will meet reality under the bright lights this weekend.

Up next is the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kinnick Stadium on a Saturday night is going to be a psychological battle disguised as football. The Hawkeyes’ defense, ranked top-10 nationally, has turned opposing QBs into weekly headlines for all the wrong reasons. For Terry Smith, this is a trial by fire. A new coach, a new QB, and a locker room rebuilding its soul will now face one of the most disciplined programs in the Big Ten.