Effort Rewarded: Under interim head coach Terry Smith, Penn State may not have immediately improved in the scoring column, but there were undeniable signs of growth. The team played with energy, resilience, and a renewed sense of unity — and ultimately, the well-deserved victory finally came for him and his players. The university’s leadership has already begun discussions about appointing a new full-time head coach, and Terry Smith has emerged as the leading candidate. When asked about the possibility, Coach Smith grew emotional, with tears in his eyes, delivering a statement that moved everyone in the room to tears.