Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, top, sacks Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

It’s hard enough to play a No. 1 team on the road, but to follow it up with playing the No. 2 team at home is almost as brutal as it gets for the Lions and Terry Smith.

Indiana has only beaten Penn State twice in 27 meetings, but the roles are certainly reversed now with the Hoosiers at No. 2 in the AP Poll and an explosive offense that’s averaging 46.4 points per game.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti was thought to be a target for the next Penn State coach in the first few days of the search following James Franklin’s dismissal, but any dreams of hiring Cignetti were thrown away after he signed an eight-year, $93 million dollar extension with the Hoosiers.

Cignetti led the Hoosiers to an 11-2 season and an appearance in the College Football Playoffs in his first season last year, and they have not slowed down.

Cignetti, who was born in Pittsburgh, spent time as a head coach at IUP, Elon, and James Madison before going to Indiana.

“He’s an outstanding coach,” Smith said. “He has a methodical approach to things. He’s a player developer. He runs a great program at JMU and all the places he’s been, he’s had success.

“Guys buy into the program. Once you get buy-in and trust, you can do some special things and that’s what he’s doing right now. He’s got those guys playing as good as anyone in the country. I respect everything he’s doing, and he’s doing it the right way.”

Targeting call?

Ohio State All-American safety Caleb Downs was initially called for targeting in the fourth quarter on Saturday on Penn State tight end Khalil Dinkins. After video review of the play, the targeting call was reversed by the officials, but Downs was still flagged for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.

Smith said from his perspective, it looked like ‘the definition of targeting.’

It’s a situation where a hit such as the one Dinkins took could lead to extracurricular activity, but Smith said discipline is what makes it a non-issue.

“We play a violent game and hits happen all the time,” Smith said. “We’re not going to react to what type of hit it was. You have to line up and play the snap, and let the referees referee.”

Betting on professional sports

Recently the NCAA announced it would begin allowing collegiate athletes to place bets on professional sports on Nov. 1. That rule is now on pause in light of the NBA gambling scandal news that broke a couple weeks ago.

How has Penn State dealt with the possible situation should the rule come into effect sometime down the road?

“Obviously if anyone is thinking of placing bets, don’t do that right now,” Smith said. “We just continue to educate these guys on the pros and cons of things, and if they’re choosing to do it, how to go about doing it so it doesn’t affect their career.”

A possible bowl game

The Lions sit at 3-5 and face another huge test on Saturday, but they would have a reasonable shot at winning the final three games of the season. A 6-6 record would put them in place to be eligible to play in a bowl game.

There is plenty of uncertainty about the future with a new coach eventually incoming. However, if the Lions do become bowl-eligible, Smith’s feeling is PSU would elect to play a final game because of the fight they’ve shown, even though there haven’t been any internal conversations about the possibility.

“Why wouldn’t we want to play football? This is what we signed up to do,” Smith said. “We want to take advantage of every opportunity that’s in front of us.”

NOTABLE

• Saturday’s game will be the helmet stripe game at Beaver Stadium, and the university will honor armed forces with Military Appreciation Day.

• Penn State’s game at Michigan State was announced for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 15. The game will be televised on either CBS or Big Ten Network.