The Lions247 team has its finger on the pulse of Penn State transfer portal news, recruiting, coaching staff moves and more after James Franklin's squad was eliminated in the semifinals of the College

Tom Allen wore a weary smile in Penn State's locker room after the Orange Bowl as he surveyed a silent, still group of players hurting over the Nittany Lions' 27-24 loss to Notre Dame. Penn State's defensive coordinator, at least for that moment, tried to find context.

Nebraska will have to be at the top of its game to hang with Penn State. Coach Mark Manning won his 300th dual meet in his 24 years at Nebraska when the Huskers defeated Minnesota last Saturday. Manning is 300-107-3 at Nebraska.

The desire to run it back in 2025 will set high expectations — the highest of any of James Franklin's Penn State teams.

The Penn State football roster that shined in the College Football Playoff semifinals and produced the most wins in school history will return a serious core of contributors. Foundationally, the Nittany Lions appear in about as good of shape as possible heading into preparations for a 2025 season with even greater expectations.

USC defensive coordinator and Penn State letterman D'Anton Lynn has signed a contract extension with the Trojans.

As Franklin said before hiring Allen last year, Penn State's defense is not in rebuild mode. The program is about winning now, which the returns of Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have foreshadowed. Franklin is chasing hardware next season, and the defensive coordinator hire will reflect that.

Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (6-5, 266) was a force opposite Abdul Carter and could wind up on multiple preseason All-America teams. Dennis-Sutton had eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries, an interception and two fumble recoveries last year.

Check out the greatest moments and plays in this matchup between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan State Spartans.

Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen has agreed to take the same position at Clemson, the school announced on Tuesday. Allen, who just finished his first season as Penn State's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach,

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff is set to crown a national champion on Monday as 7-seed Notre Dame takes on 8-seed Ohio State at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This will be the ninth meeting for two of college football's most storied programs and marks the third consecutive season the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will face off -- the longest such streak in the series' relatively brief history.