Is college sports still pure — or is TV money changing everything? Christian Hackenberg and Brian Tripp break down the growing influence of networks, conference power, playoff selection, and revenue in modern college athletics.

On this episode of Statewide, Brian Tripp and former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg discuss the money behind college sports, Big Ten and SEC influence, NCAA baseball tournament controversy, College Football Playoff TV rights, and whether fans are still watching a level playing field.

Then, Penn State women’s volleyball standout Emmi Sellman joins the show to talk about her first year in Happy Valley, building chemistry with Alexis Stucky, playing with Kennedy Martin, the growth of women’s volleyball, Penn State’s upcoming matches at AT&T Stadium and Wrigley Field, and the team’s goal of winning a national championship.

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to Statewide with Brian Tripp and Christian Hackenberg

3:27 Are TV networks influencing college sports decisions?

4:23 NCAA baseball tournament controversy and the Big Ten

6:40 SEC, ESPN, and the money behind selection debates

8:24 Fan bases and revenue

9:30 Big Ten expansion with Fox Sports

11:33 Could college sports become an NFL-style model?

13:20 Should the College Football Playoff be on multiple networks?

16:19 SEC baseball bids, TV products, and home-field environments

23:14 Fear of outside influence

27:23 Emmi Sellman joins the show

28:42 How adversity built Penn State volleyball’s bond

31:02 Building chemistry with Alexis Stucky

31:56 How Kennedy Martin changes the floor for Penn State

33:05 Playing at Cowboys Stadium and Wrigley Field

34:26 The growth of women’s volleyball

38:08 Emmi on playing pro volleyball in the U.S.

43:42 What makes Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley special

45:53 Hackenberg’s volleyball connection

49:14 Lady Lion basketball history

51:07 Why alumni influence matters in Penn State coaching

1:03:53 Hackenberg on remembering play calls vs. birthdays

1:06:14 Closing thoughts

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#pennstate #weare #happyvalley #nil #collegefootball

Penn State wrestling just keeps winning — but Mitchell Messenbrink and Sean Degl make it clear that the dynasty is not only about talent.

In this episode of Off the Mat, Messenbrink and Degl break down what makes Penn State wrestling different: the coaching staff, the culture, the team-first mindset, the love for the program, and the discipline required to sustain greatness year after year.

They talk about Penn State’s record-setting season, what makes Coach Cael Sanderson’s program so unique, why Coach Casey Cunningham is one of the most important figures behind the scenes, how teammates push each other without jealousy, and why the Nittany Lions’ success is rooted in giving more than taking.

This is a rare inside look at the mindset behind one of the greatest dynasties in college sports.

Chapters:

0:00 Penn State’s fifth straight national championship

1:09 Sean Degl on his first year with the team

1:44 Messenbrink on record-setting teams and elite coaching

2:42 Sustained success

3:19 Repeating greatness is so difficult

4:29 Day-by-day approach to winning

5:43 What made this Penn State team different?

6:49 Love for Penn State wrestling

7:39 Messenbrink on Degl being there for him

8:36 When they realized this team was special

9:33 Outside the wrestling room

11:44 Hard work showed up

12:18 PJ Duke’s discipline

13:34 The young guys

15:19 Levi Haines’ leadership and energy

21:46 What they will remember most about this team

25:18 What it means to be part of Penn State wrestling

27:29 Final thoughts and offseason outlook

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#pennstate #weare #happyvalley

Connor Pierce shares his journey from growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, to becoming part of the Penn State wrestling brotherhood. In this interview, Pierce talks about starting wrestling in first grade, choosing wrestling over football, his favorite high school wrestling memory, beating an Ohio State wrestler at the Edinboro Open, and the recruiting visit that convinced him Penn State was the place to be.

He also opens up about meeting Cael Sanderson, the culture inside the Penn State wrestling room, the bond between teammates, and why fans should know that behind his smile, he has put in serious work.

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Connor Pierce

0:04 Growing Up in Erie, PA

0:33 How Connor Started Wrestling

1:05 Choosing Wrestling Over Football

1:29 Favorite High School Wrestling Memory

1:54 Wrestling at the Edinboro Open

2:20 Beating an Ohio State Wrestler

2:36 Why Penn State Was Different

2:48 First Impressions of the Team

3:06 Meeting Max Dean and Cael Sanderson

3:41 The Message That Sold Him on Penn State

4:02 Penn State’s Brotherhood

4:25 Competing With Friends at the Same Weight

4:41 What Fans Should Know About Connor Pierce

4:50 Ready to Get Back on the Mat

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#ConnorPierce #PennStateWrestling #NCAAWrestling

Mason Ellis sits down to share his journey from Huntsville, Alabama to Penn State Wrestling — from starting the sport at 8 years old, winning his first state title, learning from key mentors, and choosing Penn State because of its championship culture, brotherhood, and legendary coaching staff.

In this interview, Mason talks about growing up in Alabama, following in his father’s footsteps as a state champion, the mentors who helped him believe he could wrestle at the college level, and what Penn State fans can expect every time he steps on the mat.

He also explains why Penn State felt like home, what makes the Nittany Lion wrestling culture special, and how he wants to be remembered — not just as a wrestler, but as a leader who gave 110%.

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Mason Ellis

0:15 Starting wrestling at 8 years old

0:30 His first wrestling medal

0:42 Winning his first state title

0:53 Following his father’s Alabama wrestling legacy

1:36 Realizing he could wrestle in college

1:55 Believing he could become a national champion

2:00 Why Penn State felt like home

2:45 What fans can expect on the mat

2:57 Focusing on the process

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#MasonEllis #PennStateWrestling #NCAAWrestling

Nate Desmond opens up about his journey to Penn State Wrestling — from growing up around the sport in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, to being pushed by a wrestling family, beating the No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler in the country, and realizing Penn State was the place he needed to be.

In this interview, Desmond talks about family, faith, pressure, purpose, and what Penn State fans can expect from him every time he steps on the mat: nonstop fight.

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Nate Desmond

0:22 Growing up around wrestling

0:46 Early expectations and struggles

1:09 His biggest high school moment

1:33 Family influence

2:22 Chasing something bigger than himself

2:30 Representing Penn State

2:56 Taking five college visits

3:10 The conversation that changed everything

3:26 Why Penn State was the right choice

3:42 His promise to Penn State fans

3:54 Future expectations

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#NateDesmond #PennStateWrestling #NCAAWrestling

Hayden Cunningham grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, surrounded by Penn State wrestling.

In this interview, Hayden talks about growing up around the Penn State wrestling room, watching the dynasty develop, learning from the way the coaches adapted to every athlete, and fighting through years of injuries in high school and college.

After missing key recruiting years and not having the flashiest high school career, Hayden kept believing in himself. Then, after the Pennsylvania state tournament, Cael Sanderson sent him a message that gave him hope: Penn State believed in him.

Now healthy and ready to compete at 141, Hayden Cunningham shares his path to Penn State, what it meant to grow up around the program, and why he’s excited to finally get more opportunities on the mat.

Chapters:

0:00 Meet Hayden Cunningham

0:07 Growing Up in a Big Sports Family

0:30 How Hayden First Got Into Wrestling

0:52 Watching Penn State’s Dynasty Grow

1:12 Earliest Memories in the Wrestling Room

1:30 Battling Injuries in High School and College

1:56 Always Dreaming of Penn State

2:12 Finally Getting Healthy Senior Year

2:50 The Text From Cael Sanderson

3:58 Healthy and Ready

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#PennStateWrestling #HaydenCunningham #NCAAWrestling

Penn State entering a completely new era at quarterback? Christian Hackenberg and Jason Cabinda break down Matt Campbell’s early momentum, the Rocco conversation, Penn State’s rebuilt roster, NIL chaos, and the future of the College Football Playoff.

In this episode of The Pocket, Hackenberg and Cabinda discuss Matt Campbell’s recruiting start at Penn State, James Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech, the possibility of Penn State starting a transfer quarterback, what Rocco brings to the offense, major roster questions on defense, the running back room, NIL structure, Nebraska’s PlayFly situation, and the Big Ten’s push toward a larger College Football Playoff.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome Back to The Pocket

01:13 Jason Cabinda on Working With Herm Edwards

02:38 Matt Campbell’s Early Recruiting Momentum

03:45 Campbell vs Franklin on the Recruiting Trail

05:06 Does Franklin Need to Rebuild His Image at Virginia Tech?

06:40 Why Penn State Sells Itself

07:52 Why Matt Campbell’s Authenticity Is Working

09:58 Penn State’s 2027 QB Recruiting Picture

11:33 The Rocco Conversation Everyone Is Missing

12:42 Penn State’s Possible Transfer QB History

13:38 Jason Cabinda’s First Impressions of Rocco

15:38 Hackenberg on Rocco’s Football IQ

21:38 Why Hackenberg Isn’t Worried About the D-Line

25:41 Penn State’s Running Back Room Could Be Physical

30:42 Why NIL Still Needs More Structure

36:59 Big Ten Pushes for a 24-Team Playoff

40:53 Final Thoughts and What’s Next

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#PennStateFootball #WeAre #CollegeFootball

Christian Hackenberg and Brian Tripp are back for Episode 2 of State Wide, your home for all Penn State sports coverage.

This episode looks at the end of the 2025–26 Penn State athletics season, the modern challenge of building rosters through recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL, and revenue sharing, plus what Penn State programs can learn from a year filled with both adversity and major individual accomplishments.

Hack and Trip also discuss Drew Allar’s next chapter with the Pittsburgh Steelers, what learning behind Aaron Rodgers could mean for his development, and the unique pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback at Penn State.

Plus, Penn State volleyball’s Caroline Jurevicius joins the show to talk about winning a national championship, building her media career, the future of Penn State volleyball, and why Big Ten opponents should be worried. Penn State linebacker Kooper Ebel also joins later to discuss transferring from Iowa State, playing for LBU, learning from Dan Connor, and what fans can expect from the new-look linebacker room.

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to Statewide Episode 2

2:13 Penn State’s 2025–26 sports season comes to a close

3:17 Penn State lacrosse, Princeton, and getting over the hump

5:00 How college athletics must adapt to the NIL

7:05 Why programs must “protect their floor”

9:04 Penn State’s dominant year across multiple sports

11:23 PAM Health partner message

12:16 College sports as a business portfolio

13:56 Michael Anderson’s historic Penn State baseball season

18:19 Why recruiting still matters more than the portal

21:39 Penn State volleyball player Caroline Jurevicius joins the show

23:21 Penn State’s national title whirlwind

24:51 Balancing volleyball, media, and school

29:20 Megan Easy’s impact on the program

35:42 Caroline’s dream job in sports media

40:28 What fans can expect from Her State

45:36 Hackenberg reflects on his Penn State experience

50:18 How Aaron Rodgers can help Drew Allar with the Steelers

53:14 Matt Campbell’s impact and Penn State’s new football energy

55:56 Kooper Ebel joins the show

57:00 Kooper Ebel on growing up in Iowa as the oldest of seven

58:36 What LBU means to Kooper Ebel

59:27 Learning from Dan Connor and Penn State linebacker legends

1:00:07 Playing in D’Anton Lynn’s defense

1:03:06 How the transfer portal rebuilt Penn State’s linebacker depth

1:04:34 What’s next for State Wide

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#PennState #PennStateFootball #WeAre

Penn State wrestling just keeps winning, winning, and winning. This is an up-close interview with Joe Sealey and Josh Barr as they explain why this dynasty is about way more than what you think it is.

Coming off an unbelievable fifth-consecutive national championship season, the Penn State wrestlers break down how to win 5 national titles, what separates their training from other programs, and why Penn State has built one of the greatest dynasties in college sports.

Josh shares the moment he knew the team was special: after a workout where nearly the entire room was on the ground, completely emptied. Joe explains why Penn State never feels like “work” — it feels like a blessing. This is a must watch for any sports fan.

Chapters:

0:00 — Meet Joe Sealey & Josh Barr

0:40 — Penn State’s 5th Straight National Championship

1:43 — Breaking Records Every Year

2:27 — Why Sustained Success Is So Hard

3:02 — Penn State’s Expectations

4:28 — Describing Penn State Wrestling in 3 Words

5:09 — The Closest and Most Fun Team Yet

6:42 — The Workout That Left 90% of the Team on the Ground

7:46 — Finding “Foxhole Guys”

9:07 — Why Practice Never Feels Like Work

11:44 — The Teammates Who Stepped Up This Year

18:04 — Why Penn State Is Such a Special Place

19:51 — Final Thoughts

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#pennstate #weare #happyvalley

In this interview, PJ Duke opens up about starting wrestling at four or five years old, winning a team state title in high school, overcoming injuries, choosing Penn State, Coach Cael Sanderson’s leadership, the culture inside the Nittany Lion program, and his long-term goal of chasing World and Olympic teams.

Chapters:

0:00 — Meet PJ Duke

0:16 — His First Wrestling Match

0:40 — What Made High School Wrestling Special

1:05 — Overcoming Major Injuries

1:30 — When He Knew College Wrestling Was Possible

2:07 — What Makes Coach Cael Sanderson Different

2:22 — Penn State’s Culture Is Bigger Than Wrestling

3:05 — Olympic and Freestyle Goals

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#weare #pennstate #happyvalley