The Obligatory PSU Podcast

Six Penn State Nittany Lions were taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, with linebacker Micah Parsons and edge rusher Odafe (Jayson) Oweh going in the first round. Tight end Pat Freiermuth headed to Pittsburgh via the second round, and three other Lions - defensive end Shaka Toney and offensive linemen Michael Menet and Will Fries - going off the board consecutively in the seventh. Penn State (and LION 90.7fm) alumnus Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic joins the show to evaluate the team fit and professional outlook for all six Staters selected. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Sheil KapadiaSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Which Nittany Lions will hear their names called (and when) in the 2021 NFL Draft? ESPN pro football analyst Matt Bowen joins the show to evaluate Penn State's prospects in the 2021 draft class, including Micah Parsons, Jayson Oweh, Pat Freiermuth, and Shaka Toney. Matt was a four-year letterwinner as a safety at Iowa, earning second-team All America and first-team All Big Ten during his college career. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2000, and his seven-year NFL career also included stints with Green Bay, Washington, and Buffalo. Currently, he serves as an NFL writer and analyst at ESPN, including co-hosting the incomparable NFL Matchup. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Matt BowenSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Why have one real Blue-White Weekend when you can hold two fake ones instead? Well, for plenty of reasons, of course, but after the last 12 months, you take whatever you can get. After holding an open football scrimmage (or practice or something) for Penn State freshmen a week prior, the Nittany Lions returned to Beaver Stadium for their 15th and final practice of the Spring season and gave University Park's senior class a send-off under the lights. Intriguing plot lines that emerged during our first peek at the 2021 squad continued to develop, while concerns about the progress of new coordinator Mike Yurcich's offense may have been at least partially addressed. Chris and Mike the Mailman share their first-hand observations and impressions from their strange, but welcome return to the House that Joe Built.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

After graduating from Penn State in 2013 with a degree in Finance, Rob Lawless began work at the global consulting firm Deloitte, later moving on to start-up venture RJ Metrics. When that company was acquired in 2015, he turned his full attention to meeting 10,000 new people and spending an hour with each of them. To date, Rob has met over 3,500 people from 35 states and 60 different countries, along the way appearing on media outlets like the TODAY Show, On the Air with Ryan Seacrest, and now this dopey podcast. We love highlighting good stories and interesting people from the Nittany Valley, so we hope you enjoy this conversation with Rob, who covers all those bases and then some.Rob's 10k Friends: https://www.robs10kfriends.com/ HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Rob LawlessSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Only freshmen and reporters were allowed inside Beaver Stadium for what turned out to be the first of two Fake Blue-White Saturdays (with the next to follow a week later for seniors), so the guys enlisted the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Penn State football reporter Nubyjas Wilborn to share insights and observations on this first look at the 2021 Nittany Lions. The defensive front seven and heralded freshman Kalen King delivered eye-opening performances, while the quarterback position and - stop us if you've heard this one before - offensive line left ample room for improvement. Nubyjas expounds on these and other takeaways from Penn State's 12th of 15 Spring practices. Nubyjas Wilborn's Five Takeaways from Blue-White Weekend: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/2021/04/17/Penn-State-Nittany-Lions-football-Blue-White-five-takeaways/stories/202104170045Follow all of Nubyjas' Penn State coverage the Post-Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psuWatch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videosHOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Nubyjas Wilborn Support Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Fake Blue-White Saturday is upon us, so why not mark the occasion by squeezing the last droplets of #content from a traditionally substance-free weekend that this year is a literal non-event? Great friend of the show Mike Levine, Buchignani's former student radio broadcast partner on The LION 90.7fm, joins the show to help review key storylines at each position group on offense and defense as Penn State wraps Spring practice. This may come as a surprise, but the conversation ends up in a lengthy digression, this time concerning the long-term numbing effect of the gridiron frustration and disappointment parceled out by the Nittany Lions over the last half-decade. If you want to know what feeling optimistic and bad all at once is like, then listen to this entire episode!Offensive Line Coach Phil Trautwein's Media Availability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZHkiOc5LY Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videosHOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Mike Levine Support Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

More feeding the #content-starved beast with morsels of news and insight plumbed from the depths of Penn State Spring Football coach and player interviews. Former Nittany Lions offensive lineman Keith "Goon" Conlin (1991-95) of The Lion Country Kia Goon & Ironhead Show sits in with Brandon, Chris, and Mike the Mailman. Discussions cover the importance of returning to "real" Spring football in 2021, the impact of new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, and the (remote?) possibility that PSU's offensive line might not disappoint this season. Even if you learn nothing, you get an offensive and defensive lineman in the same (virtual) room and the insults fly, so there's always the entertainment value.Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videosFor The Blogy's Blue-White Game improvements: https://fortheblogy.com/sunday-column-a-few-ways-to-make-the-blue-white-game-more-colorful/HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Keith ConlinSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Spring football is back in Happy Valley for the first time in nearly two years, and for a program that struggled mightily through 2020 without the benefit of offseason practices, its return has been warmly received by coaches, players, and fans. With James Franklin, several Nittany Lions assistant coaches, and multiple players addressing the media each week, we'll be sharing some highlights along with commentary on what it all might mean as Old State gears up for a critical Fall. In this episode, we're talking talent and flexibility at linebacker, transfer portal reinforcements along the front four, and two young siblings with possible stardom in their future. Fair warning: You'll have to wade through the usual tangents and digressions (all good stuff!) to get there.Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videosHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

What a mess. For many years now (and several decades prior, really), the NCAA and its member schools have been losing ground in their seemingly-hopeless battle to preserve the concept of "amateurism," which they view as the basis for college sports. It's a system that has walled college athletes off from the benefits of skyrocketing revenues. Even as the business of college sports has prospered, many believe the value returned to the athletes hasn't kept pace. Under the august leadership of odious dunce Mark Emmert, the NCAA can barely offer a coherent defense of its current model, let alone undertake any serious reform of it. And now the latest battleground is the United States Supreme Court. There are no easy answers to be had, and this discussion offers varying perspectives on the matter as college sports stands trial before the highest court in the land. And after that long shot of seriousness, chase it with analysis of former Penn State point guard Jamari Wheeler's troll game in transferring to Ohio State. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

SI.com's Penn State reporter Mark Wogenrich returns to the show to talk about the transition from the bad, fake season of 2020 to the critical offseason and Spring practices of 2021. After sharing a few recollections of the bizarre experience of covering Penn State football from an empty Beaver Stadium, he offers observations from Spring football coach and player interviews, early thoughts on the 2021 season, and even some speculation that two Nittany Lions (Micah Parsons and Jayson Oweh) could go in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2000. Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State football since 1999, beginning at The Allentown Morning Call and now for Sports Illustrated’s Penn State channel.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Mark WogenrichIf you missed it, check out Mark's first guest appearance from last Summer: https://share.transistor.fm/s/322c08cfSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Despite falling just shy of the overall team championship at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Tournament, Penn State's second-place finish included a spectacular four-for-four title match performance on the final night of competition, crowning four individual national champions for the Nittany Lions. Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, the long-time voice of Penn State Wrestling and co-host of The Lion Country Kia Good & Ironhead Show, shares observations and experiences from a tumultuous year for the wrestling team that nevertheless culminated in impressive fashion. Get a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of Penn State's dynasty-in-progess, one of Happy Valley's best unfolding stories. HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Jeff "Ironhead" ByersSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUForward your registration email to [email protected] & be entered to win a signed Adrian Amos mini helmet!Happy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Blue White Illustrated's resident jack of all trades David Eckert visits the show to talk about the present and future for Penn State's men's basketball and ice hockey teams, two programs that, each in their own way, struggled through tough years after helplessly watching historic seasons get cut short by the pandemic in 2020. Is new head coaching hire Micah Shrewsberry the leader to finally break PSU's cycle of futility in hoops? Can Guy Gadowsky build on a rocky rebuilding year and keep his young hockey team on an upward trajectory? Can Kevin win Mailman's March Madness survivor pool? Possible answers to at least some of these questions await. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: David EckertSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUForward your registration email to [email protected] & be entered to win a signed Adrian Amos mini helmet!Happy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Brandon continues recounting his football journey, this time focusing on his two seasons as a full-time starter for Penn State. These years spanned a "disappointing" encore to the 1994 Big Ten title in '95, punctuated by a legendary snow-swept home victory over Michigan and a bounce-back bowl win against Auburn, followed by an 11-2 season in '96, in which Brandon was named a senior captain and finished out his PSU career as defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. Brandon reflects on this era of Nittany Lions football as well as his struggles breaking into the NFL as an undrafted free agent on the San Francisco practice squad. There's a lot to tell about his time in the pros (Barcelona, Dallas, Washington), and Chris, Kevin, and Mailman kept dragging him into digressions (go figure), so there will be a Part 3 in the not-too-distant future.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUForward your registration email to [email protected] & be entered to win a signed Adrian Amos mini helmet!Happy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Re-releasing Part One of our interview with Obligatory co-host Brandon Noble (originally published in August 2019) in advance of the all-new second installment coming next week. Brandon's got a great story about the intersection of life and football, and he tells it well.In this first interview, Brandon talks about the journey that took him across the country – from Southern California to Virginia Beach – and eventually to Happy Valley, suiting up for some of JoePa’s best teams in the mid-1990’s: The recruiting process, choosing between Michigan and Penn State, and his first three years in the program, which included plenty of adversity and adjustment as well as a chance to play for an undefeated Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion. Our next installment will cover his role as a key starter at defensive tackle in 1995-96, from the legendary "Snowball Game" against Michigan in '95 to ending his career as Fiesta Bowl MVP the following year, and how his pro football career nearly ended before it began.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

Although adversity of all kinds plagued the Nittany Lions last season on their way to a historic 0-5 start, hope is on the horizon and help is on the way. From a recent commitment from blue chip quarterback Drew Allar, potentially the Franklin staff's biggest QB recruit thus far, to a series of roster, staff, and facility improvements, the signs are everywhere that Penn State football is poised to bounce back in a major way from the struggles of 2020. In this episode, the guys review 10 stories from the nascent off-season that all point in a positive direction for the program's future:10. Arrival of new coaching consultants9. Lasch upgrades approved8. Xfer Portal addition by subtraction7. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter6. Kenny Sanders returns5. Xfer Portal addition by addition4. TE coaching turnover3. Key seniors come back2. New OC Mike Yurcich1. A semi-normal SpringHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUForward your registration email to [email protected] & be entered to win a signed Adrian Amos mini helmet!Happy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

Water slides and flight simulators for all. Penn State's plan to spend millions on renovations and upgrades to the Lasch football building created a stir when Jay Paterno spoke out against it while Letterman and fellow trustee Brandon Short was equally outspoken in his support. Although the plan was approved to move forward, comments from LaVar Arrington fanned the flames of controversy, and the issue generated a lot of conversation across social and traditional media. In this episode, the guys weigh in on a question with no simple answers.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniSupport Our Great Sponsors:Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible: audibletrial.com/ObligatoryPSUForward your registration email to [email protected] & be entered to win a signed Adrian Amos mini helmet!Happy Valley Adventure Bureau: HappyValley.comCentral PA Tasting Trail: CentralPATastingTrail.com

If nothing else, the wild fake season of 2020 was history-making for the Penn State Nittany Lions, in ways both awful (0-5) and terrific (900 wins). From a wealth of young talent showing out at the skill positions to the many maddening instances of game mismanagement, the guys continue their reflection on the good and bad aspects of a season like none other here in Happy Valley.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

2020 was a year like none other for all of us, so it only makes sense that it was historic in all the wrong ways for James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Before finally turning the page on a tumultuous fake season that saw PSU get out to its worst start in program history, the guys are taking one last, long, meandering look back on the things that made 2020 awful, and also maybe so bad, for Penn State. Kevin is in rare form for this one, so come for part one of our digression-riddled retrospective on the largely-miserable slog of 2020 Penn State football, but stay for Kevin's eloquent self-analysis of his complicated love-hate relationship with the head coach.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The guys welcome in Coach Nick Codutti of ForTheBlogy.com to talk about the past and future of Penn State's offense under James Franklin. All season long, For The Blogy has been publishing game film analysis from Coach Codutti, including a recent feature on what to expect from new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. The Obligatory guys are big fans of everything FTB has brought to Penn State football coverage this year, so it was great to have Nick join the show and talk about what held the Nittany Lions back in 2020 and what might be in store from a new-look offense with multiple impact starters returning.For the Blogy on YouTubeCoach Nick Codutti on YouTubeHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Coach Nick Codutti of For The Blogy

In a genuinely shocking power move, James Franklin relieved first-year offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca of his duties as Penn State's offensive coordinator to bring in newly-available superstar assistant Mike Yurcich, reportedly a favorite for the job a year ago before being lured away by big bucks at the University of Texas. Ben Jones, Penn State beat reporter for StateCollege.com, joins the conversation as the guys react to the surprising news, and all involved conclude that the message is clear: James Franklin's not messing around.Ben's article on the Mike Yurcich hire: http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/penn-state-football-concepts-terms-and-question-key-as-yurcich-takes-on-new-role,1484833/"Happy Valley Hockey" by Ben Jones: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Valley-Hockey-Ben-Jones/dp/0692964037Read Ben Jones' Penn State football coverage at StateCollege.com: http://www.statecollege.com/news/authors/ben-jones,191/HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Ben Jones

And we're back. After enjoying some time off for the holidays (just like Penn State), the guys return to wrap up the 2020 bowl season and dig into the surprising amount of early roster news for the Nittany Lions - from transfers and departures to recruiting to an influx of new blood via the transfer portal. Say what you will about the portal, it's here to stay (at least for the time being), so it's nice to see James Franklin and his staff importing talent to Happy Valley instead of just shipping it out. Come from the Penn State talk, stay for the bizarre Christmas tree rituals of Mike the Mailman's childhood and Brandon hellish story of getting stranded in Cleveland. It's good to be back in the saddle, and we're glad you're along for the ride.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

So that's that. You can close the book on Penn State's 2020 fake season. Unlike many teams across the country and most of their Big Ten peers, the Nittany Lions managed to play all of their scheduled games, which wasn't always a great thing. James Franklin's team stumbled out to an 0-5 start, the worst in school history, but rebounded to win its next four games, becoming only the ninth college program to reach 900 all-time wins in the process. And with the announcement that Penn State will forego a bowl game (and an opportunity to finish at .500), we have come to the end. The guys have pretty strong feelings about the year and the decision to pass on a bowl game especially, and they let 'em fly. Can't wait for the internet to react to this one!HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The snow is falling in Happy Valley for early National Signing Day. In a year in which the Nittany Lions gave their fans plenty of reasons to worry about the health of the program, is a 28th-ranked recruiting class yet another cause for concern? The guys dig into that question before moving on to other targets, namely a hobbled Fighting Illini team that comes to Beaver Stadium without their head coach (the fired Lovie Smith) and his absolutely tremendous beard. Will the Illinois players come out fired up to play well for their departed boss, or have they already checked out on this all-around miserable season? The answer may dictate how Penn State finishes its season as the Lions seek to preserve a .500 finish in a potential bowl game.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Is this ostensibly the "Michigan State wrap-up show?" Yes. Does the conversation eventually meander its way back to some discussion of Penn State's 39-24 reclamation project against Sparty that moved the Lions to 3-5 on the year? Again, yes. Do Mike, Brandon, and Chris also seize on Kevin's absence as their "jailbreak" opportunity to run the discussion directly off the rails almost immediately? For a third time (one for each win so far this season!), yes. But honestly, who has better digressions? It's a full-spectrum exploration of a positive weekend from an exceptionally weird season to tide you over until whatever we decide to talk about for the "Illinois" show.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

Well, it has been, as they'd say in days of yore, "a long, strange trip," but we are finally coming down to the last weeks of 2020 and its suitably bizarre fake college football season. How many games do the Nittany Lions have left after this weekend? One? Two? None? Who knows? We are reasonably sure that Penn State will have a chance to extend its winning streak to three games versus Michigan State on Senior Day. Befitting this relatively unexciting matchup with Sparty to end the regular season (ah, the good old days), the guys deliver an episode that really shows off Obligatory's range: From briefly applauding Penn State basketball and trashing the college football playoff rankings to waxing poetic about 900 wins and even talking about this week's football game. We hope to consistently bring a little mirth to this pandemic-addled holiday season all across Nittany Nation. #WeAreHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

It wasn't always pretty, and in the end, it was, after all, only Rutgers, but dammit, in a season full of misery and disappointment, the "surging" Nittany Lions combined a solid defensive outing, a second week of much-improved offensive line play, and a maddening number of QB draws to leave New Jersey with their second win of the fake 2020 season, the 900th victory in program history. The guys enjoy the opportunity to say some complimentary things about Penn State before attention turns to the Battle for the Land-Grant Trophy and a possible berth in a crappy bowl game.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Penn State hits the road for a second straight week in search of a win that will resonate in the moment and for eternity - a badly-needed follow-up to a potentially program-salvaging win last last week would not only move Penn State to 2-5 on the year, but also into the exclusive club of college football programs with 900 all-time victories (PSU would be the ninth team to achieve this feat). And while this week's opponent may have the patina of history ("The Birthplace of College Football!") nobody wants to think, talk, or care about Rutgers football (nor should they). After some requisite discussion of the surprisingly above-worst Scarlet Knights of 2020, they move on to the question of Ohio State's imperiled Big Ten Championship qualifications and the health of the playoff picture heading into the fake season's home stretch.And happy birthday to the heart of the show, Mike the Mailman, one of the most precious treasures of the Nittany Valley.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

In the name of all that is holy and good, rejoice and give thanks! Your Penn State Nittany Lions are no longer winless for this horrendous 2020 campaign, in all its miserable fakery. After digging a historically-unprecedented 0-5 hole for themselves, all this team did was go out and do something only three prior installments of Penn State football have managed: Beat Michigan at the Big House (also a first for James Franklin). In a moment when the Lions desperately needed a win like perhaps never before, Penn State had the remarkably good fortune of encountering a program in even worse condition than #WeAre. Relieved and elated to be talking about a win, though trying to remain grounded and realistic, the guys react to State's cathartic triumph in the Buyout Bowl.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

What is our possibly-brilliant nickname and gimmick for this game on Saturday? You'll just have to listen and find out. It's a special holiday-week bonus episode looking ahead to Penn State's meeting with Michigan this weekend, basically because we have to (it's called "Obligatory" for a reason). Chris, Kevin, and Mailman preview (sort of) the Nittany Lions' matchup with the Wolverines, a genuinely unappealing contest between two indisputably bad football teams that will still air on national network TV because #brand. It's a brief appetizer or after-dinner aperitif to accompany your Thanksgiving meal and mentally prepare you for the miserable slog awaiting us all. Happy Thanksgiving! HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

In this installment, the guys welcome in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Penn State reporter Nubyjas Wilborn, who first met Kevin when they both traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska for State's ill-fated meeting with the Cornhuskers. Having joined the beat only recently and lived and worked in SEC country, Nubyjas brings some fresh and valuable perspective on Penn State's program as it continues to struggle through tremendous difficulties, including its now-historic lack of success of on field. It's a fun, thoughtful discussion that will take you on a glide path into your holiday weekend. And Kevin, Mailman, and Chris will be back again with a bonus episode before the Lions face the Wolverines.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Nubyjas Wilborn

Welcome to the new normal. We now live in a world where a Penn State football team has begun a season with five consecutive losses, a dubious historic milestone made manifest by the Nittany Lions' disorganized, disinterested, dispiriting 41-21 home loss to Iowa. In what is becoming a depressingly familiar pattern, pretty much everything that could go wrong for Penn State did, and now this team that began the season ranked as high as #7 has fallen to 0-5 (the first top 10 team to ever do so). Brandon, Kevin, Mailman, and Chris once again convened following a game's conclusion to commiserate, vent, and vainly seek answers. This one is pretty much a stream-of-consciousness brain dump. The state of the program is such that we're going to have to continually seek out new ways of making this engaging, interesting, and also fun (remember when football was fun?), but first, there had to be a blood-letting. Hope you find it therapeutic.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

In this special mid-week Corn Belt Omnibus edition of Obligatory, the guys look back on another frustrating Saturday, as the Penn State's trip to Lincoln brought a few signs of life, but ultimately ended up like every contest thus far in 2020, dropping the Nittany Lions to 0-4 for only the second time in program history. The only other time PSU dug itself a four-loss hole to start the season (2001), the Lions won their 5th game and managed to string together some wins to remember. Will history repeat as an improving Iowa Hawkeyes team comes to Happy Valley, with Penn State desperate to stave off its first-ever 0-5 start? Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman wrap up Nebraska, look ahead to Iowa, and try their best to solve the puzzle box of the 2020 Nittany Lions.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The Nittany Lions may be reeling at 0-3, but there's always a lot to celebrate here in Happy Valley. The guys take a break from the doom and gloom of football talk to welcome in Pearl Gluck and Curt Chandler, faculty in Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, to learn about the Centre Film Festival, happening this weekend (Nov. 13-15), and the fun and challenge around adapting it into a virtual event for 2020. Tickets are available to stream over 50 films of all genres on-demand all weekend with live Q&As and other events throughout. Afterward, there's some discussion and predictions for Penn State's trip to Nebraska, and everything kicks off with Mike the Mailman's gambling picks for this weekend.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUESTS: Pearl Gluck, Curt Chandler (Centre Film Festival)

Already teetering on the brink of collapse at 0-2, the Penn State Nittany Lions are now fully circling the drain after a tragic 35-19 home loss to the Maryland Terrapins, a raging dumpster fire for the ages that offered absolutely zero redeeming takeaways and indicted the entire football program from top to bottom. Brandon, Kevin, Chris, and Mailman assemble immediately following the merciful end of State's miserable, exhausting four-quarter disintegration for a raw and unfiltered reaction to this astounding disaster of epic scope. Embarrassing. Unacceptable. Stunning. Enjoy!HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Ben Jones, Penn State beat reporter for StateCollege.com, joins the guys to talk about the experience of covering Nittany Lions football in a global pandemic, the state of the Penn State program in its pursuit of Ohio State, and various other Nittany news from the "resignation" of Pat Chambers to the Maryland game that will make or break the Lions' fake 2020 season.Read Ben Jones' Penn State football coverage at StateCollege.com: http://www.statecollege.com/news/authors/ben-jones,191/HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Ben Jones

In this episode, the guys break down a clash of legendary titans in Happy Valley. But after discussing the Fantasy Flavor League's concluding matchup of Bittersweet Mint versus Death by Chocolate, they also get into Penn State and Ohio State. What can we take away from the Nittany Lions' disappointing 38-25 loss that dropped the team to 0-2? Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman are joined by Donnie Collins of the Scranton Times-Tribune to talk lessons and observations from the OSU game. Brandon wants more accountability for the defense; Mailman expects improved player development, and Chris wraps things up by risking a bold prediction.Vote in the Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueDonnie Collins on Ohio State-Penn State and taking stock of the beatdown: https://accessnepa.com/uncategorized/psu-ohio-state-four-more-quarters-taking-stock-of-a-beatdownHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Donnie Collins

If Penn State hosts a night game and no fans are there to see it, is it still a White Out? Like everything else on the carnival ride from Hell called 2020, what should be one of the biggest holidays on the annual Penn State calendar - a White Out weekend with College GameDay and Ohio State in town (and on Halloween no less!) - arrives with an unfamiliar emptiness (right down to the stadium). After sharing some final Indiana thoughts, bemoaning the lack of hardball questions on the Penn State beat, and musing on the experience of an empty Beaver Stadium under the lights, the guys delve into the Nittany Lions' chances of bouncing back from last week against one of the very best programs in the nation. Are biggest obstacles on the field, the sidelines, the recruiting trail, or all three?It's about as classic an "Obligatory" take on this wildly unconventional weekend as you could wish for: Different thoughts and perspectives from each of the hosts, plenty of digressions, a bit of Happy Valley flavor with some football mixed in. It's all we can do to offer a few moments of escape from the barrage of daily insanity, and we hope it helps! WE ARE Vote in the Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueFor the Blogy's Film Study on PSU/Indiana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4STS7xgfcE0Chris Hummer on the OSU/PSU talent gap: https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Penn-State-Ohio-State-recruiting-battles-explain-talent-gap-Justin-Fields-Julian-Fleming--153782851/#153782851_1Mark Wogenrich on Replicating the White Out: https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-football-ohio-state-whiteoutHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Well, we asked for Big Ten football in 2020, and we got it. A classic case of "Be careful what you wish for." What can you say about a program with playoff aspirations in self-styled pursuit of "elite" status that goes on the road and loses to Indiana... in football? Kevin leads the way; Chris and Mailman follow, and they try to figure it out. Commentary on the game's many, many frustrating mistakes including Devyn Ford's baffling decision to score, the controversial final play that never should have been necessary, and the overall state of the Penn State football program. Who knew a fake season would create so much real angst?HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Pat Chambers tosses the Penn State news cycle into appropriate-for-2020 chaos by resigning only days before the long-delayed start of the football season. Undaunted, the guys touch on the breaking news before moving on to Nittany Lions football. Mike, Brandon, Chris, and Kevin give their thoughts on the loss of Journey Brown, notes from the season's first depth chart, and what to expect from a deceptively dangerous Indiana Hoosiers team + Kev waxes poetic about his favorite Bloomington haunt Nick's English Hut. Mailman gives his trends and picks for the weekend, while upset-minded upstart Grilled Stickie takes on traditional power WPSU(X) Coffee Break in the Week 4 Breakfast Bowl of the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League. Get your votes in now.Creamery Fantasy Flavor League"Dad's Bucket," Kevin's recommended piece on Nick's English Hut in Bloomginton: https://idsnews.indiana.edu/news/dads-bucket/index.htmlHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Friend of the show Mike Levine returns, joining Chris to break down the Penn State Nittany Lions defense by position (reuniting the LION 90.7fm's 2000-01 football broadcast team). Despite the departure of Micah Parsons, who was set to be one of the top players in college football, the cupboard is hardly bare for defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Mike and Chris take a closer look at a solid and steady defensive line, promising young secondary, and a linebacking corps that, even without Micah, looks primed to continue the tradition of Linebacker U. Plus, head into the weekend with Mike the Mailman's Trends to Treasure.Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Mike Levine

Chris enlists the assistance of friend and fellow LION 90.7fm alum Mike Levine to analyze the 2020 Penn State roster in two installments, beginning with the offense. New coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca brings a track record of success to an offense stacked with veteran talent at nearly every position (with the notable exception of wide receiver). Chris and Mike break down each position group, talk about areas of promise and room for improvement, and speculate on how Ciarrocca's influence might impact a unit expected to be the strength of this year's Nittany Lions. Plus a little non-football analysis as upstart Monkey Business takes on tried and true Peanut Butter Swirl in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League. Defense and special teams next episode.Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Mike Levine

Penn State Athletics has put out the call for fan-generated videos to use inside Beaver Stadium and on social media. Chris is ready to start filming; Mike the Mailman is skeptical, and Kevin is (unsurprisingly) ambivalent, but all three get a laugh out of one forbidden transgression. With John Dunmore departing the team, the guys review the Nittany Lions unsettled wide receiver group, and then turn to scrutinizing how playoff selection might play out amid the ongoing train wreck of 2020. We've also got Mailman's Trends to Treasure for the weekend. Remember to log on and vote in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League.Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Week 2 of the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League kicks off with a playoff-worthy matchup of Cookies 'n Cream versus Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and the Obligatory cast has thoughts. On the Penn State football front, James Franklin appears to have made some critical upgrades to his assistant coaching staff over the past couple years. The guys focus specifically on special teams coordinator Joe Lorig and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, whose respective position groups could make or break a special season for PSU. Also, Chad Washington of the Fort Bend Herald rejoins the show (fresh from a Penn State Alumni Association Houston Chapter meeting) to talk about the end of Bill O'Brien's tenure in Houston and what might be next for the former Nittany Lions head coach. Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Chad Washington

It's October. We're getting real, live Penn State football this month! With the season approaching, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman kick around some potential storylines of interest - from the local in Happy Valley to all of college football - including how all the changes to James Franklin's staff might impact the Nittany Lions during this bizarre, COVID-shortened season. Chris plays moderator while Kev and Mike chime in on each topic. And per usual, Mike the Mailman has some sports betting Trends to Treasure for the weekend. Remember to log on and vote in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League.Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

It's a grab bag of Penn State and college football topics as we get closer to once again enjoying Nittany Lions football Saturdays. James Franklin and staff continue their aggressive approach on the recruiting trail, so proactive, in fact, that they've offered a prospect in the Class or 2026. Scott Paterno began sharing a treasure trove of previously-unseen Joe Paterno footage on Twitter. With the bizarre 2020 college football season ramping up and fans of a Top 10 Penn State already scoreboard watching, it looks like the old adage that defenses are ahead of offenses early on in the season may be aging out. And don't forget: The Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League starts this week with Alumni Swirl vs. Scholar's Chip - log on and VOTE today! Creamery Fantasy Flavor LeagueHOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The guys wrap up the conversation on college football recruiting, preview the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League by dissecting the recipes and intangibles for Alumni Swirl and Scholar's Chip, and ponder whether Micah Parsons might not end up the last player sitting out for 2020 as Purdue's Rondale Moore announces his return to college football. Plus, Mike the Mailman's "certain to pay off 100% of the time they pan out" gambling trends for the weekend of September 26.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Like it or not, recruiting is what separates the great from the elite in college football, and no less authoritative a source on Penn State's recruiting than James Franklin himself just called out the program's recent efforts there. Ryan Snyder of Blue White Illustrated joins the show to break down all the key news and narratives around the talent pipeline in Happy Valley. What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on college recruiting, at PSU and elsewhere? Who are some as-yet-unseen young stars set to break out in 2020's short season? What's been up with in-state recruiting? And is that 39th-ranked class of 2021 really as dire as the number makes it look? Ryan's got all the answers, and they'll probably make you feel at least a little bit better by the end!HOSTED BY: Mike Herr,Chris BuchignaniGUEST: Ryan Snyder

It may have taken some time, a lot of confusion, frustration, and a few false starts (and it may not even be a very wise idea!), but Penn State football is coming back, and dammit, we're gonna celebrate. The guys share their initial reactions to the announcement of an eight-game Big Ten season for 2020, start talking a little actual football, and give the things they're most excited to see in this most unusual upcoming campaign for the Nittany Lions. Plus, Mike the Mailman's eerily prescient gambling trends for the weekend of September 20.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Does anyone have even the vaguest clue what is happening with Big Ten football in 2020? Doesn't seem like it. Not the cast of The Obligatory PSU Podcast. Not the endless stream of media talking heads and random program "insiders" on Twitter. Probably not even the people who are supposedly in charge of it (maybe them least of all). Recording as we all wait on the latest round of alleged "votes" that will perhaps finally determine the fate of Penn State football this season, Kevin, Chris, and Mike the Mailman commiserate over the uncertainty and the frustration of watching other teams play while the Nittany Lions are sidelined. Plus, Mailman spills the beans on his now-defunct 1-900 number.HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

With the NFL season upon us, the guys follow up on the last show about former Penn State players who survived cuts to make a professional roster by giving Brandon Noble a platform to share his own journey of Happy Valley to the pros. Like several current Nittany Lions, Brandon had to take the tougher path of an undrafted free agent. He explains the process of going from Big Ten champ and Fiesta Bowl MVP to a career in Dallas and Washington via Barcelona, Spain. Plus, Chris and Kevin purge their recruiting angst, and Mike the Mailman's got guaranteed-to-not-be-guaranteed gambling trends for the weekend of 9/12.HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani