Thanksgiving. The time of the year when the whole family gathers together to enjoy a home-cooked meal and think about what they are thankful for.

Oh, and also the time to dive into heated discussions over hot topics, like the economy, politics, religion, and of course, all things Penn State. When a whole family of Penn Staters gathers together, everyone is bound to clash over certain subjects. Sometimes it’s a short discussion over Beaver Stadium renovations, and other times it’s a deep dive into the tunnels that run all over campus. The possibilities are truly endless.

While some people may strive to seek out these conversations to be had, we compiled a list of topics to avoid to keep Thanksgiving civil, or to take it up a notch. That’s for you to decide.

Is The 5-6 record James Franklin’s Fault Or Andy Kotelnicki’s?

A question as old as time: Who is to blame for the lack of success this season? While proponents of James Franklin would argue that Andy Kotelnicki is to blame for the upsetting performance out of the offense this year, others would counter that by saying Franklin was the issue all along.

Angered Penn State Father: “Terry Smith has shown that it was truly James Franklin’s fault the whole time!”

Disgruntled Uncle: “The offensive still can’t do anything with Andy Kotelnicki still in that position!”

Aunt who married in and, for some reason, went to Ohio State: “Still can’t win the big ones…”

While both sides may have truth to them, this is a topic you may want to steer clear of to avoid deep arguments or food being thrown.

Which Building Is Bigger: Carnegie Or Schwab?

This argument, which continues to haunt both new students and past alumni, is either Carnegie or Schwab really bigger than the other? While some may argue that the Schwab Auditorium is significantly larger than the Carnegie building, others would argue the exact opposite. A third party may even argue that they are the same size.

With all the different views, it may be safe to remove this topic from your Thanksgiving discussions. It may just save your table from an unneeded rabbit hole.

Who Should Be The Next Penn State Football Head Coach?

Terry Smith, Brian Hartline, Urban Meyer, Brent Key, and Sophie Yadzinski. What do all these names have in common? They are all vying for the big job for the Penn State football team. With no official word about who will be leading the team into the 2026 season, one can wonder: who will it be? While it’s safe to wonder about this topic, discussions could be another story.

With a divided fan base over who to hire, causing a controversial topic like this to start could cause some unneeded shouting over winning versus character in terms of who to hire. Regardless of the outcome, maybe Penn State will start winning the big ones.

Is Jim Knowles An Ohio State Insider?

Look, folks, it’s not a secret that the dominant defense we saw in the 2024 season just is not entirely there this year. Some may chalk it up to losing certain players, such as Abdul Carter. As we all know, most of our defense from last year has returned, however.

Cue the uncle who loves to start conspiracy theories, bringing around the idea that Jim Knowles is being paid off by Ohio State. Any conspiracy theory is a rough topic during this holiday, but combining Penn State Football and conspiracy theories? You may just have a recipe for disaster.

No matter whether Knowles is an insider destroying our defense, or just a strong coordinator still trying to learning the ropes in Happy Valley, one thing remains: this is a topic that you do not want coming around the table.

Yallah vs. El Jefe’s

Two absolute powerhouses on a weekend night after walking back to campus after whatever you decided to do: Yallah Taco or El Jefe’s Taqueria. Solid food after a long night of partying, but which is truly better? This discussion can ideally go either way, but one thing remains the same: DP Dough remains supreme. No discussions needed.

Are The Beaver Stadium Renovations Really Justified?

$700 million. Almost three-quarters of a billion dollars were put into one of the largest stadiums in the world. Was it really justified? Was this the right decision? With more events being held in Beaver Stadium, such as the Luke Combs concert last year, and of course, the elusive Beaver Stadium hockey game, one could argue it was the right path for Penn State to go. Others may argue otherwise, that it was a waste of money that could have been used to improve other aspects of the campus. Whatever way you swing, there is no argument that this is a topic that should definitely be avoided.

The Best Building On Campus

We all know how this one goes. One person mentions how the business building or the HUB is one of the greatest buildings ever built on campus, and it all revolves from there into statements like “the Susan Welch Building is fantastic” or “everyone knows the best building is the Forum” (it’s not). Whatever your stance may be (mine has and will remain Westgate), this is a heated discussion that most definitely will spiral out of control between the older alumni and current students. It’s best to just table this one indefinitely.

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While you may want to avoid these specific discussions at the table, it is never a bad idea to talk with your family about school, especially if they are Penn Staters. We compiled a list of some safer options to ask around:

• What’s your go-to spot to eat downtown?
• How are classes? (Sometimes, no answer can be the best answer.)
• How about that Beau Pribula at Missouri? (painful, but appropriate).
• Is there anyone special at school? (Again, sometimes no answer can be the best answer.)
• What’s your favorite creamery flavor?
• What is the go-to read for any and all Penn State news and overall funny stories? *cough, cough*
• Favorite chants at sporting events?