They’ve done it, folks.

The Nittany Lions started the season ranked No. 2 in the country and a favorite to win the national championship, but after three-straight losses in conference play, including two unforgivable results against UCLA and Northwestern, it was time for a change.

When Terry Smith took over for James Franklin after his dismissal from the program, the Penn State football team was in ruin. The Nittany Lions were already dropped from the AP Poll altogether and were inevitably eliminated from the College Football Playoff in mid-October.

“I love Penn State, and all I want to do is help Penn State be successful and win,” Smith said in his introductory press conference as the team’s interim head coach. “I’m sitting in this press conference because we didn’t win enough, and whatever I can do to help this place win is what I’m willing to do.”

Smith had his work cut out for him. The fanbase was feeling hopeless as the team began a trek without its long-time head coach and starting quarterback. The schedule was harsh, too, as Smith’s first three outings were against Iowa in an Iowa City night game, Ohio State in the Horseshoe, and at home against Indiana. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at the time.

The Nittany Lions fought, as the redshirt freshman signal-caller Ethan Grunkemeyer and Kaytron Allen took it to the Hawkeyes, but fell just short. If Smith had any goal whatsoever after taking the interim job, it was to reinstate a sense of fight into the team, a goal that was immediately accomplished against Iowa.

After a bye week, Smith led his team into Ohio Stadium to take on the top team in the country. His troops fought valiantly in the first half, but the efforts eventually give out in the second as the Nittany Lions dropped their fifth straight game 38-14.

Penn State had another opportunity to right the ship against the Hoosiers in front of a home crowd, but fell excruciatingly short. Penn State took the No. 2 team in the country to the wire, but a touchdown in the final 30 seconds sealed the deal and pushed the losing streak to six games.

Still, Smith didn’t allow his team to give up, as a bowl game was in play if the team won out.

“We’re going to come back next week. We’re going to fight harder. No one will ever question a Tery Smith team that they don’t play hard,” Smith said following the loss to Indiana.

That sentiment led the Nittany Lions to three consecutive wins in the regular season. Penn State beat Michigan State, an emotional and relieving victory that propelled the fight for the Nittany Lions forward.

“We deserved this game. We now know again what it’s like to win, and we just got to build on this momentum,” Smith said following his first win as a head coach. “I love these guys to death. I would do anything for them. They play so hard for us, and it was just a great moment.”

Penn State capped off its season with its second and third-straight victories against Nebraska and then a barnburner in Piscataway against Rutgers, fulfilling what felt like destiny after Smith took over.

At this point, Penn State alumni, current players, and fans were calling for Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft to hire Smith as the full-time head coach.

Despite how it started, Smith had gotten the Nittany Lions back into the postseason. Although it would be “just” the Pinstripe Bowl, the accomplishment of overcoming the adversity it had encountered was worthy of celebration. Even then, Smith was determined to send the right message to his team before its snowy clash with Clemson.

“Finish writing the script for the ’25 season,” Smith said in a press conference the day before the bowl game. “Six games ago, we set a vision to write the chapter the way we want to write it, and we still have that opportunity, and we want to write this final script to it.”

And then it happened, the final victory that solidified Terry Smith’s place in Penn State’s history books and spot in the Nittany Lion faithful’s hearts. Penn State dominantly beat Clemson, overcoming adversity once again as the first Nittany Lion team to defeat an opponent as an underdog in 13 games.

The crowd erupted with “Terry” chants following the final whistle, a gesture of gratitude and a sign of respect for the long-time assistant.

“I think it’s just a testament to him and what he means to this program. You see the fans react that way because that’s how they feel, and players feel the same way. So we’re just so thankful to have him as a coach right now,” Trebor Peña said postgame.

“I love Terry. Everybody in that locker room plays for Terry,” offensive linemen Dominic Rulli said postgame. “I’ll give everything to Terry, like I did today. All of us in that locker room, we always said the team with the most enthusiasm is going to win. And, Terry all week, has been preaching that and getting us excited, so love coach Terry.”

Although Matt Campbell will be the new permanent head coach, Smith will continue to work on the staff. The long-time assistant grew to be the pride of Penn State football, even with a season that ended in a baseball stadium.