Episode Details

One of the longest-running college football podcasters in the country joins BWI for a full Penn State 2026 preview. Ty Hildenbrandt of the Solid Verbal — a Penn State graduate who has been doing the show since 2008 — sits down with Thomas Frank Carr to break down everything you need to know about the Nittany Lions heading into Matt Campbell's first season.

Ty makes the case that Penn State is genuinely dangerous this year — a veteran roster, a favorable schedule, and a quarterback in Rocco Becht who may be the most experienced signal-caller in all of FBS. He projects Penn State going 5-0 before their first true test against USC at home, then a road trip to Michigan the following week. From there, the conversation covers the receiver room, Ben Bramer and the tight end engine, how to evaluate Michigan under Kyle Whittingham, USC's defense problem under Lincoln Riley, and where Penn State fits in the national playoff picture.

00:00:00 - Cold Open: Ty's Penn State Playoff Prediction

00:01:35 - Introducing Ty Hildebrandt of the Solid Verbal

00:02:20 - Ty's Penn State Journey: From Notre Dame Fan to Nittany Lion

00:03:37 - Was It Time for James Franklin to Go?

00:04:16 - How Campbell Fell Into Penn State's Lap

00:04:50 - Big 12 Offense at Penn State: Will the Translation Work?

00:05:57 - Rocco Becht: The Most Experienced QB in All of FBS?

00:06:50 - Building the Scheme Around the Player, Not Vice Versa

00:07:36 - Campbell Gets More With Less: His Biggest Coaching Strength

00:08:07 - Iowa State's Offense Left You Wanting — Will That Change?

00:08:54 - The Blended Family Roster: How It All Comes Together

00:09:43 - Campbell as a QB Developer: The Purdy & Rocco Template

00:10:21 - Rocco vs. Drew Allar: Two Very Different Situations

00:11:54 - Why Rocco Is the Leader: He Knows the System Cold

00:12:56 - James Franklin Just Wasn't Good at Developing QBs

00:13:51 - Sponsor: Way Fruit Farm

00:14:27 - D'Anton Lynn on Defense: Ty's Early Assessment

00:15:23 - Penn State's Defense: Better the Further Back You Go

00:16:47 - The New Defensive Line Template: Size Over Speed Rushers

00:19:00 - Schedule Breakdown: The Three Games That Matter

00:19:31 - Ty's Full Penn State 2026 Projection

00:22:23 - Carson Hansen as a Bowling Ball: What the Offense Will Look Like

00:23:31 - The Receiver Room & Why the Tight End Is the Engine

00:25:05 - Ben Brahmer & the Tight End Room: The Offense Runs Here

00:26:21 - Michigan Under Whittingham: How Beatable Are They?

00:27:14 - Bryce Underwood's Spring Game & What It Signals

00:30:03 - USC Preview: Lincoln Riley's Defense Problem & Gary Patterson

00:32:42 - 10-2 Might Not Make the Playoff: The Crowded Big Ten Problem

00:33:28 - National Playoff Picture: Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame & the Big 12

00:36:23 - How Ty Builds His Team Previews in the Portal Era

00:38:54 - Where Penn State Ranks in the Big Ten Tier System

00:39:16 - Washington as a Dark Horse: Most Underrated Big Ten Team?

00:40:12 - Brendan Sorsbu Ruling: A Really Bad Precedent for College Football

00:42:07 - Gambling in College Football: The Pervasive Culture Problem

00:44:25 - Where to Find the Solid Verbal Podcast

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