If there has been one criticism of James Franklin during his Penn State tenure, it’s been his inability to win big games. It is something that has been a hot topic every year and will continue to be.
On Saturday night in front of a sold-out Beaver Stadium crowd of 111,015, the third-ranked Nittany Lions trailed sixth-ranked Oregon 17-3 in the fourth quarter. They rallied to tie the game with 30 seconds left on a Drew Allar touchdown pass to Devonte Ross. However, if you have been paying attention to Franklin’s record against top-six schools, you knew how overtime was going to play out.
After both teams scored a touchdown in the first extra session, Oregon took the lead on a touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Gary Bryant, Jr. After missing the two-point conversion, Penn State had a chance to win the game with a touchdown and their own two-point conversion. They never had a chance as Allar threw an interception on the first play, and it was over just like that, a 30-24 loss. Another loss to a top-six-ranked AP Top 25 team for Franklin.
James Franklin Acknowledges Record Against Top-Six Teams
Penn State has lost 15 straight games under Franklin against AP Top 25 teams. He is 2-21 overall in those games. The only coach with a worse record is former Virginia Tech legend Frank Beamer, who went 2-24 in those games. Franklin acknowledged the criticism after losing to the Ducks.
“I kinda look at the entire picture,” said Franklin. “I get that narrative. It’s really not a narrative; it’s factual. It’s facts. I get it. But I try and look at the entire picture and what we have been able to do here. But at the end of the day, we have to find a way to win those games. I take ownership and responsibility.
“I get the frustration that comes with a fanbase that’s invested and cares. I get it.”
Numbers don’t lie, and Franklin currently has one more chance remaining on his 2025 schedule to change the narrative. The Nittany Lions will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to play top-ranked Ohio State on November 1. It would be stunning if the Buckeyes were not a top-six-ranked team then. Their only other regular-season chance at a team that may be ranked in the top six is Indiana in November.
Paul Finebaum Saw This Coming Back in August
Before the season even started last month, Paul Finebaum of ESPN predicted losses like this for Franklin and Penn State.
“It’s just one of these ‘I have to see it to believe it’ moments,” said Finebaum. “He’s a top-of-the-line coach and a Top 10 coach, but until he wins what I consider to be the ultimate game, I can’t buy it, and I just would have to bet here in late August that James Franklin will find some way to screw this season up, probably even in the National Championship Game.”
It is still possible that Penn State gets into the 12-team College Football Playoff. Their margin of error is smaller following the loss to Oregon. They will have to beat either Ohio State or Indiana to be back in the 12-team field. Wins over both schools would certainly do it, but the margin of error makes each game bigger the rest of the season.
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