In the battle of “can’t win the big one” coaches, Ryan Day moved to 3-7 against top-five teams while James Franklin fell to 1-9 against top-five teams and 1-10 against Ohio State. Even that one win was such a fluke but it bought Franklin a decade of leeway with the Penn State administration.
James Franklin Fell Once Again to Ohio State and Fans Let Him Have It
Penn State is a great football team this year and will likely end up as an at-large in the College Football Playoff. However, Penn State just cannot get over the Ohio State hump. After a 20-13 loss that really wasn’t as close as the score suggests, Ohio State out-gained the Nittany Lions 358-270 and spotted Penn State 10 points thanks to a game-opening, 14-play drive for a field goal and a pick-six.
Despite that, Ohio State was able to do just about anything it wanted on offense and was only stopped when it got in its own way. Offensively, Penn State was not able to get anything going. Neither of its star running backs did anything. Tyler Warren, Penn State’s do-it-all-because-they-have-nothing-else tight end led the way in both rushing and receiving. However, Penn State did not score an offensive touchdown.
When it came down to it, the Nittany Lions needed one stop in the fourth quarter. After failing to score on fourth and goal from the one-yard line, Ohio State got the ball back on their own one with 5:13 to go in the game. James Franklin’s squad needed a stop but could not get it. Ohio State literally ran the clock out (10 runs and a kneel-down on an 11-play drive) and converted two third downs off two Will Howard designed runs.
Penn State’s offense only sustained one 10-play drive. Its defense only forced two punts. Sure, it forced a pick-six and a crucial fumble-out-of-the-endzone turnover but it had nothing to show for it.
The Nittany Lions only managed two field goals on offense on the first drives of each half. Those two drives accounted for 110 yards. The other 160 yards came off of 32 plays in six drives. Not great.
As a result, college football fans from around the country let him have it:
That goal line stretch was James Franklin’s coaching career at Penn State in a microcosm. He’ll get you 95% of the way there and fail miserably when needed the most.
— Matt Maisel (@Matt_Maisel) November 2, 2024
James Franklin if he had to face Ohio State every week pic.twitter.com/A6joiXycrq
— DollarDog Nick (@DollarDogNick) November 2, 2024
We are approximately three weeks away from James Franklin suddenly getting “job offers” and “interest” from programs that make absolutely no sense.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 2, 2024
James Franklin is never ready for the big moment.
And whenever he loses a big game, he acts like a fool after it.
You are the head coach! Ignore the fans and walk into the locker room without embarrassing yourself even more. 🤡 https://t.co/LW60FN3LVz
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) November 2, 2024
James Franklin was gifted a 10-point lead at home almost immediately and still couldn’t do it lmao
— Wyatt (@hooplawyatt) November 2, 2024
James Franklin, will you show up in a big moment?
Franklin: pic.twitter.com/l7XX4LvNjJ
— Jonathan Von Tobel (@meJVT) November 2, 2024
Maybe don’t go 1-14 against Top 5 teams, and you wouldn’t have to verbally go after fans from the school you coach at. Then you wonder why James Franklin gets the reputation for being unlikable pic.twitter.com/8zjgXqsEOX
— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) November 2, 2024
Most winnable Ohio State game in 7 years and not surprisingly a James Franklin led team finds a way to blow it
James is now 1-10 vs Ohio State in his tenure
Enough is enough
He needs to be fired
— Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) November 2, 2024
Now what?
Penn State is not knocked out of College Football Playoff contention by any stretch of the imagination. On one hand, Penn State can end up 11-1 as a Big Ten team. On the other, if Penn State wins out, what is its best win? A potential MAC Champion Bowling Green? At Wisconsin?
Penn State was considered to be one of the biggest benefactors of the expanded College Football Playoff. Every year, the Nittany Lions win every game against non-Ohio State and Michigan teams. This year, Penn State doesn’t play Michigan, Indiana, Oregon, or Iowa. It was gift-wrapped an 11-win season and nearly fumbled it away against Bowling Green, Illinois, and USC.
Now what?
James Franklin is going to be under the microscope this offseason if/when Penn State is knocked out of the playoff. There were preseason reports that Florida was looking at Franklin to take over after it fires Billy Napier (despite this year’s no-win scenario).
Penn State would be fine if it moved on from Franklin, right? At the end of the day, Franklin does deserve his flowers. He took over a program in the midst of sanctions and fallout from the Jerry Sandusky/Joe Paterno scandal plus Bill O’Brien taking off to the NFL after just two years.
However, one Big Ten title, two Rose Bowls (one of which was thanks to Michigan and Ohio State in the CFP), a 4-17 record against Ohio State and Michigan, and no CFP appearances (yet) is not quite up to the Penn State standard.
More Penn State News and Coverage:
- “Same Ole Penn State” – College Football Fans Blast Nittany Lions for Continued Struggles Against Top-5 Opponents
- ‘Anything For Ohio State’: Video Has College Football Fans Question Official’s Integrity In Penn State Loss
- Penn State Fans Scream At James Franklin For Him To Be Fired After Another Loss To Ohio State
- Penn State Coach Questions Fan’s Manhood After 20-13 Loss To Ohio State
- College Football Fans Are Going Crazy After Penn State Player Does The Allen Iverson Step Over To Taunt An Ohio State Star
