It occurred to Penn State and head coach James Franklin once more. One other huge sport, one other huge second and one other crushing loss. This time it was a devastating 30-24 double time beyond regulation loss to No. 6 Oregon.
What makes this one so dangerous is that Penn State appeared to have lastly slayed the beast that’s “the massive sport” second. They erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, simply scored to open the primary time beyond regulation after which watched all of it disintegrate after that. Following Penn State’s time beyond regulation landing, Oregon scored on its two time beyond regulation possessions to regain the lead, after which clinched the sport by intercepting Penn State quarterback Drew Allar on the primary play of Penn State’s second time beyond regulation possession.
Penn State nonetheless has not modified the narrative
At this level, there’s a very established development for what each Penn State season goes to appear to be beneath head coach James Franklin.
- Preseason hype about how that is the yr for a Nationwide Championship run.
- Lots of blowout wins in opposition to a mushy non-conference schedule.
- Beating all the second, third and fourth-tier Large Ten groups that aren’t critical contenders.
- After which they lose to each top-tier staff they play.
This was Penn State’s first huge likelihood this season to alter the narrative on the latter level. And whereas it seemed terrible for 3 quarters, Penn State’s valiant fourth quarter comeback, and the way in which it began time beyond regulation, seemed prefer it may lastly be able to safe a signature, narrative-busting win.
Then it wasn’t.
It was merely extra of the identical.
If you wish to be charitable to Penn State and Franklin, you possibly can say it was a terrific sport, and so they confirmed a ton of braveness and coronary heart to battle again from a horrible begin, and it was nonetheless a coin-flip sport that got here right down to only one or two performs.
However why do you have to be charitable with them when that is how all of those video games go?
Franklin is now 4-21 all-time in opposition to top-10 groups, which is solely not adequate for the place Penn State desires to be.
It’s unrealistic to count on any coach or staff to win each sport in opposition to a top-10 opponent, and even nearly all of them. You are going to lose quite a lot of them. Sooner or later, nonetheless, if you wish to be a real nationwide championship contender, it’s a must to win a minimum of a few of them. You must win the occasional one. You must beat any individual who’s on that degree.
It by no means occurs at Penn State.
They may get one other crack at it later this season after they journey to Columbus to play No. 1 Ohio State (their long-time nemesis). If that sport is similar method, and so they lose a second Large Ten sport and yet one more sport to a professional contender, it is going to be awfully troublesome to take this program critically as being on that degree.
Drew Allar’s draft inventory is perhaps sinking
When the 2025 season started, Allar was projected as a possible first-round choose within the 2026 NFL Draft class, and probably even a top-five choose with a robust sufficient season.
He has not accomplished something to again up that projection, and Saturday’s sport was particularly dangerous for his draft inventory.
Allar accomplished simply 14-of-25 passes for less than 137 yards, and whereas he did throw two touchdowns as a part of the fourth quarter comeback, he additionally threw one other game-deciding, back-breaking interception in a vital second.
Even with Penn State’s undefeated report coming into Saturday, his play this season had taken a big step backward. Like the remainder of the staff, he additionally fell quick in one other huge second. He has simply as a lot work to do in altering his narrative as Franklin does on the sidelines.
