Can a coach be disliked, maybe even hated, if his team is 11-1 and makes the College Football Playoff? We might find out this season after Penn State ’s James Franklin lost another game to Ohio State , 20-13 in depressing fashion for a Nittany Lions fan base that has been served a steady diet of disappointment in big games for, oh, the last decade. “I own it all,” Franklin said after Ohio State’s goal-line stand against Penn State, which arguably had the worst four play calls in recent program history. That comment by Franklin might only infuriate the fan base even more.
There is an interesting juxtaposition going on with Penn State and its coach. The Nittany Lions are still clearly in the playoff hunt, ranked No. 6 after the Ohio State defeat.
They will be favored probably by double digits in each of their final four games against Washington , Purdue , Minnesota and Maryland . Franklin is 28-6 over the last two-plus seasons and barring a major upset will land PSU in the playoff, but fans are not only disappointed after Saturday – they’re fuming. MORE: Atmosphere in Big House opens the eyes of many of Michigan’s top recruits CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Top 100 TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker There were a lot of sad faces in Happy Valley this afternoon 😳 pic.
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