Penn State Struggles vs Top-10 With Franklin, Allar

Penn State Struggles vs Top-10 With Franklin, Allar. Bet on college football with a 100% crypto sign-up bonus.

James Franklin, the coach at Penn State, maintained his expression. He wore a white Penn State sweatshirt with his arms crossed. He responded with the same measured, not sentimental, answers when asked about his most recent defeat to a top-10 opponent.

According to Franklin, “We have a passionate fanbase – 111,000,” “The setting was fantastic. They have a lot of passion. Nothing is greater than when we win. Nothing is worse than losing. I understand, then.

White pom-poms are scattered around the sidewalks outside that media room. With the look that only comes from another near-miss on the prime-time stage, Penn State filed out of the stadium. The sixth In a game that reflected the Nittany Lions’ identity and the areas in which they have struggled with quarterback Drew Allar and quarterback Franklin, Oregon defeated No. 3 Penn State 30-24 in double overtime at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

It needed two scrimmage plays to support the story in the second overtime. Dante Moore, quarterback for Oregon, scored a touchdown and put the team ahead 30–24 after hitting a wide-open Gary Bryant Jr. After overcoming a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions had their chance to win a momentous “Whiteout” when Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepted the two-point conversion pass.

On first down, though, Allar attempted to fit a pass to tight end Luke Reynolds. To make a leaping interception, safety Dillon Thieneman skied. Players from Oregon sprinted in the direction of the Penn State student section. They paid no attention to the white pom-poms that were being flung at them. Since joining the conference last season, the Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) have not lost in the regular season.

James Franklin responds to yet another loss in the top ten

“Mo Bamba.” “Welcome to the Jungle.” “Crazy Train.” fireworks. The loudest and unquestionably finest spectacle in all of college football is the “Whiteout.”

However, a tough place to win is not the same as a challenging place to play. With their most recent victory, a 24-21 triumph against No. 2 Ohio State on October 22, 2016, thanks to Grant Haley’s historic blocked field goal return, Penn State is currently 2-6 in “Whiteouts” against top-10 opponents.

It nearly happened again. Oregon’s Noah Whittingham seemed to fumble following a hit from Chaz Coleman on first-and-goal from the Penn State 9-yard line, but Zakee Wheatley caught it and brought it back to the 49-yard line. But according to the official review, Whittingham’s knee was down. With 3:16 remaining in the third quarter, the Ducks took a 10-3 lead after scoring on the subsequent play.

But that is Franklin’s narrative. The Nittany Lions’ record versus top-10 teams is presently 4-21. Penn State hasn’t been able to win games like this despite their success, which includes a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals the previous season.

Now, everything is also criticized. The crowd jeered Franklin when he chose to punt from the Oregon 36-yard line on fourth-and-9 in the third quarter. What should he be doing there?

“I kinda look at the entire picture,” Franklin remarked. “I understand that story, but it’s not a story at all. It’s true. It’s the facts. I understand. I make an effort to consider the big picture and our accomplishments, but ultimately, we must figure out how to win those games.”

Drew Allar talks about an interception that ends a game.
After losing 20–12 to No. 3 Ohio State on October 21, 2023, Allar sat at the post-game press conference looking nearly the same. He responded three times to the question concerning the first pass in double overtime while twirling a water bottle in his hands.

“I tried to get it over the guy’s head, and he jumped up and caught the ball,” Allar recalled.

The Nittany Lions were 3 of 8 on third down, while Allar was 6 of 12 for 45 yards in the first half. However, the Nittany Lions finally launched an offensive attack after the Ducks established a 17-3 lead with 12:25 left.

Allar was 5 of 7 for 80 yards on the final two possessions of the fourth quarter. He scored two touchdowns off of Devonte Ross. In addition, Allar ran up the middle for 20 yards and had four carries for 33 yards. Kaytron Allen was shoved through the stack by the offensive line. Going into overtime, Penn State had the upper hand. However, in the extra periods, Oregon quarterback Moore led two touchdown drives.

For 248 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, Moore completed 29 of 39. With the game-ending interception, two touchdowns, and 135 yards, Allar finished 14 of 27.

After the play, Allar raised his hands in the air. With a 50.7% completion rate, 153.8 yards per game, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions, he is currently 1-6 against the top ten teams. Franklin claimed that while it’s simple to criticize Allar, particularly throughout the first half, the Nittany Lions had too many third-and-long scenarios.

“Drew’s been as good as any quarterback in the country when it comes to touchdown to interception ratio over his time,” Franklin stated. Franklin remarked, “But obviously that was a critical one,”

After losing to Oregon, where does Penn State go?
Given that Franklin hasn’t suffered a defeat to an unranked opponent since a 20-18 nine-overtime loss to Illinois on October 23, 2021, the Nittany Lions’ upcoming games against UCLA, Northwestern, and Iowa should be controlled.

The next pivotal moments will be a home game against No. 11 Indiana the week after and a travel to Ohio State on November 1. The offense will need to generate more chunk plays, but Penn State’s defense is outstanding—Amare Campbell and Wheatley combined for 25 stops. Six of Oregon’s plays were 20 yards or more. Penn State had two.

We’ll have additional chances to address this in the future, and I’ll be the first to face the consequences. “I would rather go to war with no other coaching staff or team,” Allar remarked. “We’re going to make the most of this opportunity.”

Allar was asked how this defeat felt in comparison to last season’s CFP playoff loss to Notre Dame, which ended 27–24.

Allar remarked, “It’s pretty much the same,” “That’s how I feel about every loss.”

Penn State has the responsibility to permanently alter that sentiment; if they don’t, the same queries will be raised. Although Penn State is aware of its goals, the school’s motto is “We are.”

Sometimes you have to be that. Until the next top-10 exam, that story will remain the same. Franklin understands that.

“We’ve gotta tune out all the noise from this, and we have to get better from this and get on a roll for the rest of the season,” Franklin stated.

 

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