If we are being totally honest…

[MacNit]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

 

[ILLINOISLION]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

Don’t underestimate ND!

 

[MacNit]

Don’t underestimate ND!

That’s what I meant by possibly.

 

[Nitt1300]

So we can still fire CJF if he wins the Natty?

 

[CVLion]

If we’re continuing down the path of being totally honest, “the best break Penn State football has received” isn’t a very high bar to clear.

A “break” like this is a breath of fresh air compared to the all-too-common shaftings we’ve collected over the years — all the undefeated-yet-unrecognized teams and so on.

Couple that with this being an EARNED “break” — as in, one based on the way that seedings and brackets work — and I’m quite good with it

 

[Marshall2323]

So we can still fire CJF if he wins the Natty?

You need to ask? The reaction will be predictable.
1. Anyone could have won this, it was the luck of the draw. All "Big Game" had to do was get the team to show up and put everything on cruise control.
2. With "all the resources" he had to stumble into a natty sooner or later. We should have had two or three others.
3. Let's see how he does in 2025 without all the NFL talent.
4. The credit goes to Allen and Coach K, they did all the brainwork.
5. Finally the default response, "We deserve better."

 

[Marshall2323]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

The real break is claiming we are "heavy" favorites so that if and when PSU loses, the BWICAC can claim the only reason PSU didn't bag the natty was the HFC, "Big Game James."

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

If PSU makes the final four - how long will it be until the talking mouth-breathers and ESPN folks start dragging up all of the old dirt on Sandusky and every other "scandal" that they can point to and say whether PSU really deserves to be in the title game or not. If somehow we win the whole thing, it's not going to be based on the whims of a sports writer from Ohio or Alabama and thus, this creates great angst among the talking heads that such a "dirty" program like us should tarnish the CFP trophy by winning it. I would not put it past ESPN and others to start a smear campaign if we do make the Final Four, just to generate controversy and clicks for them. Yellow journalism at its finest on display.

 

[LionJim]

#subjectlinesmatter. What, you’re afraid we won’t open your thread?

SMU going for a tie back in 1982 was a huge break for Penn State. If SMU goes for two and wins, the Sugar Bowl would have been SMU-Georgia, and we’re #2 again.

Edit: SMU was tied to the Cotton Bowl, Georgia to the Sugar. It would still have been PSU-Georgia in the Sugar. But I’m sure that an undefeated SMU would have been given #1 over PSU. As it is, the Helms Foundation gave a co-championship to SMU and PSU.

 

[Psumatt85]

#subjectlinesmatter. What, you’re afraid we won’t open your thread?

SMU going for a tie back in 1982 was a huge break for Penn State. If SMU goes for two and wins, the Sugar Bowl would have been SMU-Georgia, and we’re #2 again.

Wasn’t SMU slotted for the Cotton Bowl due to winning the SWC? They would have received the vote though.

 

[LionJim]

Wasn’t SMU slotted for the Cotton Bowl due to winning the SWC? They would have received the vote though.

If you have to ask, you’re probably right. Yeah, still applies.

I checked Wikipedia. SMU was #2 when they tied Arkansas, got bumped to 4th. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[ODShowtime]

You can't win anything without luck. You can make some of your own, but without lady luck you ain't winning jack ****.

 

[LionJim]

You can't win anything without luck. You can make some of your own, but without lady luck you ain't winning jack ****.

That’s the story of my life. No one outworked me but boy was I lucky.

 

[Omar81]

Every thread draws out the “I’m a better fan than some others” posts for absolutely no reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if 3 or 4 posters have made up BWICAC T-shirts that they wear just so they can answer inevitable questions about what the hell that means, then high 5 each other and drink shots of Zima together celebrating their wit and superior fandom.

 

[LionJim]

Every thread draws out the “I’m a better fan than some others” posts for absolutely no reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if 3 or 4 posters have made up BWICAC T-shirts that they wear just so they can answer inevitable questions about what the hell that means, then high 5 each other and drink shots of Zima together celebrating their wit and superior fandom.

It gets old.

 

[ODShowtime]

That’s the story of my life. No one outworked me but boy was I lucky.

I can out lazy anyone, best excuse maker you've ever seen, but I only have luck with big-ticket items like 10 toes and fingers, no deal-breaking mental disorders, etc.

I used to think the world had it out for me. Superbowl XL and XLIII changed that. But it's wearing off...

 

[psuro]

So we can still fire CJF if he wins the Natty?

I think we are obligated to do so.

 

[psuro]

#subjectlinesmatter. What, you’re afraid we won’t open your thread?

SMU going for a tie back in 1982 was a huge break for Penn State. If SMU goes for two and wins, the Sugar Bowl would have been SMU-Georgia, and we’re #2 again.

I think SMU would have been tied to the Cotton Bowl so the Sugar Bowl would have been the same.

 

[Bwifan]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

I wouldn't say the WR are poor. More to me they are average. Don't have a real game breaker like Oregon.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

I wouldn't say the WR are poor. More to me they are average. Don't have a real game breaker like Oregon.

Fleming has got this!

 

[psuro]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

And if Kansas did not have 12 men on the field PSU would not have won the Orange Bowl in 1969

And if Richard Nixon did not declare the winner of the Arkansas-Texas game as National Champion PSU would have won the national championship that year

And if Fusina would have been able to get the offense into the end zone against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 1979 PSU would have won the national championship that year

And if....

And if....

And if...

 

[bdgan]

The draw for the playoffs is the best break Penn State football has received -probably ever.

In an era of football where WRs are probably the second most important position on the field and PSUs are (hate to say it) poor.

But here we are - a heavy favorite to make the Final 4 and a possibility to play a Georgia team without their starting QB.

Would be grand if we could tap the portal for WRs during playoffs!

Of course it's only a good break if PSU can capitalize.

 

[Bwifan]

Fleming has got this!

He is our secret weapon we are about to unleash on Boise St

 

[PSUFTG]

That’s the story of my life. No one outworked me but boy was I lucky.

Keep in mind:

SMU only tied Arkansas (and had the option to possibly "go for two") due to a penalty call late in the game - pass interference, back when that was a spot foul - that was so bad (the SMU receiver basically ran up the back of the Arkansas DB - if anything it should have been PI on SMU) that, truly, the officials were later suspended. When was the last time that happened? (you can look it up).
Given that, I am not so sure that the voters would have placed SMU ahead of PSU - especially not after PSU beat #1 Georgia. In fact, I doubt they would have - but one can never know.

 

[NittanyBuff]

So we can still fire CJF if he wins the Natty?

He's probably still going to have to actually win a game, possibly 2 as the underdog

 

[NittanyBuff]

The real break is claiming we are "heavy" favorites so that if and when PSU loses, the BWICAC can claim the only reason PSU didn't bag the natty was the HFC, "Big Game James."

10.5 pt favorites at a neutral site is a "Heavy" favorite

 

[NittanyBuff]

And if Kansas did not have 12 men on the field PSU would not have won the Orange Bowl in 1969

And if Richard Nixon did not declare the winner of the Arkansas-Texas game as National Champion PSU would have won the national championship that year

And if Fusina would have been able to get the offense into the end zone against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 1879 PSU would have won the national championship that year

And if....

And if....

And if...

1879?? Damn I remmeber watching that gm, fck I'm old and pretty sure one of those dives made it over..

 

[Catch1lion]

That’s the story of my life. No one outworked me but boy was I lucky.

Bro I can tell you got grit . If it’s a product of hard work and some planning , I think good fortune is a better term than good luck .

 

[LionJim]

Bro I can tell you got grit . If it’s a product of hard work and some planning , I think good fortune is a better term than good luck .

Thank you.

 

[Marshall2323]

That’s the story of my life. No one outworked me but boy was I lucky.

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

 

[WestSideLion]

You need to ask? The reaction will be predictable.
1. Anyone could have won this, it was the luck of the draw. All "Big Game" had to do was get the team to show up and put everything on cruise control.
2. With "all the resources" he had to stumble into a natty sooner or later. We should have had two or three others.
3. Let's see how he does in 2025 without all the NFL talent.
4. The credit goes to Allen and Coach K, they did all the brainwork.
5. Finally the default response, "We deserve better."

Win the semifinal game and nobody will say that. But beating SMU and Boise St won’t get it done. The knock on Franklin is beating teams with equal or better talent. Neither is close to Penn State.

 

[Marshall2323]

10.5 pt favorites at a neutral site is a "Heavy" favorite

10.5 pt favorites at a neutral site is a "Heavy" favorite

Favorite or not...losing any game is the fault of James franklin. - chapter1 verse1 the BWICAC Bible.

 

[Grass]

Oregon 37 Boise State 34.

 

[troutrus]

Regarding the OP title

If we are being totally honest…​

 

[Marshall2323]

Win the semifinal game and nobody will say that. But beating SMU and Boise St won’t get it done. The knock on Franklin is beating teams with equal or better talent. Neither is close to Penn State.

So there is no winning vs Boise State? I wonder if the coaches and the players think like this?
I need to wrap my head around this. You recruit well and develop that talent you recruit to the point you earn a spot in the tournament. 12 teams in and about 130 out. Then by demonstrating your talent and skill, someone in Las Vegas decides you are the favorite to win a game. If you don't, fat guys on their couch get to put a "knock" on you? Makes perfect sense to me.
I'll go with Allar's opinion on this.

 

[Lion84]

The real break is claiming we are "heavy" favorites so that if and when PSU loses, the BWICAC can claim the only reason PSU didn't bag the natty was the HFC, "Big Game James."

Let's see if James can win a game when he isn't favored - that would be a nice change.

 

[ApexLion]

Fleming has got this!

He may get the last laugh.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

He may get the last laugh.

I am all for it…. If the last laugh is at the end of January!

 

[Marshall2323]

Let's see if James can win a game when he isn't favored - that would be a nice change.

 

[Marshall2323]

Let's see if James can win a game when he isn't favored - that would be a nice change.

James isn't playing, It is purely a fan perspective that losses are on the coach or the officials. You don't have to know anything about the game to come to that conclusion. That is why it's so prevalent.