If Penn State wins, it will be the expected outcome, and won't move the needle one way or the other.
If we lose, it will be a highly significant data point for JF's career as head coach. It will likely eliminate Penn State from the playoffs (and probably should), and it will be held up as evidence that Franklin can't deliver under the pressure of expectation.
He'll be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, so to speak. All they have to do is win 2 games against weak opponents and they waltz into the playoff with a pretty decent seed. This is like trying to parallel park a compact car on a deserted street. It's practically being served up on a silver platter.
So yeah, Franklin will rightfully be vilified if they blow this.