Explaining why double-digit wins alone won't cut it any more for frustrated Penn State fans

Penn State has been stuck in a no-man’s land between great and the elite for some time now. That’s why, even with a third straight finish with double-digit wins and a sixth under James Franklin this fall, BlueWhiteIllustrated’s Sean Fitz doesn’t see anyone getting too excited for it.

Fitz assessed the Nittany Lions’ win-total of 9.5 during an appearance on ‘Andy Staples On3’ on Friday. He explained how wild it is that they could go over and still be disappointing to some in Happy Valley. Those are just their circumstances, though, after consistently coming in third to former divisional rivals the past few seasons.

“The win-total? Like, it’s so funny to think double-digit wins and just snort at it,” said Fitz. “It has kind of become the expectation.”

“You look at the reality here? It just beats you over the head over and over. Losing to Michigan, losing to Ohio State – more so to Ohio State because Penn State has actually played Michigan okay. It has been frustrating because the way that they’ve lost. Like, yes, the games have kind of been close but you’re kind of keeping it at arm’s length. It’s the little brother attacking the big brother and the big brother is just sticking his hand out. That’s how it has been,” Fitz said. “You were at that Michigan game last year and, you know, you pick up on these trends. You pick up on that the offense is not what it needs to be against the big guys and it’s going to score 50 points against the guys that don’t matter.”

In 10 years leading Penn State, Franklin is 88-39 (.693), including 56-32 (.636) in the Big Ten. They’ve had four 11-win seasons and five that have reached double-digits after they went 10-3 in 2023.

However, for all that winning, the Nittany Lions have very little to show for it. They had one title in the Big Ten back in 2016 in their closest berth to the College Football Playoff. They have not been back since though and, as such, haven’t been in true playoff contention in some time in the final years of the four-team field.

Penn State’s struggles versus Michigan and Ohio State are much, if not all, to blame for this. Of Franklin’s 39 losses, 16 of those have come to the Wolverines and Buckeyes, including four of the five losses that they’ve suffered over the past two years when they’re a combined 21-5.

Those shortcomings have led to the displeasure of those in the fanbase, even to the point of letting Franklin know it in the most charitable of events.

“James Franklin got booed last week at THON,” said Fitz. “I’m not sure how widespread it was. There’s not really videos or anything but, like, it takes a special kind of person to do that.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with the Nittany Lions considering that they’ve won over 80% of their games since kickoff in 2022. However, with little to no postseason success to show for it, it has led to an irritation that will hang around until those facts change.

“That’s where Penn State fans have kind of fallen into,” said Fitz.