James Franklin shares how Penn State players have responded to Ohio State loss

Looking ahead on the schedule is a kiss of death, but so is looking back on a game, regardless of its outcome. That’s the challenge No. 6 Penn State faces this week, days removed from a 20-13 letdown against now-No. 2 Ohio State.

Head coach James Franklin is trying to make sure one loss doesn’t turn into two for a previously-undefeated Nittany Lions team that’s still on track to earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

“Just focusing on Washington,” Franklin said Wednesday of his players’ mindset this week. “I think we do a pretty good job in Lasch Building, but they come to the press conference, and they answer your guys’ questions, or you’re asking me, or they’re walking around town, or they’re walking around campus, and everybody else is talking about everything but Washington.

“For us, we control the things that we can control, and those other things we can’t.”

Penn State had its chances against Ohio State in Beaver Stadium last week. The Nittany Lions came up with zero points on two drives that reached at least the Buckeyes’ 3-yard line, one at the end of the first half and one late in the fourth quarter.

The latter saw offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki call three straight runs on goal-to-go plays. Then quarterback Drew Allar’s 4th-and-Goal pass fell incomplete, Ohio State took over on downs at its own 1-yard line, ripped off 10 straight runs, milked the clock and won the game.

Penn State, No. 3 in the AP Top 25 at the time, started the top-five showdown by staking itself to a 10-0 lead, thanks to game-opening scoring drive and a subsequent pick-six.

But the Nittany Lions’ offense, albeit much improved this year under Kotelnicki, tallied only six points on the afternoon.

Franklin was asked Wednesday if anything has stuck out about his players’ attitudes this week after their one-score defeat to the Buckeyes.

“No specific examples,” Franklin said. “I think the most important thing for us is how do we practice on Tuesday and how do we practice on Wednesday? And I thought those practices were good. I think the coaches have been good. Most importantly, we got to get better this week and find a way to beat Washington.

“We do those things over the next couple weeks, then all the things that we want to do are still in front of us.”

The Nittany Lions have Washington at home this week, then road games against Purdue and Minnesota before finishing up the regular season in State College versus Maryland.

Four more wins, and Penn State is practically a lock for the CFP — anything less, and the program will have to sweat out the selection show.