Joel Klatt defends Penn State uniform drip after being forgotten by FOX

FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt went to bat for Penn State on Sunday, tweeting a response to a FOX Sports graphic stating the top Week 1 uniforms — which included TCU, Miami, Missouri, BYU, Oregon, Tulane, Nevada and San Diego State — but not the Nittany Lions.

“Ummm,” Klatt tweeted, “I’m sorry but did you guys forget to add @PennStateFball??? Alright…Emergency meeting tomorrow morning at 7AM…I will need someone’s resignation.”

Head coach James Franklin and the No. 19 Nittany Lions on Saturday traveled to face the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers, where Penn State ended up winning a hard-fought defensive battle 16-10. As is the case with most Penn State away games, the Nittany Lions were wearing their road whites, which features a plain white helmet fit with a white stripe down the middle, navy blue numbers on the front, back and sleeves, no nameplates, and the Nittany Lions’ logo in the middle of the front of the jersey’s collar.

Penn State starts the season hot

Penn State had an excellent start to the 2021 campaign on Saturday, facing a ranked team for the first time in a season opener under Franklin.

While the offense showed promising flashes, it was the defense that sealed the game for the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz fumbled the ball in the red zone and threw two interceptions on the Badgers’ final two drives. 

Penn State allowed 27.7 points and 329 yards per game last season. While they allowed 359 yards on Saturday, they clearly demonstrated the ability to play a bend-don’t-break defense, something they could not do well last year. They were +3 on turnovers on the day after being -8 in 2020.

“Obviously, our defense played unbelievable,” Franklin said. 

The Nittany Lions started the abbreviated 2020 campaign with an abysmal 0-5 record, and although they ended up winning four-straight to finish 4-5, the 2021 season is already off to a much better start for Franklin.

“I’m just super proud of the entire team,” Franklin said while fighting back his emotions. “That’s a gutsy win, on the road in a hostile environment. Obviously our defense played unbelievable.”

Although the defense played well, the offense struggled; Penn State entered the locker room at halftime stuck in a 0-0 stalemate, and Franklin acknowledged that there’s still plenty of work to be done — particularly, on the offensive side.

“We have to be more consistent,” Franklin said. “That’s being able to run the ball consistently, and obviously getting the ball into our playmakers’ hands.”