Fired up James Franklin calls for 'The most challenging environment that college football has ever seen. At 12 o'clock'

Penn State head coach James Franklin facetiously explained his ‘love’ for noon games during his Wednesday meeting with reporters. Following the Nittany Lions’ practice, a question asking if he likes noon games, and if there is an advantage or disadvantage to it, elicited an enthusiastic response from Franklin.

Thursday evening at his weekly Penn State Coaches Show, Franklin ramped it up another notch.

Asked by radio show host and Nittany Lions’ play-by-play man Steve Jones what an atmosphere at Beaver Stadium could mean for his team in its tilt with No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon, Franklin was unequivocal. A call to action for Penn State fans disappointed by the television broadcast-centric decision to hold the game in the FOX Big Noon timeslot, Franklin urged his program’s faithful to move on.

“One of the things I think is really important, that I would challenge all of us Penn Staters, is let’s stop talking about this game being at 12 o’clock. That ship has sailed,” Franklin said. “The game is at 12 o’clock, and we got to embrace it, and we got to make it the best environment, the most challenging environment that college football has ever seen, at 12 o’clock. I know we’ll do that, and I appreciate it.”

James Franklin questions Big Ten preferential treatment

Unable to hold the program’s annual marquee White Out for its scrap with Ohio State, Penn State instead gave the designation to PAC 12 addition, Washington, which will visit Beaver Stadium on Nov. 9. Understanding FOX’s preference this summer, Franklin first pushed for the Big Ten to interject in a summer interview with Blue White Illustrated.

Comparing Penn State’s preference for a night game to the Big Ten’s protection of the Michigan vs. Ohio State historical reservation for noon each season, Franklin called for the same respect from the conference and its broadcast partners.

“For forever, the networks wanted their primetime games at seven o’clock. Primetime. Best game. Well, Ohio State/Michigan, it has been a very desirable game for a long time. And, they were only going to play at 12 o’clock. When all the networks wanted them at seven. And the conference protected them,” said Franklin. “Now we’re in a similar situation where the networks want the game at 12, and we should be getting protected in a game that almost every football fan in America would say the White Out game is one of the best games, one of the biggest games of the year, and everything that goes with it. And we’re not getting the same level of protection and support that other other games and other teams get.”

James Franklin Big Noon record

The time slot has not been particularly kind to the Nittany Lions since FOX began featuring it during the 2019 season.

In their first appearance, the No. 8 Nittany Lions lost a 28-17 matchup at No. 2 Ohio State late in the 2019 regular season. In 2021, Penn State went to No. 12 Wisconsin and pulled off a 16-10 upset en route to a 5-0 start to the campaign. Again taking the Big Noon spot, then No. 4 Penn State fell to No. 3 Iowa, 23-20.

The 2022 season saw three Big Noon-branded matchups including 35-31 come-from-behind win at Purdue, a 41-17 loss at No. 5 Michigan, and a 44-31 loss to No. 2 Ohio State. Traveling to No. 3 Ohio State last year in a battle of unbeaten teams, Penn State lost 20-12, then again three weeks later to No. 3 Michigan, 24-15.

Next steps for Penn State football

Penn State has a 3-6 mark in Big Noon matchups going into Saturday’s game, having opened the 2024 season with a commanding win at West Virginia. However, only six of the nine games have been noon local kickoffs. And, only twice has Penn State been featured in the time slot at home.

Urging Penn State fans to concentrate on the positives, Franklin closed his show with a new spin on the situation.

“There’s nothing better than breakfast burritos for tailgating, and we need everybody in that stadium rocking,” said Franklin. “And then how awesome is it going to be when you have all that time after the game to celebrate?”

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