Penn State lacks what it takes to be elite; have the Lions hit their ceiling?: What they're saying
Penn State is being questioned locally and nationally after losing 20-12 to Ohio State on Saturday. The Nittany Lions were widely praised after a 6-0 start. But, that is no longer the case after the first loss of the season.
“Give Ohio State ton of credit,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “I’m not sure. We’ll watch the tape. I’m not sure if we didn’t just watch two of the best teams in college football, obviously, specifically, on the defensive side of the ball. But you got to give credit. We went into this knowing that we needed to have an awareness of the effect and limit the impact that [Marvin Harrison Jr.,] in the game.
“We had a hard time doing that. Guy’s a heck of a player. Got to give a lot of credit. To me, really the story, the game came down to third down. We weren’t able to stay on the field on third down on offense, which was the biggest difference in the game, in my opinion. So give Ohio State a ton of credit.”
Here’s what is being said around the country about the Nittany Lions today.
Penn State lacks what it takes to be elite
National college football writer Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated believes that the latest Lions loss to Ohio State is more proof that the program does not have what it takes to reach the next class of teams in the sport.
“Its 6-0 record was built on empty calories, beating no one of note,” Forde writes. “This was the prove-it game, and Franklin’s program has proved itself chronically lacking in what it takes to join the elite level of the sport.
“In a defining annual matchup, Ohio State is the superior team and Penn State is perpetually unable to close the gap.”
Have the Lions hit their ceiling under Franklin?
That’s the question being posed by Yahoo columnist Dan Wetzel. The Lions have a strong winning percentage under the 10th-year head coach. But, they have struggled in top 25 matchups and of course almost annually against the Buckeyes and Michigan. A final record of 10-2 is good annually for most programs. But, this one needs something more at some point.
“Franklin is in his 10th year at Penn State and there is little doubt he can build a good team,” Wetzel writes. “There’s no question he’s a good leader who can represent the school well.
“But can he do more? Or is building up to big national games like this only to wind up slinking out of town just the ceiling for the Nittany Lions. He is now 1-9 against Ohio State and 2-12 against top-25 teams on the road.”
The Nittany Lions are a Week 8 loser nationally
Of the teams who had a bad week 8 of the college football season, Penn State was of course one of them. The Lions struggled mightily on offense.
“The immediate future is hazier for Penn State,” Paul Myerberg writes for USA Today. “This was an incredible opportunity to end a long losing streak against an Ohio State that has clear flaws relative to the program’s recent standard. With the loss, the Nittany Lions are once again no better than a New Year’s Six participant with Michigan still to come in November. The disappointment is palpable.”
Penn State receiver struggles in the spotlight
Penn State entered the season with concerns about its receivers. First-year position coach Marques Hagans was brought in to improve the group. But, it has struggled so far. And the disparity between the Lions’ pass catchers and Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr., is stunning.
“Since 2017, five different wide receiver assistants have worked for Franklin,” David Jones writes for PennLive. “All that time, Brian Hartline has been on Day’s staff at Ohio State, the last five years as the man organizing and teaching the Buckeyes’ peerless receiving corps.
“These are the battles and the wars that Franklin keeps losing. And though the scores might be close, he’s not getting any closer.”
Lions loss lays at the feet of Mike Yurcich and James Franklin
We close with this take from BWI publisher Sean Fitz.
“The Nittany Lions went into Columbus on Saturday hoping to break through on the national stage,” Franklin said. “They did so with two-thirds of the total package. The outcome, which can’t be labeled as anything but a failure, lays at the feet of Franklin and Yurcich.
“Penn State will bounce back and beat a bad Indiana team next week. Maybe they’ll score 50. Maybe we’ll talk ourselves into the offense getting in sync ahead of the second game in a two-game season in three weeks. But the measuring stick was left behind in Columbus, and for a team with playoff aspirations, the opportunity that was here when the day began is now nowhere to be found.”
