Penn State was a different team due to opt-outs in the Peach Bowl, and James Franklin wants to talk about it moving forward
ATLANTA — The Penn State team that won 10 regular season games is not the same one that played in a 35-28 loss to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl on Saturday. Left tackle Olu Fashanu watched the game from the sidelines in full uniform but next took the field. Star defensive end Chop Robinson took it in from the sidelines in a sweatsuit. And cornerbacks Johnny Dixon and Kalen King both sat out ahead of their move to the NFL. It all left the Lions vulnerable on defense in a game that saw the Rebels rack up 540 yards, 379 of which came through the air, to win the game.
“We had significant players that have played all year long that weren’t in that game,” Franklin said. “I don’t want this to come off the wrong way. I’m not criticizing, but it is what it is. It’s the reality. I think about guys that did play in the game and how appreciative we are, but not only appreciative, there’s an opportunity to create value by playing in games as well.”
Penn State opt outs put the Lions in a tough spot
Would Penn State have won with the four players mentioned above? It’s possible but not a guarantee. That said, there is no question that it put the program in a tough spot against a top 15 foe. And, unless the team makes the College Football Playoff next year, it is likely going to be back in this position again. Right or wrong, this is an issue the team will have to address moving forward, although finding a “fix” for it may be easier said than done.
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“Talking to some people, our guys playing against Ole Miss and playing well was also an opportunity, and these things — obviously we need to have some discussions as a team in how we’re going to handle these things moving forward, but it was different,” Franklin said. “You look at last year’s game and this year’s game, it was different, and we need to have some healthy discussions about that as a staff and as a team and how we want to operate moving forward.”
It’s hard to say what those conversations might sound like, though. After all, each player is free to make whatever choice he feels is in his best interest. That said, it changes teams in a way that impacts it in a major way. Penn State experienced that on this afternoon in Atlanta.
