Penn State has a chance to play Ohio State again, and its players know it.
With the College Football Playoff expanding from four teams to 12 starting this season, Penn State’s loss to OSU Saturday at Beaver Stadium isn’t the potentially fatal blow it would have been last year.
Penn State (7-1) not only still has a pulse on the playoff race. It will be in as long as it wins its last four games.
Had Ohio State (7-1) lost in Happy Valley Saturday, its national title hopes would have been on life support. Now, Ohio State has a clear path to the Big Ten title game, which would likely set the stage for a rematch with Oregon, which is responsible for OSU’s lone loss. That’s not the only Big Ten rematch that’s possible.
If Penn State and Ohio State both make the Playoff as expected, a rematch between is possible, and although Penn State must be focused on its next opponent, Washington, the team knows it can get another crack at the Buckeyes.
“We will see them again,” Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter, who had two sacks on the loss, posted to X (formerly Twitter) after the gam. “I promise… WE WILL BE BETTER, STAY TOGETHER!!it’s a long Season!😉 #WE are.”
We will see them again I promise… WE WILL BE BETTER, STAY TOGETHER!!
it’s a long Season!😉 #WE are— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) November 2, 2024
Yes, it is a long season, and as gloomy as many Penn State fans see the outlook, there’s still everything to play for.
‘WE’LL PLAY THEM AT 7…’
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Kobe King
Penn State linebacker and captain Kobe King would be all for a rematch with Ohio State.
“We want to play them again,” King said. “We can play them at 7 o’clock (later that night)…we can do it over again.”
Thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff, a Penn State-Ohio State rematch is a realistic possibility.
Penn State LB Kobe King: “We’ll hopefully get another chance to see those guys again and make things different.” pic.twitter.com/rZRs9wMpkT
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) November 3, 2024
King also had a message for disgruntled PSU fans.
“Next week, we’re going to need the crowd more than we needed it today,” King said. “We need to stay the course — players are going to stay the course, coaches are going to stay the course. We still have a national championship to go get.”
I asked LB and captain Kobe King what his message to Penn State fans is.
“We still have a national championship to go get.” pic.twitter.com/h97GZy6Qmk
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) November 2, 2024
FRANKLIN’S MESSAGE
In his postgame presser, Penn State coach James Franklin was asked what his message was to Penn State fans, some of which booed and threw things on the field on response to the loss.
Franklin took accountability. He said he understood the frustration and that he “owns all of it.”
He also pointed out that college football has changed. Penn State can take advantage of it.
College football has changed,” Franklin said, “and we have an opportunity moving forward to write some wrongs from today, and that’s what we’re going to focus on. I get it. We get an unbelievable crowd here, we get unbelievable support, you don’t do that without passion, and there’s great things that come from that and there’s hard things that come from that. That’s part of the job. That’s part of the job.”
For this season to be consider a success, Penn State must win at least one playoff game.
