In my youth, even well into my adult life, I have turned to one Alfred E. Neuman for some satire and a getaway from the seriousness many analysts have in various vocations.
When you consume many of your favorite Penn State or college football analysts, everyone is making Penn State’s recent 34-0 win into some sort of colossal disappointment.
From a style standpoint, many expected head coach James Franklin to empty the bench because the game should be out of reach.
I honestly feel if Franklin wasn’t concerned about what was on film and the Nittany Lions could leverage the full playbook with players not being handcuffed, Penn State would have hung half a hundred on Nevada and FIU.
Case in point, quarterback Drew Allar in eight of his previous 10 games prior to FIU rushed the ball at least five times – twice carrying it 10 times.
Against FIU, Allar officially had two carries – the fewest since he became a starter in 2023.
By no means is Allar a prototypical dual threat, but his ability to extend plays was taken away forcing him to make throws that he would have certainly tucked the ball and ran.
Even with the forced throws, through two weeks Allar is completing nearly 70% of his passes, which is impressive considering all the new vertical weapons he has to develop in-game chemistry with.
I don’t blame Franklin for trying to limit the wear and tear on his starting quarterback during these first three weeks, but it’s an invaluable wrinkle to Penn State’s scheme.
Another criticism was Penn State wasn’t effective enough on the ground.
Takeaway Allar’s two carries for -11 yards, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined to rush for 220 yards on 29 carries, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.
There is no coach in America that would complain about averaging nearly eight yards per carry – none whatsoever.
Many will say the Nittany Lions rushing stats got inflated with Allen’s 67-yard fourth quarter touchdown.
Entering the fourth quarter, Singleton and Allen were averaging 5.7 yards per carry (147 rushing yards on 26 carries).
I will reiterate, no coach in America is going to complain about averaging nearly six yards per carry.
There may be critiques that are be warranted, but that comes with the territory.
One of my criticisms after the FIU win on Saturday was that Penn State didn’t empty the bench or at least get valuable reps to young stars.
The counter to that is something I have reflected on since.
Which of Penn State’s first three games would you have the starters get conditioned for a 60 minute game?
I don’t feel FCS Villanova is the ideal candidate to have the team go 60 minutes, Penn State should have the game decided early.
Since there isn’t a preseason like the NFL to essentially warm up, Penn State’s 2025 season essentially has it built in.
What is missing is that early 60 minute test.
They had it the last two seasons with West Virginia.
Was FIU the 60 minute warm up with a limited offensive script? Franklin will never admit to it, nor should he, but when you have seen the breadth of an Andy Kotelnicki offense and the experience this team has, Franklin doesn’t want to give Oregon anything on film.
While much is discussed about the difficulty of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ complex scheme, the first string defense has yet to allow a touchdown on the season.
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Many questions I have had at defensive tackle prior to the season to me are getting answered.
Enai White is finding a home in rotation with Zane Durant and Alonzo Ford with two tackles for loss already in the season.
Along with White, Xavier Gilliam and Ty Blanding are beginning to shine. Franklin’s wishes to be at least five deep at defensive tackle is coming into fruition.
If any unit had the “Jekyll and Hyde” it was special teams.
The good was Dom DeLuca’s punt block in the second quarter when a free lane gave DeLuca the opportunity to knock down a Trey Wilhoit punt.
Wilhoit’s counterpart, Penn State’s Gabe Nwosu, showed off his amazing leg strength and placement throughout the game. Nwosu’s 67-yard punt was the longest by a Penn State punter since Jordan Stout’s 76-yarder in 2021.
Another superlative of Nwosu’s day was each of his three punts pinned FIU back inside the 20.
While Nwosu had an amazing day punting, his unforced errors on kickoffs having two kickoff out of bounds penalties are unacceptable.
Even more frustrating was the blocked kick on Ryan Barker’s 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
“We’ve had two blocked field goals in two years where a guy does completely opposite of what we coach: field goal responsibility. Then suddenly, I’m going to take two hands down on my inside gap and give out my outside gap, which is not what we coach and what we do,” Franklin said.
“In the last two years, we’ve had a guy do that on their own without ever doing it in practice, without ever being coached. We need to clean up a couple of things, like the two kicks that went out of bounds. Those things are disappointing, but we’ve made some big-time plays on special teams, and we need to continue doing that.”
Penn State walked out of Beaver Stadium with the win, in dominant fashion, when it didn’t play its A-game.
Would I want Penn State to demonstrate more dominance? Absolutely.
With the emphasis of Oregon on the horizon, consider the following: last season Oregon hosted Idaho. Deep in the fourth quarter in that contest, it was a 17-14 game and Oregon had less than 100 rushing yards.
Penn State was never threatened to that level against FIU.
You could argue last season’s scare against Bowling Green, where Penn State lost safety K.J. Winston for the season and won 34-27, was way more concerning.
Can it be better? Sure. But do I worry? Not a chance.
