A coaching paradigm you always hear from coaches is every game is a big game.
They are correct in the notion that the current opportunity that presents itself and goals cannot be achieved if the team cannot take care of business against that opponent.
This season, Penn State had to go through a non-conference slate that wasn’t exactly the toughest.
To coach James Franklin’s credit, he kept the team focused, and Penn State is 3-0 as a result.
Since 2022, Penn State is 30-0 when favored by six points or more and 37-2 when favored overall.
Penn State faces No. 6 Oregon in one of the most anticipated rematches in Beaver Stadium history.
Oregon beat Penn State in the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis last season 45-37.
This year, Penn State has an opportunity to take on an Oregon team that is still a bit unseasoned , especially at quarterback where current starter Dante Moore will be making his ninth career start – a stark contrast in experience with Lanning’s first two quarterbacks in Eugene with Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, who each had over 60 career starts.
The ingredients are ripe for Franklin to redefine a legacy that has fallen short in these types of matchups.
Franklin’s record against Top 10 opponents does not bear repeating.
It’s the sore spot on Franklin’s Hall of Fame resume.
Yes, you read that right, Franklin could walk away right now and be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. He has the resume to do it.
I would even argue, despite the poor record in Top 10 matchups, Franklin has one of the most secure legacies both from a Penn State and national perspective.
What Franklin gains by winning here is something that will enhance it, something that dogged Nebraska’s Tom Osborne early in his career as well as Georgia’s Mark Richt.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.I often compare Franklin to Richt because their careers at Penn State and Georgia mirror each other.
Both men had their teams take care of business against the opponents they should have. But Richt was fired because he didn’t win enough of the games that were the most important.
If Penn State were to fall this weekend to Oregon, Franklin will not be fired, nor should he, but we will hear the continued tropes Penn State fans have gotten to know about Franklin losing another big one.
It will lead to more if not now when questions.
Some will continue to trumpet that a 10-2 record will get Penn State into the playoffs. But after watching Indiana’s 63-10 rout Illinois last night, that game isn’t a gimme Nov. 8 in Beaver Stadium.
Penn State also shouldn’t settle for being 10-2.
That is what Georgia brass thought at some point and it led to Kirby Smart.
Conversely, Penn State wins this weekend and the endless possibilities are still flowing for the Nittany Faithful.
In an era of ‘what have you done for me lately,” it benefits Franklin because Penn State would have won three of their last four against Top 10 ranked opponents by pollsters (SMU was No. 10 in the polls and No. 11 by CFP).
A win has a narrative being this could be finally Franklin’s time, think of how the narrative changed with John Elway after he won those Super Bowls, the 1980’s Super Bowl defeats were almost enhancements on a Hall of Fame resume.
I don’t think Franklin gets that extreme enhancement treatment, but softer eyes and words will come in with a realization that having to build a Top 10 team that can win those big games takes time to get to the proper depth, talent, and even some luck is needed.
The Penn State faithful then can start to look at contests with Ohio State and Indiana with higher hope.
Those games will be bigger, Penn State could be going into Columbus Nov. 1 with a potential “Game of the Century No.1 vs. No. 2” situation if both teams take care of business and that contest would become Franklin’s latest to define his legacy.
That is what the games are all about and Franklin’s coaching meddle will be tested this week. He will be asking his players how good they want to be, but at some point Franklin will have to look in the mirror and ask himself the same question.
How his players respond Saturday will be the indicator and another line, defining or redefining, Franklin’s legacy will be added.
