A playoff win and a 12-win season can be sufficient to solidify 2024 as a particular yr for many faculty soccer packages. Nonetheless, Penn State and James Franklin are nonetheless going through strain to show doubters improper as they head right into a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Boise State.
Penn State did not simply beat SMU, a newly minted Energy 4 program out of the ACC, on Saturday. They dominated the Mustangs all afternoon. However even in a 38-10 victory, some might nonetheless level to the tough sport for SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw three costly interceptions – two as pick-sixes – as a cause to remove from Penn State’s efficiency.
In any playoff, successful is all that basically issues. It is about surviving and advancing on this 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff format. And that is precisely what Penn State did, successful with out even needing a lot from their star quarterback, as Drew Allar solely accomplished 13-of-22 passes for 127 yards.
Whereas their early season win at USC is now not categorized as a “massive” win resulting from how the Trojans’ season ended and their win over then ranked No. 19 Illinois does not look as spectacular because it did on the time, nobody can deny a playoff win over a No. 10 ranked (11 seed) group counts as successful a “massive one” for Penn State and Franklin.
However with all of that mentioned, Penn State was the favourite going into the sport and was enjoying at house. And if that win is adopted by a loss to a Group of 5 group, even one led by a Heisman candidate, Franklin’s detractors will nonetheless proceed to deliver up his report in “massive” video games and say Penn State did not reap the benefits of one other alternative to advance from high quality prime tier program to among the many true elite within the sport.
The win over SMU was Franklin’s a centesimal at Penn State, bringing his report to 100-41 throughout his tenure, but the narrative about him stays and can stay if he does not earn win No. 101 and carry the Fiesta Bowl trophy in Arizona.
Franklin is simply 2-15 towards prime 12 opponents since 2018, a related distinction with a 12-team playoff format. A lot of these losses have come to Massive Ten rivals Michigan and Ohio State, together with one to the Buckeyes this season and are why Penn State has solely captured one convention title underneath Franklin and wanted the playoff expanded to succeed in faculty soccer’s true postseason and be capable to pursue a nationwide championship.
Franklin, like all good coach, is not frightened about previous failures with a lot alternative in entrance of him. He is additionally not frightened about one other massive sport forward, this one removed from house and nearer to a typical main bowl sport ambiance, granted with extra on the road this yr.
“We performed in a bunch of them,” said Franklin after the SMU win about getting used to high-profile bowl video games.
“Dramatic pause, so everyone can take that in. We performed in a bunch of them. My household, we’re used to spending Christmas in inns. Not everyone is.”
Franklin additionally doubtless is aware of deep down a loss as a heavy favourite (-11 through DraftKings) to Boise State will wreck the house playoff win for some followers as nicely. Honest or not, the knock on Franklin is that he beats groups he is speculated to beat and loses when going through an equal opponent or because the underdog, and that may maintain true if Penn State fails to advance on New Yr’s Eve in Glendale, Ariz.
