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James Franklin has an Ohio State problem, and the entire college football world knows it.
He also has a potential major quarterback issue, but more on that in a bit.
No. 3 Penn State (7-0) is readying for its biggest test of the 2024 season in Happy Valley as 4th-ranked Ohio State (6-1) rolls into town (11 a.m. CT, FOX). It’s a matchup that is the best game on the weekend schedule, and it will have a direct influence in deciding the B1G Conference race as well as seeding in the College Football Playoff.
The Nittany Lions have lost their past 7 games against Ohio State and 11 of their past 12 meetings. And Franklin is well aware of the stakes.
“They’re a really good football team,” Franklin told reporters Monday. “They’re as talented of a roster as anybody in the country. They’re that way every single year. They are, as well, this year. We have to play really well. We have to play really clean. We’re going to need a great environment. …
“I think our guys are ready for the challenge. We’re going to have to have a really good week of practice. We don’t need to change anything. We don’t need to do anything more than what we’ve done each week — just get better and refine our process. That’s the plan, is be prepared for a really good team. It’s one of the most talented teams in the country.”
Franklin cannot help but be well aware of his record against the Buckeyes. In general, Franklin has not been able to log too many victories annually in the biggest games on PSU’s schedule. Against Top 10 squads, he holds a 3-18 mark. Overall against OSU, he is 1-9. That lone victory came against a No. 2 Buckeyes unit in 2016. The Nittany Lions scored 17 points in the 4th quarter to come from behind and win, 24-21, doing so with quarterback Trace McSorley completing just 8 of 23 passes.
Interestingly enough, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been under the microscope recently for his mark in his team’s biggest games. With the Buckeyes’ loss at Oregon on Oct. 12, Day’s mark at OSU against teams in the Top 5 fell to just 1-7.
With the expanded CFP, there is some leeway for these teams. However, a 2nd loss for Ohio State would be a big blow. Meanwhile, a loss by Penn State would take away a huge data point that could be needed when the final CFP rankings come out. The Nittany Lions haven’t had the strongest of schedules.
Complicating matters for Franklin and Co. is whether the Nittany Lions will even have their star quarterback available for this showdown.
Franklin noted to the media Monday that if Drew Allar is going to play, we likely won’t know until gametime. Allar suffered a knee injury on the Nittany Lions’ final possession of the 1st half in last week’s 28–13 win over Wisconsin, seemingly hurt while being sacked by Wisconsin’s Jake Chaney. The junior warmed up with a brace on his left knee before the start of the 3rd quarter, but he wasn’t comfortable, so backup Beau Pribula replaced him.
Franklin said Monday that Allar and Pribula would share snaps in practice this week.
“As a defense, it’s difficult because I think when you’re preparing for Drew, and Beau will have his few plays that we sprinkle in there per quarter, that’s difficult,” Franklin said. “When kind of the game plan flips, Beau is in there, it changes it dramatically I think for the defense. That is difficult. Most people aren’t built like that, right? Your quarterbacks are all similar-type guys. Ours are very different in a lot of ways. I don’t think we’re in a situation where the offense totally changes.
“What’s nice about us, and it was a big reason in bringing [new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki] here, is we do enough things and we have enough diversity within our playbook that we are able to focus on the strengths of the players that are in there. That’s all I really did Saturday, was just remind Andy of that. This was a little bit of a problem in the past in practice and in games, that you really should strategically call the game differently now with Beau in the game. Just reminding Andy of that. Let’s call this game playing to Beau’s strengths.”
Before leaving the Wisconsin game, Allar threw for 148 yards and 1 touchdown on 14-of-18 passing. Pribula completed 11 of 13 passes for 98 yards and 1 touchdown, leading 2 scoring drives in the 4th quarter to rally PSU from a 10–7 halftime deficit.
Under Kotelnicki, Allar has thrown for 1,640 yards with 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 71.3 percent of his passes. It’s clear Allar has thrived under his tutelage.
Franklin could purposely be coy all week to force the Buckeyes to prepare for both signal callers. And that’s smart, because he can use every edge he can get. Just look at the series history.
But, for Franklin, it’s about the present and not the past.
“We’re fortunate to play them,” he said. “We’re excited about the opportunity. That’s what we’re focused on, is the Ohio State team from this year and the Penn State team for this year, and what we have to do to find a way to get a win.”
Dave Miller has covered the college football landscape nationally since 2009 with stops at National Football Post and Campus Insiders. In addition to contributing to Saturday Tradition, he can be seen on Stadium Network.