James Franklin and Penn State had a great opportunity when the 2022 schedule came out. After a few early season road trips, the Nittany Lions had their bye week ahead of the crucial trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan in Week 7.

Unfortunately, that bye did not pay off in any way that Penn State was likely hoping for. Despite a couple of big-play opportunities, the Nittany Lions were largely dominated on both sides of the ball.

The final score read 41-17, and it could have been even worse if not for a wild pick-6. After the game, Franklin admitted he was “surprised” at the performance of the Nittany Lions.

When it’s all said and done, it is fair to wonder if the result should be surprising for Franklin considering Penn State’s previous performances off a bye. According to Onward Sports, the Nittany Lions are now 3-7 when coming off a bye week under Franklin.

In order for Penn State to ever evolve into a true contender, those numbers will need to change.