The critics have returned.

For the second straight season, Penn State has dropped back-to-back games to Ohio State and Michigan State, eliminating the Nittany Lions from the B1G East race and College Football Playoff consideration. And with an 0-4 record against those two opponents the past two years, James Franklin’s critics are back.

Despite the two losses, and the criticism that’s reappeared on Franklin’s doorstep, the Penn State’s head coach believes his program is still headed in a positive direction.

“Losses are tough and I agonize over them as much as anybody and I know our fans do too because they’re invested,” Franklin said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “I know we’re headed in the right direction.”

Penn State has lost just four regular season games since winning the B1G in 2016, dropping to games each to Penn State and Ohio State. And those losses have come by razor-thin margins. Those four games have been decided by a total of nine points.

Franklin says if there are just a few things that go differently, the Nittany Lions would be loving the situation they’d be in.

“If we just eliminate five or six of the unforced errors…I think we’ll like the results,” Franklin said.

Despite having two of the bigger games in the rearview mirror, Penn State still has games against Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin ahead. There’s still time to prove it’s one of the top teams in the conference and deserving of the national spotlight.

This week, Penn State travels to Bloomington to take on Indiana.