James Franklin wants to use loss to Minnesota as 'fuel': 'Saturday can't come soon enough'

Penn State is ranked No. 4 in the country. That will change Tuesday night when the newest set of College Football Playoff rankings get released.

The Nittany Lions will undoubtedly drop in the rankings after losing to Minnesota — a team it was supposed to beat by a touchdown.

Going forward, Penn State has to win every single game if it wants to not only win the Big Ten, but get into the playoff as well.

After the loss, Penn State coach James Franklin wants his team to use it as “fuel” going forward:

Franklin said it's important that PSU makes the corrections and puts the loss to bed, same as they'd do after a win. "Everything can be used as fuel. When you win, the confidence is fuel. When you have setbacks, the adversity can be used as fuel."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 12, 2019

JF: Biggest thing that summarizes the MIN game is PSU fought extremely hard. But, turned ball over 5 times all year, then 3 times in a big game.

— Donnie Collins (@PennStateTT) November 12, 2019

He also said that he knows Penn State is one of the best teams in the country:

Franklin: “We’re 8-1, we’re one of the best teams in the country, probably doesn’t feel that way around here right now. We dealt with it. We handled it. … Saturday can't come soon enough."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 12, 2019

Is he wrong? Probably not. Penn State is very talented. It had one off game on the road to a quality opponent and lost by five points.

Is the world ending? No.

But, is there more urgency needed going forward?

Absolutely.

Franklin can’t wait for Saturday to come so that his team can right a wrong from a week ago. Penn State gets Indiana at home Saturday afternoon.