What James Franklin said following Penn State's slide to 0-4 with loss to Nebraska

Penn State is 0-4 for the first time since 2001.

There’s no denying it has been a brutal stretch for the Nittany Lions. Everything from Micah Parson opting out to the retirement of Journey Brown and injury to Noah Cain has piled up. Still, it is hard to imagine a team as talented as this to be winless in four tries.

Saturday’s loss to Nebraska was just the latest showing of ineptitude as Sean Clifford was benched in favor of Will Levis. Levis did his part in helping jumpstart an offense that rallied and had multiple opportunities to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, a combination of questionable playcalling and lack of execution by the Nittany Lions cemented the win for Nebraska. Here’s everything Franklin had to say after falling to the worst start in nearly two decades for the Lions:

Franklin: "We have to be more detailed in the passing game, and we have to better in the red zone on offense."

— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 14, 2020

Franklin on red-zone issues: "Red-zone offense is about running the ball and being detailed in the passing game… We didn't make enough plays."

— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 14, 2020

Franklin: "I thought (the) traditional running game, we were able to get that going today."

Says the team was more physical and consistent up front.

— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 14, 2020

Franklin: "The running game is going to help us, we just have to continue to detail the passing game."

— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 14, 2020

Franklin on PSU being outscored 93-26 in first halves of 4 games this season: "It's the turnovers. It's hard to get into a rhythm, hard to get into a groove. … The running game is going to continue to help us."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020

Franklin: "We're not going to name a starting quarterback right now."
Says PSU had to make the change at QB and that Will Levis did some good things. "That'll be a discussion all week long and I know we'll talk about it later in the week."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020

James Franklin up now: "Came out, got down by 21 in the first half. Turnovers continue to be a problem, not only turnovers but turnovers for touchdowns. … Thought Will did some really good things." pic.twitter.com/pqRdm3JkNE

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020

Franklin on Levis: "We're gonna have to build on that there's no doubt about it. … We need to be a little bit more consistent in the details and with what we're doing. … Gives us a spark and something to build off of."

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020

Franklin: "I thought we were able to get some sacks in the second half and some turnovers, which is another area that we haven't done a good enough job."

— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) November 14, 2020

James Franklin didn't commit to Will Levis or Sean Clifford as the starter next week. [He also wasn't going to] Given how the season is going and how Clifford's season has gone, imagine Levis earns the start, but TBD.

— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) November 14, 2020

James Franklin: "All of us in every single area can be better."
Adds PSU isn't tackling well — among other things — and that it's been a discussion from the beginning of the season until now too.

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020

Penn State will now pivot to a Week 5 matchup with Iowa. The Hawkeyes are now 2-2 after starting the season with back-t0-back losses.