Penn State football: Top-10 wins of the James Franklin Era

By Brad Weiss | Dec 1, 2020

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play during the second half of the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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Fiesta Bowl champs Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Penn State football: Top-10 wins of the James Franklin Era

Penn State wins Fiesta Bowl over No. 12 Washington

Though the 2017 team went into the season with higher expectations than playing in the Fiesta Bowl, it was still a sign that the program had some all the way back from the scandal. Outside of the losses to Ohio State and Michigan State in back-to-back weeks, Penn State dominated their schedule in 2017 and would go up against a high-powered Washington offense in their bowl game.

The winners of six Fiesta Bowls heading into this matchup, Penn State was a small favorite over a Huskies team led by star quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin. After getting out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, Penn State looked to be in cruise control, as the lead swelled to 28-7 in the second quarter.

From there, the Nittany Lions saw the Huskies surge back, and a 69-yard touchdown run by Gaskin actually pulled Washington to within seven with a little over six minutes left in the game. That would be as close as the Huskies would get, as after Penn State missed a field goal to put the game away, Washington got the ball back, but a fumble by Dante Pettis on a lateral from Aaron Fuller ended any chance for a miracle.

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