Jim Mora is right on James Franklin, Penn State Football’s Playoff hopes
By Evan Smith
Jim Mora believes Penn State Football “has the right man” to make the College Football Playoff.
The Former Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and UCLA Bruins head coach, Mora has an NFC South and Pac-12 South Division championship under his belt, and has spent time as a consultant under James Franklin at Penn State Football. \
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Mora gave Franklin a ringing endorsement.
"“If they just stay with him, they’ll realize that 2020 was an outlier year, that he’ll get them there.” Mora went on to say “…every year his name kind of comes up for other jobs. I like the fact that he doesn’t necessarily address those rumors. He doesn’t give them any stock. He just puts his head down and goes to work. I know his players love playing for him and I hope the fans there appreciate what they’ve got in James Franklin.”"
Franklin, the 2016 B1G Coach of the Year, has a Rose Bowl loss, Fiesta Bowl win, Citrus Bowl loss and Cottown Bowl Classic win in the past five years, an accomplishment that is nothing to sneeze at.
However, Franklin and the Nittany Lions have struggled to beat Ohio State since the 2016 season, and it appears the gap continues to widen between the Buckeyes and the rest of the Big Ten, including Penn State.
Even the COVID-19 anomoly of the 2020 season, Ohio State has out-recruited Penn State Football every year.
“It’s a lofty goal (to make the College Football Playoff),” Mora said. “But, it’s a goal that Penn State fans are accustomed to and they expect. I think he has to continue to create the culture that has led him to the cusp of getting into the Playoff.”