Penn State Football: Closing the Gap Against Michigan State

Penn State Football has fallen behind Michigan State in the Big Ten hierarchy. Penn State can change this quickly. 

Penn State Football and Michigan State are a rivalry whether or not Nittany Lions fans want them to be.

I know Penn State fans don’t want to hear that Michigan State is ahead of them, but recent history suggests otherwise.

Michigan State has beaten Penn State Football in six of these last nine meetings.

This recent success has been achieved under the direction of two different head coaches, Mark Dantonio and Mel Tucker. So, it’s not a case of a coach having James Franklin‘s number.

It gets worse.

The last nine meetings have featured a top-12 ranked team in eight of them. Michigan State has beaten a top-ten ranked Penn State team twice during this time. Penn State Football has not returned the favor despite having three chances of knocking off a top-ten Michigan State team.

Michigan State essentially ruined two of Penn State Football’s better seasons, while having the inferior team. As long as Penn State Football continues to have the better talent, this matchup has to stop being a coin toss.

Here are three ways Penn State Football can close the gap against Michigan State.

Close Out a Game

James Franklin is only 3-5 against Michigan State since coming to Penn State in 2014.

The three victories are by an average margin of 23 points. The last three losses are by a combined 10 points. TEN POINTS.

Two of the most frustrating losses of James Franklin’s Penn State Football tenure have happened against Michigan State. In 2017 and 2018, Michigan State scored with under twenty seconds left to win.

It’s something that has plagued Penn State Football since James Franklin has taken over as head coach. The Nittany Lions consistently struggle to close out games.

Even when Penn State has an elite running game, there is a failure to convert first downs and shorten the game. Penn State Football tends to get way too conservative and predictable.

Ultimately, this comes down to the decisions made by Franklin and the offensive coordinator. To close the gap against Michigan State, Penn State Football has to find a play-caller that can manage the clock and deliver first downs when needed the most.

Is Mike Yurcich the right guy for this?

It’s still too early to tell.

Franklin has proven that he will replace an offensive coordinator if he feels it will improve the team. That’s why Yurcich is here.