Penn State Football: How Nittany Lions close the gap on Ohio State
By Andrew Adair
Ohio State has dominated Penn State Football since James Franklin took the reins. Can they close the gap?
If there is one team that Penn State Football wishes were a rivalry, it’s Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions only won once against Ohio State in eight tries with James Franklin at the helm. Hence, a matchup that only one side views as a true rivalry.
The peak of James Franklins’ tenure at Penn State started with the lone victory over Ohio State in 2016. Penn State Football had arrived and were serious contenders for years to come. The Big Ten was theirs.
After winning the Big Ten Championship in 2016, the Big Ten has been anything but Penn State Football’s.
The following two seasons featured heart-wrenching losses by a single point to Ohio State. Essentially derailing conference and national title hopes.
Penn State Football has lost by an average of eleven points a game since those two narrow losses. Penn State has kept the games relatively close but never really threatened the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is the epitome of what Penn State Football strives to be. Ohio State has made the College Football Playoff four times with one national title since James Franklin arrived in Happy Valley. Penn State Football is one of the most prominent teams yet to appear in the College Football Playoff.
Heading into the 2022 season, the gulf between Ohio State and Penn State has never been wider.