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Penn State football: is there a clear-cut expectation for 2022?

By Christopher Mangum

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against Myles Slusher #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second quarter in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against Myles Slusher #2 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second quarter in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Since the hiring of James Franklin, Penn State has had its ups and downs. After recovering from NCAA sanctions set after the 2011 season, Penn State went on one of the best four-year winning periods in program history. However, since the turn of the decade, Penn State has been .500 and has much to prove in the coming season.

Penn State football recruiting
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: (L-R) Grant Haley #15, Nick Scott #4, head coach James Franklin, Marcus Allen #2 and Troy Apke #28 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walk out to field arm in arm before the start of the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Penn State football: 2016-2019

Following a 4-2 start in 2016, Penn State football regained its footing in a big way. Though the Nittany Lions trailed most of the game against Ohio State in 2016, a miraculous comeback followed by a blocked field goal turned into a 24-17 win over the No. 2 ranked Buckeyes. This win eventually led to an 11-3 season, which ended with a Big Ten championship for the first time since 2008.

In 2017 the winning continued in a season that saw dominant wins over schools like Pitt, Michigan, and more. Though Penn State could not find a way to defeat Ohio State as they did the year before, Penn State still found its way back to 11-2 with a win over Washington in the Fiesta Bowl–the program’s first NY6 win since defeating Florida State in the 2005 Orange Bowl.

2018 was a bit of a hiccup but still a decent year for Penn State football. Though the Nittany Lions finished 9-4 overall, the program still played Ohio State close and defeated a few ranked teams, such as Iowa. With a 30-9 record, two NY6 wins, two 11-win seasons, and a Big Ten title over the past three years, it seemed as if Penn State was officially back.

In 2019, James Franklin once more finished with 11 wins on the year, again overcoming Pitt and Michigan, and playing Ohio State closer than any Big Ten team that season. After starting the season 8-0 and seemingly being a player in the playoff conversation, Penn State was defeated by Minnesota (who finished 11-2), which led to a 10-2 regular season finish. Nonetheless, James Franklin prompted Penn State to its second NY6 win in three years by defeating a solid Memphis team in the Cotton Bowl.

With three 11-win seasons in four years, two NY6 wins, and a Big Ten title, it seemed as if James Franklin and Penn State were thriving–though this all changed in 2020.

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