Penn State Football: Can James Franklin Change the Narrative?

One of the situations that stick out is the decision to stay aggressive after the fumble recovery with seconds left in the first half. The decision to let the offense try to get into field goal range ultimately paid off with a 67-yard touchdown to Brenton Strange.

Another situation that sticks out was the teams’ response to Sean Clifford’s pick-six that put Purdue ahead in the fourth quarter. Many times, we have seen Penn State teams crumble after game-changing moments. Not in this game.

The clock management at the end of the game was masterful as well. The defense’s ability to get off the field and give the offense as many chances as possible has been an issue in the past. The final drive was legendary. An 8-play drive, that spanned 80 yards, that took 85 seconds. Most importantly, it only left Purdue 57 seconds to reach the endzone.

In the past, we would have seen Penn State retreat into a prevent defense and let Purdue get closer to scoring than what is acceptable. This time, Penn State kept the pressure on, and Purdue was only able to move the ball 23 yards in 8 plays.

The Purdue game could have been another instance of James Franklin struggling to win a game, but it wasn’t. Now, it wasn’t against Michigan or Ohio State, but you have to start somewhere. James Franklin may finally have the right coordinators and mindset to change the perception of himself and Penn State Football.