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Penn State Football: 3 glaring problems that need to be addressed

By Alec Whitaker

Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) reacts during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) reacts during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at the scoreboard during the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The narratives don’t change

This was something that was talked about a lot leading up to this game, James Franklin could change a bunch of narratives with a win.

The Nittany Lions were 3-6 coming off of bye weeks under Franklin, they’re now 3-7. Penn State was 0-3 in the Big House with fans under Franklin, now 0-4. Penn State 0 for its last 9 in games against top ten teams under Franklin, that’s now 0-10.

So many things could have changed, yet they didn’t.

Maybe Michigan is just better and is elite. But if Michigan is elite, why isn’t Penn State? They recruit at exactly the same level, have high-paid assistant coaches and tons of resources and have a fan base that absolutely adores them. Why is there such a significant gap?

Penn State may win ten games this season. That’s awesome considering the 11-11 record the past two years. But once again, Penn State is beating the teams it should and losing to the teams it’s expected to. That next step needs to be taken.

Most fans probably expected to lose at Michigan, but it’s the way it happened that has most people concerned.

How can a roster as talented as Penn State’s be outscored by Michigan 132-34 in the last three games at Michigan with fans. Under sized defensive linemen? A struggling run game? At times, it feels much deeper than that.

Penn State will likely never be Alabama and practically have its name in sharpie for the College Football Playoff every year, but the Nittany Lions should at least consistently be a threat to get there.

Franklin and his staff need to take a step back and question why the record off a bye is so bad and why winning on the road is such a struggle. These questions feel so much more important than how much a defensive tackle weighs or if the playbook is creative. Those things matter, but even when the likes of Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley were at Penn State, these same narratives existed. That’s a problem.

Fans of Penn State football should not be dreading the bye week. It needs to be fixed if this program is going to take the next step.

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