Now that Week 3 is wrapped up with No. 2 Penn State crushing Villanova, 52-6, the Nittany Lions (3-0) have a huge challenge awaiting.
In Week 5, they face No. 4 Oregon. After assessing the first three weeks of the season, head coach James Franklin has his game plan ready to prepare for the Ducks' (3-0) visit to Beaver Stadium.
James Franklin shares practice schedule for Week 4 and 5 to prepare for Oregon
"This bye week is obviously going to be really important. This is not an off week by any means," Franklin said on Saturday in the postgame press conference. ". . . we will practice [Sunday night], which is different for us to get into Beaver Stadium because . . . we have not been in the stadium with all of the new lighting up."
Practice Tuesday through Thursday before the players have Friday and Saturday off, which is the usual bye week schedule for the Nittany Lions. Over the weekend the coaching staff will be out recruiting. Then Sunday, Sept. 21, it's right back to Penn State's regularly scheduled programming.
"Obviously, we'll have the advantage of not having to break down the previous game and not make corrections in practice. So, we'll be a little bit ahead, but we need to get better," Franklin said. ". . . we need to be able to come in to [Week 5] in a really good place with a tremendous opportunity and tremendous challenge in front of us."
Penn State's focus going into Week 4's bye
Franklin wants to establish a better rhythm and consistency. Though referring to the team as a whole, there's one side raising more questions. Special teams was consistently positive through the non-conference slate and defense played like it had returning stars. The same can't be said for the Nittany Lions' offense.
"I'd love to see us further ahead, I'd love to see us playing dominant in all three phases," Franklin said. "But we know the things that we need to improve on and we got plenty of film."
Though defense wasn't the most concerning part of Penn State's performances, Franklin still said that he was pleased with that side of the ball taking "a step in the right direction."
The Nittany Lions didn't get the back-to-back shutout due to a late Villanova touchdown, but Franklin saw them take more control and command on the field. It wasn't only Dani Dennis-Sutton or a few plays here and there that deserved attention, Penn State was all over the Wildcats the whole evening.
It's time for offense to match speed with special teams and defense. A rhythm has to be established. Oregon doesn't have the luxury of a bye week before going on the road to a White Out stadium at night. Penn State has the upper hand in this upcoming match, now it needs to play like it does.