Winning With Growth Remains The Mission For Penn State 

I secretly enjoy going to Home Goods. 

I do it for one aisle and one aisle only. It’s what I like to call the aisle of sayings.

And I guarantee you that within your local Home Goods or TJ Maxx, there is some piece of “art” in a frame or a wood block that you’re supposed to put in your kitchen that says “It’s about the journey. Not the destination.” 

And maybe James Franklin should pick one of those up for his desk as the unofficial slogan to the 2023 Penn State football season. 

It is no secret that this season comes down to two games this year and nothing else. I also assure you that this weekend’s Penn State-Northwestern game is not one of those two. 

But making the most of the journey toward a looming date with Ohio State and an even later date with Michigan has been going all season long and that’s why games like this one with Northwestern are just as important as those other two. 

Penn State probably won’t be tested by this Northwestern team. At least, it shouldn’t be – even though it’s already doubled last year’s win total – or we’ve got bigger problems. It is, however, the measure of which Penn State can grow that will be almost as important as winning the game. 

Don’t get me wrong, there still is a football game to be played. This is college football. Weird things happen. 

But right now, Penn State is starting to look the part that we thought it would going to look entering the season.

Its defense dismantled the father and son operation that is the Iowa offense and now leads the nation in total defense, sits fourth nationally in points per game at 8.5 and third in passing yards allowed. It’s also second in the nation in number of turnovers created at 11. 

Manny Diaz’s star players look the part, too. Curtis Jacobs, who surprised many when he announced he would come back this offseason, leads the team in tackles. Teams are so afraid of Kalen King that he’s had just one pass breakup this season after having 15 last year. And it feels as though Abdul Carter still hasn’t played his best game yet of the season despite having a pick and fumble recovery to his name. 

On offense, Penn State is putting up points. It carried its 30-plus point scoring streak into this season, which is now the nation’s best at 11 games. That streak includes 28 straight quarters with points scored. It has had two of the best games in terms of time of possession in the Franklin era between Iowa and Delaware. It’s moving the ball more methodically – and effectively — thanks to the T formation and whatever we’re calling the push borrowed from the Philadelphia Eagles. 

But there are things that Penn State still can get better at. 

And when opportunities like Northwestern present themselves, especially before those bigger challenges, you have to go take advantage of them. 

Penn State’s running game hasn’t been bad but it hasn’t been good either. 

By this point in the season, Nicholas Singleton had run all over defenses and then some, averaging an absurd 9.0 yards per carry in September 2022. This year, he’s rushed for just 3.8 yards per carry. His partner in crime, Kaytron Allen has rushed 4.4 yards per carry compared to 6.0 at this point last season. 

Neither of them has had a run over 20 yards to start the season. 

Similarly, Penn State has had just two passes go for more than 30 yards this season, and fans have been so ingrained with talks of explosive plays from the head coach that not seeing them may worry you. 

But eventually, they’re going to happen. The talent is there. It’s easy to see. 

With how smart Drew Allar has looked and how matured KeAndre Lambert-Smith has looked, coverage will break down. Keeping that in the back of the mind of the defense will also open up the running game.

It’s just a matter of being patient. And that appears to be the trait that is running through the course of this Penn State team this season. The Nittany Lions have brought back the days of “Second Half Team” tweets, outscoring opponents 87-14 in the second half. Its offense gobbled time, possessing the ball for more than 24 minutes in the final two quarters against Iowa.

On a grander scale, that patience can’t be forgotten or the process will backfire. Winning is of course the focus for Saturday but it’s about winning with growth that’s been the narrative to the season so far. Continuing that is important. 

It’s about building. It’s about growing. It’s about just being patient as a fan for when that Singleton long run comes or that 175-yard day appears for Allen. It’s about waiting for that Allar to Lambert-Smith connection to pop up like it did on the first drive of the season. 

It’s there. Penn State is stacking its moments up. It will come. 

In order to beat teams like Ohio State or Michigan, you have to build on what you have each week. Sometimes you’re building on momentum (see the 2016 Minnesota game and then the Ohio State game). Sometimes you’re building on failure (see 2021 into 2022). 

But as long as Penn State continues to build, it will be fine. 

To borrow another phrase, although I’m not sure this one is printed on a frame at TJ Maxx, it’s about “process over outcome.” 

Right now, that’s what you have to focus on without getting ahead of yourself if you’re Penn State.  

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