DETROIT – Set aside for a moment the reality of Penn State’s 10-win season, which will ultimately be defined by losses to Michigan and Ohio State yet again.
Set aside the fact that for the first time under James Franklin, an offensive coordinator was fired mid-season for underperformance.
Even set aside the fact that the 2023 football regular season is over and soon the boredom of winter will seep in.
In its final game of the 2023 campaign, Penn State didn’t just play well. Penn State played its best game of the season.
In a 42-0 win over Michigan State, it was a let the hair down and open the windows type victory that can erase the lingering taste of anxiousness about this season for at least three hours.
In every aspect of the game, Penn State was dominant. The Nittany Lions were able to effectively run the ball for the first time since the Delaware game earlier this season. The star quarterback looked like the star quarterback. And again, Manny Diaz’s defense was dominant.
In total, the Spartans were only able to muster just 53 yards on offense, the fewest Penn State has allowed since the Truman administration. Any real threat of a Spartan offense, particularly early on, was snuffed out by big plays like a pick from Jaylen Reed.
Once again, Penn State was the better team when it was supposed to be the better team.
So when you put all of those other things you set aside, it can make some of this a bit frustrating.
Be honest, at some point on Friday night, you thought to yourself: “Where was this offense a few weeks ago?”
But right now, Penn State can do nothing about its losses to Michigan or Ohio State.
Penn State may also face the reality that the defensive coordinator who has made this team so promising could be gone by the time it plays in a likely New Year’s Six bowl.
Then there’s promise there will be a new offensive coordinator after Mike Yurcich was fired after the loss to Michigan, all while living in the reality that Franklin’s hiring track record hasn’t always been the best, going through five OCs in 10 years.
Layer in uncertainties of players opting to go for the NFL, the semi-wishful thinking that the wide receiver room will be better next year thanks to talent via the transfer portal, maybe even a daunting 2024 schedule, and it can make the now frustrating.
But those are all problems for another day. Things around these parts could be much worse.
Just look across the sideline at Michigan State. It’s a program which went to the College Football Playoff early on, burning bright before becoming a now 4-8 black hole.
It doesn’t take away the fact that it can feel like Penn State missed what it was supposed to do this season.
It’s hard to look in the mirror when most set expectations at 11-1 to face 10-2, which is the proper reality of Penn State’s football program right now.
It’s hard when you wanted more a month ago and then two weeks ago.
But in the world in the haves and have nots of college football, 10-2 is more of a sign of a have than a have not. And 10-2 for third time in five years is a Michigan-marijuana billboard sign of a have.
So when Penn State trots out its best performance of the season against the Spartans, it does make it a bit more enjoyable. It does make it a bit more fun to watch.
Penn State, for the first time all season, was fun. You could see it in the play calling with early touchdown throws from Beau Pribula leading to even better end zone dances from Tyler Warren and Liam Clifford.
You could see it in Drew Allar’s 60 yard throw to Omari Evans, who had been riding the bench for much of the season, or again in Allar’s impressive toss to Theo Johnson for a touchdown as the tight end played in front of essentially his hometown.
You could see in the exuberance from Nicholas Singleton after a late meaningless in the outcome, but meaningful for someone who got hit by the sophomore slump hard touchdown.
You could see it when Dvon Ellies asked Johnson for help carrying the way too heavy Land-Grant Trophy postgame.
It was moments like that which make the tougher moments worth it. Maybe they will be learning moments. Maybe they won’t. There’s still much to be decided about the future of Penn State football even with a bowl trip lingering.
But again, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy it one final time.
That’s exactly what Penn State did on Friday night.
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