There is a comment from James Franklin that I’ve been thinking about a lot, and ironically, it came before what most Penn State fans would consider to be the biggest regular season game of the year — one that Penn State lost.
“Bowling Green was a big game,” Franklin said in the week leading up to the Ohio State game. “If you don’t think it was, lose to Bowling Green and see how people react. They’re all big games. This is a big game because of how we’ve handled the previous six. We don’t change our process.”
Even after that Ohio State loss, I thought about that comment because it offered promise that Penn State’s bigger picture hopes were still out there.
It’s also the comment I thought about as Penn State beat Minnesota. It’s a comment I thought about as Penn State locked in against Maryland. It’s a comment I thought about as Penn State steamrolled SMU. It’s a comment I thought about once again as Penn State downed Boise State.
Right now, no matter how big or small you want to label them, Penn State is one of the last four teams still winning games this college football season.
I think we’ve become largely wrapped up in this idea about the “big game” and whether or not James Franklin can win one that we’ve forgotten he’s not losing the small ones — for however the latest logical sets that definition.
And yes, it would have been nice if Penn State had beaten Ohio State earlier this year. I don’t like seeing them lose. A win over Oregon probably scratches that itch nationally, but selfishly, that loss gave us a home playoff game, which gave a lot of people one of the greatest Penn State football memories they have. It may have also put them on an easier path, according to national experts, to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.
But none of that matters because it’s done and over with.
Presently, Penn State is here, and other teams like Oregon or Tennessee or Alabama or Ole Miss, or whatever you classify as a top tier program, are not.
Because of that, 2024, over the course of the last now-entering six months, has become one of my favorite Penn State football seasons ever. For me, and people my age range, Penn State has had very few, if any, seasons that rival the success that it’s presently having in 2024 – which is bleeding at least nine days in 2025.
Why is that happening?
Because Penn State is winning football games.
For those looking for a big win, you can now make the case that Penn State has it with the Fiesta Bowl victory. The defense shut down the Heisman runner-up, holding him to his lowest yard total of the season. Even if there were self-inflicted wounds and decisions along the way, Penn State’s offense still found a way to run all over the Broncos.
The effort and win also showed that Penn State has potential for an even higher gear.
But none of it happens without Penn State beating USC, arguably its second best win of the season entering the College Football Playoff. If Drew Allar doesn’t find Julian Fleming, the prodigal son returning home, twice on 4th down, New Year’s Eve is more of a letdown than it was in my high school years.
If Ryan Barker, who drilled an important field goal in the Fiesta Bowl, doesn’t hit the game winner in SoCal and Penn State doesn’t go on to win against the Trojans, the season might fall apart then and there.
That’s what felt so cathartic about that win.
Or that’s what felt so joyous about Luke Reynolds’ mad dash on the fake punt against Minnesota.
Or Penn State’s fight against Bowling Green.
Or Tyler Warren’s big game against Kent State.
Or overcoming a rain delay at West Virginia.
None of this, the right now, happens without those moments.
I think Franklin – regardless of what happens in the Orange Bowl – deserves more credit than he’s (not) getting from the vocal minority and maybe a few national pundits. They’ve been easy to say, “well he hasn’t won a big game,” and yet are nowhere to be found when he hasn’t lost a small game either.
It’s an annoying paradox that has angered a decent stronghold of this fan base – and at times, rightfully so.
It was also fair – at the outset of this first 12-team playoff – to have expectations that Penn State should beat SMU and should beat Boise State.
For a multitude of reasons, that’s what Penn State should have done. And it did. And it’s time to give some credit for that.
If you can’t enjoy — or even acknowledge — that, then your ignorance is showing.
Even when I was frustrated by Penn State’s play-calling and penalties on Tuesday night, the Nittany Lions, the team I and you and so many others root so passionately for, were still finding a way to win. Penn State was still finding a way to not screw up, and that’s made this season so enjoyable so far.
That’s all, as a fan, I want from my team – to win, and in the midst of all of that, it’s precisely what Penn State has done.
In there, Franklin and Penn State have gotten themselves to the Orange Bowl. In there, Penn State now finds itself just one win from appearing in the national championship.
Big. Small. Whatever you want to call them or consider them. Penn State is still winning and a lot of other teams are not.
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