Big Game James Does It Again

Penn State has been bounced from the college football playoffs and James Franklin’s pathetic record in big games grows even worse.

Notre Dame walked off with a 27-24 win in this semifinal Orange Bowl game, and heads to the national title game. Penn State and Franklin head back to State College to lick the wounds of yet another setback in a showdown game.

An ESPN graphic Thursday night noted Franklin has the third-worst record against Top 5 opposition (1-18) since the college polls began in the 1936. It’s not just the losses, it’s the details.

Some thoughts on this latest example:

• I plead guilty to falling into the trap of investing, sports and life in general, that being thinking this time is different. I wrote that I thought Penn State, despite Franklin’s checkered coaching past, would pull out a win over Notre Dame, factoring in the shorter prep time for the Fighting Irish, notable injuries and the fact Notre Dame was hit with a flu outbreak ahead of the game. But I got Franklined.

• Penn State had a 10-0 lead vs. Notre Dame, just as it had in a regular-season loss to Ohio State, but still couldn’t win the games. Inexcusable.

• Franklin apologists were singing his praises after playoff wins over SMU and Boise State, yet when first he met up with another college football heavyweight in the playoffs, the streak ended and that speaks volumes about Penn State under Franklin. The Nittany Lions lost all three of their games with prominent opposition this year. Penn State is supposed to beat the SMUs and Boise States of the world, but also occasionally should beat the Ohio States, Notre Dames, Oregons.

• Anyone else thinking if Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman was coaching Penn State, the score would have been reversed?

• On that 54-yard ND touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse that led to a 24-all tie with under 5 minutes remaining, why did the Penn State corner and safety both look like bears on roller skates, one falling after a Greathouse fake coming off the line of scrimmage and the other over-running Greathouse and falling as the receiver cut back to the middle of the field?

• The third time was the charm for Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who had two apparent interceptions erased by calls on the Notre Dame defense. And, on a third apparent pick, Allar committed what ESPN analyst Greg McElroy labeled the “cardinal sin” of throwing late across the middle while under a pass rush. The interception went to a video review, but for once in this game, an official’s call could not bail out Allar. And Notre Dame eventually kicked the winning field goal with seconds remaining.

• One wonders what Penn State was thinking being so aggressive late when Allar was having a poor night in terms of throwing accuracy. It was aggressive to have Allar throwing from his own 28 with 40 seconds or so remaining in a tie game. Good coaching is not asking players to do what they cannot.

• Some thought Allar might win this game and, if he played well in the national championship game, decide to declare for the NFL draft, where some had him challenging to be the top quarterback taken. Unsolicited advice to Allar – stay in school, son.

• Now Franklin can go back to his routine of getting into verbal altercations with home fans after big losses, running up the score on Maryland and lamenting Notre Dame not belonging to a conference.