Penn State Football: Can James Franklin get it done in Happy Valley?

For the second consecutive year, Penn State football could not close out games against both Ohio State and Michigan State.

Coming off another heartbreaking loss against Ohio State, all signs pointed to Penn State getting back on track against Michigan State. It was homecoming, the Nittany Lions were big favorites, and the team seemed focused after an off week. Then, as the game unfolded, Penn State laid an egg.

First, Michigan State deserves a lot of credit. They were a clear underdog coming into the game but they did not play scared. The Spartans played their tails off and deserved to win.

With that said, this is becoming a real problem for the Nittany Lions. Going back to the close loss against USC in the 2017 Rose Bowl, Penn State has lost a total of five games by 12 points. In every one of those games, the Lions had a lead late in the fourth quarter. Penn State just cannot close out games.

The offense cannot pick up the needed yards for critical first downs and the defense just lets up at the end. Sure the players are on the field trying to execute the plays, but the close losses should be blamed on the coaches not putting the players in position to win. Ultimately, that is on James Franklin.

Can James Franklin get it done at Penn State?

Yes, the Nittany Lions have won a Big Ten championship under Franklin. They have had back-to-back 11-win seasons. There has been success, but the losses have become a pattern. The team has plenty of talent to win close games and the coaching blows it.

Against the Spartans, Franklin was out-coached again by Mark Dantonio. He has been out-coached by Urban Meyer. In fact Penn State is 3-11 against Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. Two of those wins came in the Lions magical 2016 year. For as much heat Jim Harbaugh takes for not beating his rivals, Franklin should also get the same treatment.

We all know that Franklin won’t be getting fired. That would be crazy at this point. However, the close losses show a pattern that is highly concerning. With all the talk of taking the next step from great to elite, Penn State does not even look like a good team right now, much less great or elite.

Franklin is a CEO type coach. He sells the program and is a fantastic recruiter. But when it comes to X’s and O’s, he leaves it to his coordinators. Well after another close loss, he may have to start looking for better coordinators.

After so many close losses, the patience of the fan base (this writer included) is wearing thin. All the good will Franklin built over the 2016 season is evaporating quickly. He must do something to correct the issues that plague the program, namely turning close losses into close victories.