James Franklin’s tenure started with matching 7-6 seasons, two nondescript bowl games and pining from the fan base for former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien.
Franklin was supposedly in over his head, unable to return the Nittany Lions to Big Ten contender status. He was on all those silly preseason hot-seat lists. His team didn’t receive a single preseason top-25 vote in either of the national polls. Athletic director Sandy Barbour felt the need to give him the dreaded vote of confidence after a 2-2 start.
But a funny thing happened on Franklin’s way out the door in Happy Valley. He was given time, he made needed adjustments, and Penn State — not Michigan, not Ohio State, not Michigan State — will play for the conference crown next Saturday.
The 44-year-old Franklin showed he can be flexible — and forward thinking — after the previous two years. He bit the bullet by getting rid of longtime assistant John Donovan, and hiring Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead to run the offense, and Matt Limegrover to handle the offensive line. The move has led to an offensive renaissance, the Nittany Lions averaging 36.6 points per game, 25th-most in the country, in Moorhead’s up-tempo spread attack after averaging 21.9 in Franklin’s first two seasons. This, despite the graduation of star quarterback Christian Hackenberg.
Franklin beat Urban Meyer and Ohio State on Oct. 22, one of the biggest wins for Penn State in years. His team took advantage of an easy schedule otherwise, winning its last eight games after a blowout loss at Michigan. A win over No. 6 Wisconsin for the Big Ten title, and the Nittany Lions have a case to be included in the playoff.
And, this isn’t a fluke year, at least it doesn’t feel like one. Penn State’s roster is young, led by sophomores Trace McSorley at quarterback, Saquon Barkley in the backfield, and wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins. Tight end Mike Gesicki and leading receiver Chris Godwin are juniors. The roster includes 36 freshmen and sophomores. Franklin is recruiting well, with the 23rd-rated recruiting class according to Rivals.com in 2016, and No. 21 this year.
His success is a lesson to the college football world. Not everyone delivers immediate results like Jim Harbaugh. When needed, change is important. But so is patience. Look where it’s gotten Penn State.
The ’Eyes have it
Almost immediately after second-ranked Ohio State’s dramatic double-overtime victory over No. 3 Michigan, social media began weighing in on the Buckeyes’ standing in relation to the playoffs. Surprisingly, some felt they shouldn’t be a lock for the playoffs because they didn’t win their division. Not only should Ohio State be selected, they should be No. 2.
The résumé is near flawless: Wins over Michigan, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 8 Oklahoma, the likely Big 12 champion, and No. 16 Nebraska. Urban Meyer’s team’s lone loss was on the road to seventh-ranked Penn State, who I believe will top Wisconsin for the Big Ten crown.
It’s an open-and-shut case. At least it should be.
LSU does it again
LSU listened to its players again. It bent to public sentiment. Hopefully, this time it works. The Tigers made a similar move last year by keeping Les Miles, and it backfired, as they got off to a slow start, and got rid of the longtime coach. The SEC powerhouse made a similar move Saturday, by dropping the interim tag from in front of coach Ed Orgeron’s name.
Orgeron did a solid job after taking over for Miles, leading the Tigers to a 5-2 record. In his previous stop as an interim coach, at USC in 2013, the Trojans went 6-2. But, it should also be noted, he produced a 10-25 mark as the Ole Miss coach from 2005-07.
Now there aren’t a lot of big names out there, because Tom Herman was hired by Texas after rumors of him going to LSU. Orgeron is a strong recruiter, and the Tiger players seem to love him. The same was also said about Miles.
The Post’s top 10
1. Alabama (12-0) (Last week: 1)
Alabama didn’t allow a touchdown in November, defeating four opponents — two of them ranked-rivals LSU and Auburn — by a combined 122-18.
2. Ohio State (11-1) (2)
The defense, overshadowed by Michigan’s top-ranked unit, is the reason Ohio State will reach the playoff, creating three turnovers and shutting down the Wolverines in the fourth quarter of the dramatic 30-27, double-overtime victory Saturday.
3. Clemson (11-1) (4)
Did the Pittsburgh loss finally wake up Clemson? In two victories since that upset, the Tigers have defeated Wake Forest and South Carolina by a combined 91-20.
4. Washington (11-1) (6)
The Huskies’ second win over a high-caliber opponent, a 45-17 whitewashing of Apple Cup rival Washington State, was a much-needed résumé boost. A win over Colorado in the Pac-12 title game, likely gets them to the playoff.
5. Wisconsin (10-2) (5)
The Badgers get another chance at a top opponent, this time against Penn State in the Big Ten title game, after narrow losses to Michigan and Ohio State.
6. Michigan (10-2) (3)
Wilton Speight is going to remember those three turnovers forever. Without them, Michigan blows out Ohio State instead of losing in double overtime.
7. Oklahoma (9-2) (7)
The Sooners are a win away, against in-state rival Oklahoma State, from back-to-back Big 12 titles. Bob Stoops remains elite.
8. Penn State (10-2) (8)
James Franklin has a Big Ten East title before Jim Harbaugh. Wonder what the odds for that were in Las Vegas in September.
9. USC (9-3) (9)
Their Rose Bowl hopes aren’t over despite falling short in the Pac-12 South. If Washington wins the Pac-12 title game, and is selected for the playoff, the Trojans could find themselves in Pasadena.
10. Colorado (10-2) (10)
Mike MacIntyre deserves serious national coach of the year consideration, after leading Colorado to the Pac-12 South crown, a year removed from a 1-8 conference mark and last-place finish.
Heisman Watch (in predicted order of finish)
QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
The Louisville quarterback is fortunate there isn’t a close second in this race. His late-season slide continued in a loss to Kentucky, throwing three interceptions, though he did run for 171 yards and two scores.
QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Watson sees the finish line now, and is picking up steam at the right time, throwing for 347 yards and equaling a career-high with six touchdown passes against South Carolina.
CB/S/LB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
His performance against Ohio State was strong, seven tackles, an interception and a 44-yard kickoff return, but his loss of composure, pushing a fan who had bumped into him after the game, was an ugly moment.
QB J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
His passing numbers were ugly — 15-of-32 for 124 yards and an interception — but with the season in the balance, Barrett showed his grit, leading Ohio State back from a 10-point deficit against bitter rival Michigan.
QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama
A serious Heisman Trophy contender in the years to come, the dual-threat freshman quarterback, with 21 touchdowns in the air and 12 on the ground, has added an explosive dimension to the Alabama offense.