James Franklin may never be quite what Penn State fans hoped for, but the Nittany Lions are still on board for the new-look CFP

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A prosperous season at Penn State had reached its peak until this moment, the potential pivotal point at which James Franklin’s tenure could finally improve and propel the Nittany Lions even higher.

He would, provided Franklin could lead his team to a victory against one of the biggest brands and most feared teams in college football. Ohio State. Then again, that’s been the problem for most of his decade-plus running the sport’s premier could-shoulda-woulda program.

Penn State was therefore in the heart of the madness, at the end of the fourth quarter. A record 111,030 souls in attendance to witness one of the most important home games in Penn State history (and the first top-five game in this stadium since 1999, against then-No. 4 Arizona ). Somehow, after a peculiar afternoon filled with bizarre turnovers, reverse calls from officials and unfortunate play calls from both head coaches during more than 50 minutes of play, PSU No. 3 was in a position to cast doubt on the outcome against fourth-ranked Ohio State. . A PSU first-and-goal from the 3-yard line came after tight end Tyler Warren ran 33 yards — on a well-timed direct snap, no less.

This was the perfect spot for PSU to, at a minimum, set up the game to get overtime, if not boldly jump into the two-point conversation and finally elevate Franklin’s not-good-enough reputation. Instead, a maddening lack of creativity from an offense that had redefined it at a time when the Nittany Lions arguably needed it most. Three missed opportunities on near-identical inside handoffs to running back Kaytron Allen were followed by a quick, difficult Drew Allar pass in traffic against a frantic Buckeyes defense. It was 8:13 p.m. and there were 5:13 remaining. Somehow, Franklin’s offense left the field with no points on the drive.

Then Penn State couldn’t get Ohio State off the field the rest of the way.

Buckeyes 20, Nittany Lions 13. Final.

The quartet of botched play calls was the second time Saturday that Penn State failed to score after opening with a first-and-goal from 3. Saturday was also the first time since 2014 that the Nittany Lions failed to score an offensive. landing. The loss means Franklin is 0-7 in its last seven games against the Big Ten’s two best programs of late, Ohio State and Michigan. Against all other teams, Franklin is 35-5. The Buckeyes’ seven-game winning streak against the Nits is the longest of its kind in series history.

Penn State fans are clearly fed up. It’s the same old story.

But now, an optimistic twist.

In most seasons, the game-winning calamity in favor of Ohio State would have defined a good but disappointing season for Penn State. Just the latest in a series of bungling Franklin campaigns. In another year, how much more would there be at stake, on a macro level?

But this year it’s different. This year doesn’t have to end and probably won’t end for Penn State like it has in all previous years. Which is to say: PSU is good enough to make the College Football Playoff and will likely receive an invitation.

“The reality of college football is that everything is still ahead of us,” Franklin said after the game.

He’s right. Ohio State is 7-1. Penn State too. They are both squarely in the playoff race. Saturday was a huge game, but it wasn’t a do-or-die affair. The college football season is improved because its national championship is finally in harmony with its regular season.

Ohio State’s CFP hopes were saved not only by the victory, but by pulling off what will be one of the most impressive wins in terms of degree of difficulty that a team will pull off in December. OSU went 1-1 in its best five road tests against Oregon and Penn State. Even with all the heat from Ryan Day and his supposed $20 million roster, 1-1 in two top-five away games is perfectly acceptable. The 12-team Playoffs allow for what this sport should have provided a long time ago: margin for error. More specifically: margin for error in close games against top teams. The four-team CFP had some of that, sure, but Penn State’s prospects in a four-team CFP would have been slim from here on out.

Although there is still a lack of evidence that Franklin can guide Penn State to a significant victory against a very good team, he is now 1-12 against Penn State’s top five opponents; yeah, man – he’s going to have better chances in December.

“I understand their frustration,” Franklin said of PSU fans. “The guys in the locker room are just as frustrated, if not more, but college football has changed and we have an opportunity to move forward to right some of the wrongs of today.”

So, for the sake of Penn State and its fan base, the Nittany Lions are still comfortably on their way to the CFP. Avoiding a second defeat before December will be paramount to maintaining this pace, but at this stage there is little to suggest against it. Franklin worked his way into a strange arrangement. His teams almost always beat the ones they’re supposed to beat. But in the most significant matches, where the stakes are palpable and the rewards the greatest, his teams fail to finish.

There is currently no other team like Penn State in college football. Franklin basically said it Saturday.

“Ninety-nine percent of college football programs would die to do what we’ve been able to do since we got here,” Franklin said. “But I also understand that when you’re at a place like Penn State, the expectations are very high…I get it. I totally get it.”

The beauty of this new era of college football in the broader CFP landscape: In almost any other previous season, Penn State’s national title hopes would have been extinguished. There’s another benefit: The 12-team bracket will also provide another level of clarity. With a salary of nearly $9 million per year and a solid record at PSU (95-40), it’s hard to see how Franklin’s job is in trouble. But whether it is fair or not, the performance of the CFP can speed up the arbitration process.

At this point, Penn State is not only still on track to comfortably make the postseason…there’s a chance this result could boost the program in the form of a home playoff run. While any fan base would happily take time off due to a win in a conference title game, the consolation for Penn State might just be a 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed hosting a game CFP at Beaver Stadium. Although it’s difficult to predict now, it’s possible that Saturday’s loss could benefit the school; some believe there are downsides to playing (and losing) in a Power Four championship game given how the schedule will play out.

A home loss to a top 5 team should not knock another top 10 team out of the title race. For too long, that has been the menace of college football. Now this is no longer the case. Perhaps James Franklin’s fatal flaw is his inability to beat great teams. But if it can finish the regular season with just one loss, Penn State’s program deserves a chance to play in a bracket and see if things are different when circumstances are more pressing. Perhaps redemption awaits this program.

Either way, college football has its fairest system yet. There is a good balance here. The regular season – through November – is very important for dozens of teams still seeking inclusion in the CFP. But the support remains a reasonable size (12). The sport has been in a worse situation because it did not have teams as complete and competitive as Penn State in its championship field in years past. No more.

The opportunity for an expanded field also invites even greater scrutiny and relentless expectations from fans. Just ask college basketball coaches who have dealt with the absurd pressure of March Madness for decades. When a sport focuses more on its playoffs than its regular season, the calculus changes. The CFP won’t be the NCAA tournament, but its new format will reward – and punish – programs on a scale much closer to college basketball.

This is a very good thing for college football. Whether this is a very good thing for James Franklin… it feels like we already know the answer.