James Franklin Needs To Rid Of Ohio State Kryptonite, Defeat Nemesis Ryan Day

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Just outside Beaver Stadium, there are two different network configurations for their traditional pregame shows, highlighting the magnitude of this game between Penn State and Ohio State later today. As James Franklin tried to preach that the matchup is just another game on the schedule, he has had a hard time getting away from the kryptonite that is the Buckeyes.

The optics around the Penn State campus seem to indicate that this isn’t just another game on the schedule, or that the team is riding a ‘1-0’ mantra every week leading up to this matchup. It is different. The fans can feel it, the administration can feel it, and whether he wants to admit it or not, James Franklin would love nothing more than to put this mess at Ohio State on the back burner.

But that’s what comes with the job, especially if you haven’t beaten the hated rivals from Ohio since 2016, when Urban Meyer was the head coach. Win-less against Ryan Day, although he has put together a fabulous run against other regular-season opponents during his tenure, this fight has been circled on the calendar in Happy Valley since the beginning of the season.

COLUMBUS, OHIO – OCTOBER 21: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin checks the scoreboard during the first quarter of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo: Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

Now you throw in the fact that Penn State has the opportunity to play for a national championship, and that’s why all eyes will be on the game played today in State College.

As students on campus went about their daily lives in class, then came together to celebrate Halloween on Thursday night, anticipation was already building for what today would bring. An opportunity to show the entire college football world that this is the year the Nittany Lions take the next step as a football program in a now crowded Big Ten filled with more competition.

For Penn State to move toward the future, it must rid itself of past problems

What have we seen over the years with this James Franklin-led Penn State team? A run through the regular season, only to lose to Michigan and Ohio State, but still be ranked high enough to enter one of the New Years Six Bowl games. But there comes a time when the Cotton Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl is no longer good enough, and I would even throw the Rose Bowl into that equation.

The problem with all of those games centered around the fact that they weren’t part of the college football playoff, and that’s a hurdle to check off the list of accomplishments. James Franklin is 4-16 during his tenure against Michigan and Ohio State, which doesn’t help when this team is fighting for a spot in the Big Ten Championship.

“I think in years past we’ve been close. It’s a play here, it’s a play there. It’s like 10 guys do it right, one guy does it wrong. And it’s like, planes crash,” Penn State left tackle Drew Shelton said this week. “So just being on the same page, execution, confidence in the game plan, I think that’s what it takes on Saturday to go 1-0.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes try to block Penn State Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar’s pass at Ohio Stadium. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK)

There are wins Franklin can hang his hat on, but if he truly wants to become the folklore legend of State College, he needs to beat Ohio State today, for the sake of the future. This football program does not want to depend on the help of others to reach the College Football Playoff, although I’m sure they’ll be happy to take it with open arms if things don’t go their way today or later in November .

But they have to move past that, which means it’s time to take care of business and maintain a postseason spot on their own. Being third fiddle in this conference is no longer good enough, especially if they want to move forward as a powerhouse in this new era of college athletics.

As Oregon continues to make waves in this new Big Ten, it’s not lost on people around the football program that they don’t need to allow ‘new guy’ to bid them adieu in the pecking order. Most of the time, it’s been Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, with Indiana running toward the 2024 title game.

In the case of Penn State, they have always reached the podium but have struggled to stand in the middle.

Penn State can beat Ohio State today if they don’t get overwhelmed

When James Franklin leads his team off the bus today and into Beaver Stadium, he will do so with quarterback Drew Allar not playing 100%. But this won’t stop the signal caller from playing in this game against Ohio State, even though he missed the second half last week against Wisconsin.

One of the biggest components to grabbing this win from Ohio State will come down to not getting overwhelmed when things don’t go your way. Penn State players can’t think about the fact that they won’t be playing Oregon or Indiana this season, or that if they lose, it could definitely take them out of the Big Ten title picture again because of the tiebreaker- the scenario.

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – OCTOBER 05: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks onto the field with his players before the second half of a college football game against the UCLA Bruins on October 5, 2024 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Although Ryan Day will be holding back, the Buckeyes are hurting along the offensive line, and it’s time for Penn State to take advantage of the situation. If Drew Allar is even at 80%, this team can beat the Buckeyes and set themselves up for a November run that would change the trajectory of this program.

But until James Franklin beats Ryan Day, it will be hard for fans to fully believe it can be done, even though there will be over 100,000 people in the stands who have faith in the Nittany Lions.

If Penn State wants to make a mark on the 2024 season, a win today will be needed. Sure, they can lose and make the 12-team playoff, but there will still be the weight sitting on the backs of players inside the locker room.

It’s time for James Franklin to pull the kryptonite out of his chest and throw the sword as far as humanly possible out of the stadium. This should be the day Penn State takes the next step as a program, handing Ohio State their second loss of the season, leaving them to worry about their postseason fate.

Let’s see if the Nittany Lions can solve the Buckeye problem, which would be the biggest win for James Franklin right now.