Penn State head coach James Franklin used his Monday press conference to address the overtime loss to Oregon, a game that has reignited questions about his struggles in high-profile matchups.
The Nittany Lions fell 30-24 in double-overtime after a late interception sealed the upset win for the Ducks. Franklin admitted his team fell short in key areas but pointed to officiating as a factor in the outcome.
While critical of missed calls, he also emphasized the need to avoid letting one setback derail the rest of the season as Penn State now turns to face UCLA on the road.
Franklin points to officiating and Oregon’s edge in key battles
Franklin’s opening remarks made it clear he believed officiating hurt Penn State’s chances late.
“We didn’t get any sacks. I also thought there was a significant amount of calls that weren’t made. That could have impacted that as well,” he said.
He also questioned a critical turnover reversal in the second half.
“From what I saw… I didn’t see enough to overturn the call on the field,” Franklin told reporters, underscoring his frustration.
Beyond officiating, Franklin detailed how Oregon controlled important phases. The Ducks sacked Drew Allar twice while Penn State failed to register one.
“We weren’t able to get to this quarterback. And on that note, I thought he played extremely well during the game,” Franklin admitted.
He added that Oregon consistently stayed “ahead of the sticks,” forcing the Nittany Lions into third-and-long situations that limited offensive flow.
Statistically, Penn State won the drive-start, penalty, and explosive-play battles, but turnovers proved decisive. Allar’s interception in double-overtime sealed the loss, part of Oregon’s 33-minute possession advantage and nearly 150-yard edge in total offense.
The defeat was another blow to Franklin’s big-game record, dropping him to 2-21 against AP top-six opponents and extending a 15-game losing streak in that category dating back to 2016.
Franklin ended with a message of resilience. “Don’t allow one loss to turn into two,” he cautioned, urging focus as Penn State heads to UCLA.
Dan Lanning’s Ducks, meanwhile, secured their first ranked road win under his leadership. Safety Dillon Thieneman’s game-winning interception, paired with standout showings from Dakorien Moore, Thierre Hill Jr., and Gary Bryant, lifted Oregon into the national title race.