The famed White Out returns to Beaver Stadium this weekend as Penn State hosts Oregon in a primetime Big Ten showdown. The setting is built for drama: a roaring crowd, national television spotlight, and two rosters loaded with talent.
Yet head coach James Franklin enters under a cloud of scrutiny. Despite his success in building the program and recruiting elite talent, his track record in high-stakes games continues to raise questions.
Analysts point to his struggles against ranked opponents as a defining flaw, and Saturday night’s clash with the Ducks gives Franklin another chance to shift that narrative.
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Franklin under pressure as Oregon brings explosive offense
Greg McElroy of the Always College Football podcast did not hold back when evaluating Franklin’s résumé.
“James Franklin on the other side... the big game record has been problematic,” McElroy said. “We know he’s a great recruiter. We know he’s got great football teams... But the record against top 25 teams is troubling. He’s just 17 and 26 against AP top 25 teams. But it’s even worse when you look at his performance against top 10 teams. He’s just 3 and 17 and just 1 and 13 against top five teams.”
Franklin’s overall numbers still rank among the nation’s best. He owns a 104-42 (.712) mark at Penn State, including a 64-33 (.659) record in Big Ten play. Even so, the looming figures against elite competition shadow his legacy.
Oregon presents the latest test. Led by quarterback Donte Moore, the Ducks’ offense has surged into the top 10 of nearly every major statistical category.
“This offense is electric. It’s so efficient. It’s so fun to watch. They have everything that you could possibly ask for. They got speed. They got versatility. They got creativity from a play calling standpoint,” McElroy said.
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Moore has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes with an 11-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, giving Oregon a dangerous edge.
For Penn State, the path forward rests on its rushing tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who will look to keep Oregon’s attack off the field behind an experienced line.
As McElroy put it, “How they handle adversity in this game might be the most important determining factor.”
The Lions also face the unknown: neither team has seen a true test, with Penn State’s schedule ranked 136th and Oregon’s 119th nationally.