Everything seemed to be aligned for Penn State to make a very loud statement Saturday night.
The White Out was finally going to be against a top-flight opponent, the team that had beaten the Nittany Lions in a shootout for the Big Ten championship last year.
The game drew the second-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history, which was raucous from start to finish.
Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant and Zakee Wheatley all decided to return to Penn State to play in games like this because they had “unfinished business.”
Unfortunately for them and James Franklin, it was business as usual.
Penn State’s 30-24 loss to Oregon in double overtime was another stomach punch for the Lions and another heartbreaking defeat for their fans.
It’s worse than deja vu; it’s a nightmare that doesn’t seem to end.
Franklin’s record against top 10 opponents dropped to a woeful 5-21. Penn State’s last four losses in such games have been by seven to Ohio State, by eight to Oregon, by three to Notre Dame and by six Saturday night.
It’s a narrative that Franklin can’t escape.
“It’s the facts,” he said. “I get it, but I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here. But at the end of the day, we have to find a way to win those games. I totally get it and I take ownership. I take responsibility.”
The Lions offense looked overmatched for most of the night, like they have in games against Ohio State and Michigan. Oregon’s defensive line dominated Penn State’s supposedly stellar offensive line.
The Lions had a paltry 109 total yards through the first three quarters despite having a veteran offense. At one point, some in the student section chanted, “Fire Franklin!” Boos reigned down after unproductive offensive series.
“The environment was awesome,” Franklin said. “They’re passionate. When we win, there’s nothing better. When we lose, there’s nothing worse. I get it. I get the frustration that comes with a fan base that is invested and cares. I get it.”
The night was just as distressing for Allar, the third-year starter who was not at his best again in a big game. Facing a strong pass rush, he completed 14-of-25 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, pedestrian numbers.
His most grievous error came in the second overtime after Dani Dennis-Sutton picked off Dante Moore’s conversion pass to keep it a six-point game.
On Penn State’s first play, Allar didn’t get enough air under a pass to tight end Luke Reynolds that was intercepted by safety Dillon Thieneman to end it.
“I was trying to get it to Luke over the guy that picked it,” he said. “I just didn’t put it high enough and give Luke a chance. So that’s on me.”
The irony is that Allar has one of the better touchdown-to-interception ratios in his career.
But in Penn State’s last three losses, he has thrown a late interception that prevented the Lions from tying the Big Ten title game or beating Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and Oregon on Saturday night.
That also has become a recurring theme.
“I mean, every loss is the same to me,” Allar said, declining to compare the late picks.
In fairness, Allar was very good in the fourth quarter when the Lions overcame a 17-3 hole to tie it and force overtime. He was 3-for-3 for 56 yards on the first TD drive and carried four times for 33 yards on the game-tying drive.
“I thought he battled,” Franklin said about Allar. “Early in the game, it’s obviously going to be easy for people to be critical. But when you’re not able to have success on first down, you’re not able to get ahead of the sticks.
“In the first half I think we averaged almost third-and-9. That’s not a good situation for any O-line. That’s not a good situation for any quarterback.”
Franklin, Allar and the rest of the Lions hoped to change the narrative by finally beating a terrific team at home. Instead, it enhanced the perception that Penn State is a very good program, but not an elite one.
“We’ve got to learn from this,” Franklin said. “We need to have a great week of practice (before traveling to UCLA). We’ve got to tune out all the noise.”
It’s getting louder and louder.
Source: Berkshire mont
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