A playoff win and a 12-win season could be sufficient to solidify 2024 as a particular yr for many school soccer applications. Nonetheless, Penn State and James Franklin are nonetheless dealing with stress to show doubters fallacious as they head right into a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Boise State.
Penn State did not simply beat SMU, a newly minted Energy 4 program out of the ACC, on Saturday. They dominated the Mustangs all afternoon. However even in a 38-10 victory, some may nonetheless level to the tough sport for SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who threw three costly interceptions – two as pick-sixes – as a purpose to remove from Penn State’s efficiency.
In any playoff, successful is all that basically issues. It is about surviving and advancing on this 12-team School Soccer Playoff format. And that is precisely what Penn State did, successful with out even needing a lot from their star quarterback, as Drew Allar solely accomplished 13-of-22 passes for 127 yards.
Whereas their early season win at USC is now not labeled as a “huge” win because of how the Trojans’ season ended and their win over then ranked No. 19 Illinois would not look as spectacular because it did on the time, nobody can deny a playoff win over a No. 10 ranked (11 seed) staff counts as successful a “huge one” for Penn State and Franklin.
However with all of that mentioned, Penn State was the favourite going into the sport and was taking part in at house. And if that win is adopted by a loss to a Group of 5 staff, even one led by a Heisman candidate, Franklin’s detractors will nonetheless proceed to convey up his document in “huge” video games and say Penn State did not make the most of one other alternative to advance from high quality high tier program to among the many true elite within the sport.
The win over SMU was Franklin’s one hundredth at Penn State, bringing his document to 100-41 throughout his tenure, but the narrative about him stays and can stay if he would not earn win No. 101 and raise the Fiesta Bowl trophy in Arizona.
Franklin is just 2-15 towards high 12 opponents since 2018, a related distinction with a 12-team playoff format. Lots of these losses have come to Huge Ten rivals Michigan and Ohio State, together with one to the Buckeyes this season and are why Penn State has solely captured one convention title below Franklin and wanted the playoff expanded to achieve school soccer’s true postseason and be capable of pursue a nationwide championship.
Franklin, like every good coach, is not fearful about previous failures with a lot alternative in entrance of him. He is additionally not fearful about one other huge sport forward, this one removed from house and nearer to a typical main bowl sport ambiance, granted with extra on the road this yr.
“We performed in a bunch of them,” said Franklin after the SMU win about getting used to high-profile bowl video games.
“Dramatic pause, so everyone can take that in. We performed in a bunch of them. My household, we’re used to spending Christmas in resorts. Not everyone is.”
Franklin additionally probably is aware of deep down a loss as a heavy favourite (-11 through DraftKings) to Boise State will spoil the house playoff win for some followers as nicely. Honest or not, the knock on Franklin is that he beats groups he is purported to beat and loses when dealing with an equal opponent or because the underdog, and that can maintain true if Penn State fails to advance on New Yr’s Eve in Glendale, Ariz.
