Penn State head coach James Franklin stressed the importance of his team taking a "significant step" against UCLA this week, identifying areas for improvement after a home win over Illinois.
Partway through his opening statement during a regularly scheduled Monday news conference, Penn State head coach James Franklin made a comment that caught the attention of a local reporter. Franklin, whose team defeated then-No. 19 Illinois at home over the weekend, had already run through the latest injury updates and a statistical recap of the win when the tone seemed to shift, albeit only slightly. He slipped in a quick remark about how important it is for the Nittany Lions to take "a significant step" in their next game — and then quickly veered into an overview of UCLA, whom Penn State will face on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
"One of the things I talked to the team about is the importance of us taking a significant step this week," Franklin said. "And not having to be one of those teams you see all over the country that has to have a setback first before they make a wake-up call and take a significant step. So we need to do that this week. Very, very important for us."
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Toward the end of Franklin's interview session, a local reporter followed up on the idea of Penn State needing to take a significant step against the Bruins this week. He asked for a bit more specificity about Franklin's choice of words and wanted to know if there were things that didn't happen against Illinois that were concerning to the coach and his staff.
"In general, we've got to get better," Franklin said. "We shouldn't have to have a setback. We've got to just make sure we're not getting complacent and get better every week, individually and collectively. Also, the areas that are obvious we need to get cleaned up — like penalties — we can't just keep talking about it. You guys don't want to hear it, the fans don't want to hear me keep talking about it, we want it fixed. And ultimately, as coaches, we've got to make sure that happens. Also, the players have to make sure that that happens."
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Buried between the lines of Franklin's message was the overarching idea that Penn State, which is 4-0 for a fourth consecutive season, must continue to make strides before its ready to compete for either a Big Ten Championship or a national championship. Not since 2021 have the Nittany Lions dropped a conference game to someone other than Ohio State or Michigan, but finding the proper foothold to summit that final peak has proved elusive during Franklin's tenure.
A reconfigured conference schedule in an expanded Big Ten means Penn State won't face the Wolverines in 2024, but they still host Ohio State in early November. And until Franklin finds a way to topple one of the league's elite, it will be difficult to view Penn State as anything other than a good team that isn't quite great.
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
The Nittany Lions are far from the only Big Ten team with that designation amid a logjammed start to the season. Ten schools navigated August and September with one or fewer blemishes on their respective records, but only No. 3 Ohio State and No. 6 Oregon seem to land squarely among the sport's elite. That means there is plenty of discussion to be had about the rest when it comes to who's for real and who's sky is about to fall, who's a legitimate College Football Playoff contender and who lacks the staying power to make it that far.
So let's place the Buckeyes and Ducks aside and put everyone else under the microscope:
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Record: 4-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten
Best win: 21-7 home victory over then-No. 19 Illinois
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Remaining schedule: UCLA (home), No. 11 USC (away), Wisconsin (away), No. 3 Ohio State (home), Washington (home), Purdue (away), Minnesota (away), Maryland (home)
Things to like: With a few strong early-season performances, tailbacks Nicholas Singleton (2,221 career yards) and Kaytron Allen (2,058 career yards) became just the second set of Penn State teammates to eclipse 2,000 yards each. They're anchoring a rushing attack that ranks ninth nationally and first in the Big Ten at more than 250 yards per game thus far. First-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who was previously the head coach at Indiana, is overseeing an aggressive unit that ranks fourth overall and seventh in scoring to pick up right where former coordinator Manny Diaz left off in 2023.
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Causes for concern: The Nittany Lions are one of the more heavily penalized teams in the country this season with an average of 66 penalty yards per game, which ranks 97th nationally and among the bottom six in the Big Ten. They're also tied for 129th in field goal percentage (40%) after starting kicker Sander Sahaydak missed two more against No. 19 Illinois last Saturday. Sahaydak is 2-for-5 on field goals this season. Allowing 24 first-half points to Bowling Green was an eye-opener in a come-from-behind victory in Week 2.
Verdict: College Football Playoff or bust.
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Record: 4-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten
Best win: 27-24 home victory over then-No. 11 USC
Penn State's Franklin Preaches Progress Ahead of UCLA Clash
Remaining schedule: Washington (away), No. 24 Illinois (away), Michigan State (home), No. 6 Oregon (home), No. 23 Indiana (away), Northwestern (home), No. 3 Ohio State (away)
Things to like: The emergence of converted linebacker Kalel Mullings as one of the more dynamic tailbacks in the Big Ten has given Michigan an offensive focal point in the post-Blake Corum era. Mullings ranks eighth nationally in rushing with 540 yards through the first five games and continues to produce against defenses that know the Wolverines are running the ball. A hellacious defensive line led by interior stars Mason Graham (three sacks) and Kenneth Grant (two sacks) is among the best in college football. Michigan is equally adept at stopping the run and has limited opponents to 68.8 rushing yards per game, the program's lowest mark through its first five games since 2006.
Causes for concern: Instability and ineffectiveness at quarterback has sunk the Wolverines' passing offense to 130th in the country at 115.4 yards per game. Starter Alex Orji has failed to top 100 yards in each of the last two weeks since taking over for Davis Warren, and the only teams with less-potent passing attacks than Michigan are New Mexico State, Louisiana-Monroe, Army and Air Force. An inexperienced and injury-plagued secondary has been exposed at times this season — most notably by Texas and USC — and the Wolverines now sit outside the top 100 in passing defense with an allowance of 248.8 yards per game.
Verdict: Likely to fade.
Record: 3-1 overall, 1-1 Big Ten
Best win: 27-20 neutral site victory over then-No. 13 LSU
Remaining schedule: Minnesota (away), No. 7 Penn State (home), Maryland (away), Rutgers (home), Washington (away), Nebraska (home), UCLA (away), No. 14 Notre Dame (home)
Things to like: Head coach Lincoln Riley seems to have made an excellent hire in former UCLA defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, whose group ranks 11th nationally in opponent third-down conversion rate (26.5%) and is tied for 12th in opponent red zone conversion rate (66.7%). None of USC's opponents have exceeded 27 points in a game after nine teams eclipsed that mark against the Trojans last season. Any lingering questions about how USC would replace former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at quarterback have been answered through the steady play of veteran Miller Moss, who has completed 106 of 162 passes (65.4%) for 1,198 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
Causes for concern: A leaky and overmatched offensive line has surrendered 49 quarterback pressures through USC's first four games, which has exposed Moss to far more hits than Riley would feel comfortable with. Personnel changes at the tackle positions seemed to help slightly in the second half against Michigan, but the amount of punishment Moss has absorbed is concerning. Lynn's defense has played a bend-but-don't-break style thus far and struggles to stop the run. The Trojans' allowance of 5.01 yards per carry is tied for 111th nationally and 16th in the Big Ten.
Verdict: Fringe contender for the College Football Playoff.
Record: 3-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten
Best win: 31-14 road victory over Minnesota
Remaining schedule: No. 3 Ohio State (away), Washington (home), Michigan State (away), Northwestern (home), Wisconsin (home), UCLA (away), Maryland (away), Nebraska (home)
Things to like: Tailback Kaleb Johnson has blossomed into one of the best players in
