James Franklin Highlights Areas for Improvement as Penn State Eyes Playoff Spot.

Franklin refers to them as “opportunities for growth.” The Nittany Lions faced several challenges in their narrow one-point victory at Minnesota.

On a hectic Saturday where seven top-20 teams suffered defeats, No. 4 Penn State nearly became part of the upset wave. However, the Nittany Lions managed to secure a tight 26-25 win over Minnesota, keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive heading into the final week of the regular season.

In his Monday press conference, Penn State head coach James Franklin discussed some of the team’s weaknesses in the game against the Golden Gophers, highlighting areas that could impact their postseason chances. He started by addressing issues with special teams.

Minnesota’s blocked punt in the second quarter proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, setting up the Gophers with a short field and allowing them to score a quick touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. Franklin explained that the block wasn’t due to a scheme issue, but rather a breakdown in execution when punter Riley Thompson kicked from the end zone.

“We had three rushers, and three blockers assigned. The Minnesota player [Derik LeCaptain] got a bit on the edge, and the punt went a little wider than usual, which allowed him to get his hand on the ball. That was a huge play in the game,” Franklin said.

Another critical moment came later in the half when Penn State’s extra-point attempt was blocked. Instead of tying the game, the Nittany Lions found themselves trailing 19-16 at halftime after Minnesota returned the blocked kick for a 2-point score. Franklin explained that the block occurred because a Penn State lineman incorrectly blocked outside instead of inside and down, which gave Minnesota’s Jack Henderson a clear path to rush from the right. Penn State adjusted its personnel for the next extra-point attempt, which was successful.

“The field goal was a fluke,” Franklin said. “We haven’t done that in, I don’t know, 11 years, and for whatever reason, we blocked out when we’ve always blocked down. But we obviously need to get those things cleaned up.”

Franklin also criticized Penn State’s opening series on both offense and defense, calling them disappointing and “not the way you want to start the game.” The offense began with two punts, including a 3-and-out on the first possession, followed by a fourth-down sack and a turnover on downs on the third. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s offense had a strong start, scoring on its first three possessions and taking a 10-0 lead, including a nine-play, 70-yard drive for a touchdown on its opening series.

The Nittany Lions found their offensive rhythm, scoring on three of their next four drives to close within three points of Minnesota before halftime. However, one of the game’s more bizarre moments occurred on Penn State’s first drive of the second half.

Facing 4th-and-9 from the Minnesota 38-yard line, trailing 22-16, Penn State decided to keep the offense on the field. Quarterback Drew Allar motioned toward the sideline as the play clock expired, appearing to call for a timeout, but the ball was instead snapped to tight end Tyler Warren, who mishit the punt, sending it out of bounds for a net gain of just 16 yards.

When asked about the play, Franklin explained that the intention was for Warren to execute a quick kick, a punt designed to pin Minnesota deep in its own territory.

“You don’t punt it very far, and you don’t have to. … There’s no returner back, that’s the whole reason for a quick kick,” Franklin said. “You just kind of punt it about 25 yards and let it roll for another 10.”

Allar appeared visibly frustrated after the play, but Franklin clarified that it wasn’t due to the play itself. Rather, Allar thought Penn State would receive a penalty for delay of game. After the game, Allar also expressed frustration about Minnesota mimicking his cadence at the line of scrimmage.

Allar had motioned for a timeout, but Franklin explained that the team wouldn’t have called one in that situation, as a delay penalty wouldn’t have been a significant issue. Franklin addressed the frustration with Allar on the sideline, and he felt the conversation was productive.

“His frustration was more about the ball not getting snapped to Tyler so he could quick-kick it, and then it happened while it looked like he was walking off the field, which is just part of the play,” Franklin said. “So that was misinterpreted a little bit, what his frustration was about. Either way, it was an opportunity for us to have a discussion and then another discussion and then another discussion. To me, that’s exactly how I want it to be. I want him to be fiery.”

For Franklin, the most important takeaway from Saturday’s game was that Penn State overcame adversity to secure a road win. Looking ahead, the Nittany Lions will face a 4-7 Maryland team at home. If they take care of business, they’ll be in a strong position to clinch a home playoff game at Beaver Stadium.

Moreover, if Michigan upsets Ohio State and Penn State wins, the Nittany Lions would advance to the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon and could potentially earn a first-round bye with a victory over the Ducks. Despite these potential scenarios, Franklin emphasized his focus on Maryland. He stressed that if Penn State starts looking too far ahead before this weekend’s game, it could lead to challenges.

“We are focused totally on the University of Maryland and sending our seniors out the right way,” Franklin said. “I’ve got a ton of respect for the University of Maryland and the talent they have on their team every year, so we’re completely focused on that. Anything that happens after Saturday, we’ll be excited about those opportunities we’ve earned.”

Penn State will host Maryland for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.