Penn State coach James Franklin and quarterback Drew Allar are confronting a growing crisis. Early-season struggles have sparked concerns over the team’s national championship aspirations, with some analysts labeling the season a “bust.”
Through two games, Penn State is unbeaten, but both wins came against weaker opponents. Offensively, the team has struggled, posting a 9-of-25 third-down conversion rate and scoring just 10 points in the first half against FIU.
“We gotta get better. We gotta get better this week,” Franklin said Saturday. “We have not met our explosive play mark the last two weeks and we weren’t good enough on third down today, and those things are going to stall out drives. I have the same concerns that you do.”
Defensively, Penn State recorded a shutout against FIU and allowed 11 points against Nevada, but the team has surrendered too many big plays, including a 21-yard carry by Nevada’s Kejon Owens after linebacker Amare Campbell missed the tackle.
Avery Hill of The Collegian noted,
“Part of the struggles falls on Allar, who was a projected Heisman candidate but has had multiple off-target throws in the first two games. The unit has also played a ‘bend but don’t break’ style of ball in both games... This year is different. Penn State is projected by most national media to go all the way in the College Football Playoff. Yet they are struggling against Group of Six competition — it’s simply unacceptable. At this stage, the season is a bust.”
Hill added,
“A positive for Penn State is it’s still early in the campaign. The media’s continued love for the Nittany Lions is a positive sign moving forward, but I doubt said love will continue if it plays around with FCS squad Villanova — the program that hasn’t beaten an FBS opponent since Temple in 2018....so far, it has been a bust. Penn State must step it up.”
No. 2 Penn State faces Villanova Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. The game will air on FS1.