At any time when we speak about Penn State, theres a macro and a micro perspective of this system. Its not all the time straightforward to know which one ought to command your consideration.
You may step again and see that James Franklin has completed contained in the top-10 5 instances in his 11 seasons whereas successful two-thirds of his Massive 12 video games. Thats fairly good with out every other context. On the similar time, everyone knows the dangerous stuff too: 1-10 towards Ohio State, 4-21 towards top-10 opponents, always hitting his head on a ceiling in an important video games.
Cant fireplace him. Cant belief him.
Its an actual dilemma for Penn States administration. They know Franklin runs an excellent program and usually wins the video games hes imagined to win, that firing him could be absurdly costly (within the $50 million vary) and theres vital danger of changing him with somebody who wouldnt be as profitable. On the similar time, not sufficient {hardware} has been gained to maintain the plenty pleased with the established order.
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Thats why Penn States solely transfer after shedding to Notre Dame within the CFP semifinals final 12 months was to go all-in on the 2025 staff they usually did. A whole lot of returning starters, good recruits, well-regarded switch portal additions, plus making defensive coordinator Jim Knowles the highest-paid assistant within the nation after luring him from Ohio State.
When Franklin and athletic director Pat Kraft signed that deal for greater than $3 million per 12 months, they most likely didnt think about giving up 42 factors and 435 yards to a UCLA staff that was 0-4 with an offensive coordinator calling performs for the primary time in his profession.
However thats precisely what occurred Saturday because the Nittany Lions fell 42-37 within the Rose Bowl, marking the largest upset of the faculty soccer season to date.
Franklins postgame narrative centered on not dealing with final weeks 30-24 double additional time loss to Oregon very nicely, then having to journey to the West Coast, giving up an early landing plus an onside kick and blah blah blah blah blah.
Penn State followers are bored with listening to it, and they need to be.
Shedding to this UCLA staff below any circumstance is unfathomable. Three weeks in the past, the Bruins misplaced by 25 in that very same stadium to New Mexico. And if the mentality of Franklins program is so tender that shedding one shut recreation to Oregon sends their season right into a demise spiral, then everybody at Penn State is simply losing their time.
Realistically, what will be carried out right here? You cant tangibly make investments extra in a roster or a training workers than what Penn State did this 12 months. They went all-in. That they had a staff they thought may win a nationwide championship. Being 3-2 at this stage, with a street recreation at Ohio State nonetheless to return, might be a demise knell for his or her Faculty Soccer Playoff possibilities.
Its a wasted season, most likely the start of the tip.
Weve seen this state of affairs sufficient instances to know the one approach it ends fortunately is for Franklin to start out trying into an exit technique. Would he be keen on calling the Hogs at Arkansas? The staff that beat him Saturday wants a brand new coach. Actually some extra enticing jobs are going to be open in December.
Regardless that Franklins file general is nice, Penn State followers cant dwell by one other fall like this with out some sort of tangible hope that higher days are on the horizon. At this specific second, shedding to the worst UCLA staff in years solely reinforces the worst attainable view of Franklins future. Thats why Penn State reigns as Americas most depressing fan base in Week 6.
ACC: If anybody at North Carolina deserves to be fired, its whoever allowed one of many nice manufacturers in faculty sports activities to grow to be a multi-million greenback jobs program for the family and friends of a 73-year-old who didnt perceive what it takes to win in faculty soccer. Usually, that will be the fault of the athletic director. However everybody in faculty athletics is aware of that North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham had nothing to do with hiring Invoice Belichick and that this error lands on the map of misguided boosters, egotistical politicians and chancellor Lee Roberts, who all began to really feel a tingle up their leg when a six-time Tremendous Bowl winner confirmed curiosity in teaching the Tar Heels. However as an alternative of going to the physician to get that taken care of, they really employed him and his girlfriend, his two sons and his bestie Mike Lombardi, who’s straight answerable for assembling one of many worst energy convention rosters in historical past. Actually, after a 38-10 loss to Clemson, its so dangerous that Merriam-Webster ought to honor it by altering the phrase nepotism to Belichism.
Massive 12: The neatest mammal in America is likely to be Ralphie VI, who made the choice to surrender her tasks as Colorados dwell mascot after 4 years for a lifetime of retirement because of what the varsity known as an indifference to operating. We wish to be respectful of her needs, director of the colleges dwell mascot program Taylor Stratton mentioned within the official launch. Was Ralphie VI actually bored with operating, or did she know what was about to occur to this program after Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders departed to the NFL? It hasnt been fairly. Bear in mind when it was appointment tv to look at these guys? Youd must be a masochist to voluntarily watch a staff get beat 35-21 by TCU after beginning off with a 14-0 lead, and Ralphie VI simply isnt about that life.
SEC: If Texas doesnt make the Faculty Soccer Playoff this 12 months after beginning at No. 1 within the preseason polls, its most likely the largest waste of cash the state has seen since Desertron. For individuals who dont bear in mind, that was the particle accelerator undertaking close to Dallas that was canceled by the federal authorities in 1993 after $2 billion spent and 14 miles of tunnel dug out of the bottom due to mismanagement and value overruns. Sound acquainted? No, we dont count on Congress to cancel the wasteful spending on Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning although you by no means know as of late however its clear we had been offered a invoice of products right here. The Longhorns 29-21 loss to Florida after a bye week with Manning struggling once more (16-for-29, 263 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) leaves them at 3-2 with the fact that possibly theyre simply not superb.
Group of 5: Anyone wants to clarify why UMass nonetheless sponsors an FBS program somewhat than devoting extra assets to hockey, the place theyre a nationwide energy, and a sport like basketball the place they’ll make the NCAA match now and again. UMass hasnt gained greater than 4 video games in a season since 2011 actually, 2011 and hasnt even sniffed a bowl recreation since shifting as much as the FBS in 2012. Whats the purpose of that? Some lower-resource faculties chase the soccer dream as a result of they imagine its good for the picture of the college, however it might be arduous to establish what UMass good points from 42-6 and 47-7 spankings from Missouri and Iowa, respectively, the final two weeks. However theyve additionally been blown out by Temple and Western Michigan with a loss to Bryant.
Mark Stoops: A report emerged this week from longtime Lexington-based reporter Alan Cutler that Stoops approached athletics director Mitch Barnhart on the finish of final season and wished to barter a buyout however was rejected. Stoops denied it after Kentuckys 35-14 loss to Georgia, saying it was unequivocally, one hundred pc false. However would it not actually be such a foul thought? That is Stoops thirteenth season, and the Distress Index is a agency believer within the thought coaches mustn’t keep wherever longer than a decade except they’re successful nationwide championships. Issues get stale. Individuals lose their edge and dont grind as arduous as they as soon as did. Followers get bored with listening to the identical tropes and tales. Its the circle of life. Stoops has had good years, however hes gained one among his final 12 SEC video games and maybe it might be greatest for each side to consider an amicable divorce.
Invoice OBrien: The worst efficiency of the weekend needs to be the Boston Faculties 48-7 loss to a Pittsburgh staff that was additionally not having an excellent season. The margin of defeat was stunning on condition that Boston Faculty had been aggressive in its different video games, albeit on the shedding finish towards Michigan State in additional time, Stanford and Cal. This one smells like a pissed off staff letting go of the rope a bit, and OBrien was at a loss in his postgame information convention to establish the issue. Im not getting it carried out, he mentioned. This appears like a type of conditions the place groups ought to be capable of commerce coaches. Should you may ship OBrien to North Carolina and produce his buddy Belichick to Boston Faculty it might make a number of sense for each side. Alas, in each Hills Chapel and Chestnut the beatings will proceed till morale improves for the previous Patriots colleagues.
Mike Norvell: A pair face-saving scores within the fourth quarter allowed Florida State to place some cosmetics on a 28-22 loss to Miami, however this wasnt a very shut recreation. Neither is the Seminoles program in the identical league proper now because the Hurricanes, who’re recruiting on the highest stage and have found out the teaching and game-managing half sufficient to separate from the remainder of the ACC. Thats an issue for any FSU coach, however the true the difficulty for Norvell proper now could be squandering a season-opening Alabama win that has already aged fairly nicely. If Florida State was 4-1, issues would look completely different. However with that additional time loss at Virginia final week, 3-2 looks as if an enormous letdown. Perhaps Florida State will win the remainder of its video games and sneak into CFP competition, but when the Seminoles actually wish to compete with Miami they should up their NIL recreation and compete for a few of that elite Florida expertise. Its evident theyre fairly far behind proper now.
Jeff Traylor: The funniest gag in faculty soccer is each time a training job opens wherever close to the state of Texas, reporters in San Antonio run to this man and ask for a public loyalty pledge to UTSA. That is dumb for a number of causes. First, even when the person was prepared stroll throughout scorching coals all the best way from San Antonio to Stillwater to grow to be the coach at Oklahoma State, he wouldnt say it publicly. Second, theres by no means been a shred of proof that any main program has had curiosity in him past an exploratory dialog. And lets bear in mind, UTSA is now 2-3 after a 27-21 loss to Temple. It seems as if the Roadrunners are on their method to three straight years of declining outcomes from 9-4 in 2023 when Traylors title was linked to the Texas A&M job (which he interviewed for, very poorly, in line with sources) to 7-6 to now no matter they’ll make out of this season, which isnt trying so nice. If this trajectory continues, itll be legitimate to ask if Traylors coming again. However at that time it wont be his resolution.
Air Drive forgot its bread and butter: Navys 34-31 win over the Falcons was notable as a result of it featured a mixed 588 passing yards between two groups which have historically been at their greatest operating the choice. And maybe thats what bit Air Drive ultimately as a result of when the Falcons had been driving to both tie or win the sport, quarterback Liam Szarka panicked making an attempt to pitch the ball. With linebacker Jaxson Campbell in his face, Szarka had little likelihood to execute the play he was making an attempt to make and pitched it straight into Campbells arms. The ensuing fumble ended the sport, making certain Air Drive wont win the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy for an eighth time within the final 9 years.
Texas State scored too quick: This was maybe probably the most gut-wrenching results of the weekend. In a tie ballgame, Texas States Brad Jackson broke a 63-yard run to succeed in the Arkansas State 3-yard line with 1:03 left. With the Purple Wolves having two timeouts left, Texas State ostensibly may have performed the clock and tried a game-winning subject aim with round 10 seconds to go. As a substitute, Texas State scored the landing on the very subsequent play however missed the additional level. That left sufficient time for Arkansas State to drive 75 yards in 53 seconds and stroll off with a 31-30 victory. To his credit score, Texas State coach G.J. Kinne took the blame and mentioned he wished he may have that sequence over once more, however these are game-management errors that linger over a season.
An Alabama fan went viral for the unsuitable causes: After Vanderbilts 30-14 loss to Alabama, video circulated on social media of a middle-aged man with a big cup in his hand (we are able to guess what it was stuffed with) yelling Youre trash amongst different issues on the Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia as he walked off the sector. Although it was arduous to make out precisely what the 2 mentioned to one another, Pavia clearly mentioned, In poor health do regardless of the [expletive] I need. It didnt appear to be something escalated past that, and Pavia confirmed some restraint in not escalating issues additional. Besides, why is a ticket-buying grownup yelling at a university child from the opposing staff after a win? And why did the safety man who was close by not do something to calm him down? Pavia dishes loads of trash speak, so its solely honest for him to take some. However making an attempt to impress a university athlete in that method is excessive loser habits for a man who didnt have something to do with Alabama successful the sport.
Baylors followers left too early: By the point the Bears secured a phenomenally entertaining 35-34 win over Kansas State by blocking 56-yard subject aim with a pair seconds remaining, the stands at McLane Stadium had been just about empty. The query is why. Look, when Kansas State took a 31-17 lead late within the third quarter, you possibly can perceive why some Baylor followers figured that it is likely to be higher to seek out one thing else to do with their afternoon. On the similar time, Baylor has been a comeback staff this 12 months, together with a 48-45 additional time win over SMU after trailing by two touchdowns within the fourth quarter. Baylor isnt going to win a nationwide championship, however it is a 4-2 staff that has an opportunity to place collectively an honest 12 months and it was fairly embarrassing to have a virtually empty stadium on the finish of that recreation.
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