Franklin Struggles at Penn State Continue as Offensive Woes Mount

Penn State entered its White Out showdown with Oregon riding high expectations. After two full weeks of prep time, the Nittany Lion offense looked lifeless in the first half, struggling to move the chains and maintain rhythm. Against a top opponent, that kind of baseline puts a team in jeopardy. When games against elite programs hinge on adjustments and execution, Penn State’s perennial soft spots, offensive inconsistency, questionable game-calling, and an inability to generate edge pressure reappeared. The loss raises another concern. The Nittany Lions cannot afford to overlook UCLA or Northwestern in the next two weeks. Those matchups now carry real weight before the more daunting stretch of Iowa. While traveling to Ohio State and Indiana. For James Franklin, this could be the defining crossroads of his tenure.

Franklin Struggles at Penn State Continue as Offensive Woes Mount

Franklin’s Troubled Record in Big Games

Even before the Oregon game, a familiar narrative dogged Franklin.  His struggle in marquee matchups. Fans and analysts routinely cite an alarming record in primetime or top-10 contests. Oregon added to that legacy, dropping the Nittany Lions in double overtime. According to Franklin, “Neither offense was explosive, but we battled, we were resilient, and we had a chance to win the game at the end.” But crediting “battle” or “resilience” does little to erase a pattern. The real metric is execution when the stakes are highest. Over the years, Franklin’s teams often start slow, fail to flip momentum, and lose confidence when a battle tightens. That is exactly what unfolded here. Rather than lighting a fire under his players, Franklin’s public posture often smothers urgency. He called the game “what we expected it to come down to,” and noted first downs and early execution as the fatal flaws. This stretch of games ahead is more than just a test. It is likely the last real chance for Franklin to prove he can take Penn State to the next level, rather than simply maintaining it.

Offense Stagnates: Rhythm Missing, Passing Flounders

The heart of the issue lies in the offense. The Nittany Lion unit failed to find any consistent rhythm in the first half against Oregon. As Franklin observed, “We weren’t able to get anything going early in the game on offense.” Drives stalled. Third downs often became long yardage. The result was a constant passing mode with the line under pressure. Quarterback Drew Allar acknowledged execution problems. “I just felt like we weren’t executing what we wanted to do and were supposed to do.”  When the offense finally showed signs of spark in the fourth quarter, it was only a marginal improvement. Allar and Devonte Ross connected for a 35-yard TD to shrink Oregon’s 17-3 lead.  However, those bursts felt isolated and unsustainable. It raises a critical question. Is Allar in the wrong system? A pro-style scheme demands anticipation, timing, and consistent pocket presence. He looks out of sync early and reliant on improvisation late, a precarious formula at this level. More troubling, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has yet to fashion a plan that plays to Allar’s strengths over a full game. Execution should not be the excuse when the blueprint lacks balance.