Performing well against ranked opponents? Looks like it’s not Penn State head coach James Franklin ’s cup of tea. The Nittany Lions have hit 10 wins in six of Franklin’s 12 seasons, with only one losing year (2020) and six bowl victories, including two CFP wins in 2024. Yet, his teams continue to stumble in the biggest games. His career record against AP-ranked top-10 teams, including his time as a head coach at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, is currently 4-26.

That includes a 1-18 record (.053) against top-5 squads, and Franklin is also 17-36 overall (.321) against AP Top 25-ranked teams in general. And Dan Lanning ’s Oregon just made things worse after handing them a 24-30 overtime win. Instead of running away, Franklin faces the criticism with a brave heart.

During the post-game

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