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Ohio State Football: 4th and Short, questions for Week 11

By Blake Biscardi

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 3: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes in the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Nebraska 36-31. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 3: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes in the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Nebraska 36-31. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts on the sideline during the first half against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts on the sideline during the first half against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Q: How disappointing has Penn State’s season been? If Penn State loses a [third] game at home, does Franklin get fired?

A: Penn State was picked to win the Big Ten and even represent the conference in the College Football Playoff. Three losses later and a game against Wisconsin still looming, the Nittany Lions season could go from bad to worse.

Two of Penn State’s three losses have been at home including the game against Ohio State in front of a Whiteout crowd. If the Nittany Lions were to drop a third game at home, James Franklin’s seat would begin to warm. Franklin has recruited at a high level during his time in State College, but he has not been able to consistently beat the top-tier opponents nor finish big games.

I do not think Penn State will move on from Franklin just yet even if they finish the season with four or five losses. The Nittany Lions had to replace a lot on offense and have a young defense. The question will be if Franklin and his staff can develop and translate the talent to getting over the mountain by defeating the upper level teams on a regular basis instead of just a sporadic win.

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