Live updates: James Franklin FIU postgame press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is joining reporters following his team’s 34-0 win over FIU on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium. Follow our live updates of his postgame press confrence, here:
James Franklin postgame press conference updates
(Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page does not automatically refresh. Press conference ended at 3:56 p.m.)
Offensive line
09/06/2025 02:56:56 PMBased on last week and what he saw today, a lot of meat left on the bone. Have a chance to be a dominant front and wouldn’t say they’ve played like that up to this point. Have to get that figured out. Playing up to potential will be important for them moving forward. Not sure if rotation with OL factors into that discussion compared to others. Those seven will play all year. Some guys rotating at other positions going 1:1 or 2:1 where it’ll be 2:1 or 3:1. You’ll see gap widen between starters and backups at some other positions.
Slow start
09/06/2025 02:54:48 PMStarted sluggish and didn’t execute the way they needed early. Third down a factor. Missed some throws, dropped some passes. Allowed them to stay on schedule too often defensively. Would have liked to start better and faster. Thinks that’s a good team. Some good looking players. Coached well and efficient in what they did today. Give them credit, but not happy with how they started. Did not start fast on O, D, or ST today.
Chaz Coleman
09/06/2025 02:53:27 PMEveryone starting to see what they’ve seen. Wasn’t even here for spring ball. Will continue to see him take significant strides. Quick, twitchy, athletic. 250 pounds and looks skinny. Then his ball awareness to get strip sack, scoop it, and run away. Some cool things. Then being able to have Zuriah today was helpful too. A vet they hadn’t had for most of camp. He looked explosive.
O and D identity
09/06/2025 02:52:02 PMYou don’t necessarily know coming out of camp. Until you start to do it, it’s an evolution. Not sure if they’re there yet. Still trying to figure it out. But have gone into these first few weeks with a philosophy of things to get done to build chemistry and confidence rather than just scoring points and winning game. Those things could factor in to a degree. Those things revolve around those three receivers.
D, not playing fast yet. Still thinking with new wrinkles in new D. Need to play faster and more natural.
ST have shown they can win games on ST. That’s a positive. The blocked field goal is frustrating. Two blocked in two years with guy doing complete opposite of what’s coached. Have had a guy do that on their own without ever doing that in practice or being coached on it. Two kicks out of bounds disappointing.
Devonte Ross
09/06/2025 02:49:45 PMWhen they started dealing with his bumps and bruises, didn’t think they would have him until game four. So the fact he played week one in limited capacity and no limitations today, able to be an impact, is a positive. Way ahead of where they hoped to be. Have to build on it. But now have seen Hudson, Pena, Ross. Now have to get all three involved on a consistent basis.
Finishing drives in the first half
09/06/2025 02:48:38 PMEveryone wants to be better at that. Gotta be better on third down. Have to be more explosive. Haven’t met that mark the past two weeks and weren’t good enough on third down today. Those things stall out drive. Shares concerns, but they’re concerns. Will emphasize it and get better. That’s what they’ve done in his time here and usually it leads in good direction. Speeds up the process. Things magnified by rotating more. Playing a ton of guys and a lot of reps and mistakes coming with it. Get into some crunch time, less of that rotation unless they earn it.
Drew Allar
09/06/2025 02:47:13 PMDidn’t look like in normal rhythm. Couldn’t seem to get into rhythm on offense and that was part of that.
Opening statement
09/06/2025 02:20:03 PMAwesome being THON game. Anyone listening to this knows how important THON is to the university and community and culture here. Had 3.0 recognition at halftime and obviously football can’t be part of that, but would have had 59 recognized there.
Overall, pleased with the W. Made it harder than it needed to be. Played a bunch of young guys and felt like that at times. Gotta get that cleaned up.
Shut out an opponent in five straight seasons. Hasn’t happened in a long time and did it with a bunch of difference coordinators. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both topped 3,000 career yards today. Dom DeLuca third career blocked punt.
Important stats: Takeaway battle was big. DL and DTs are doing some great things with 2 INTs. Chaz almost a strip sack for a TD. Won explosive plays but need to be better. Not good on third down. That’s the reason they struggled and couldn’t get into rhythm offensively. Field position and Gabe swinging it. Can’t have two kicks out of bounds. Won penalties. Won middle eight.
Some good things, but not where they need to be. Winning consistently is hard to do and have found a way to do it.