Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters in the aftermath of Satuday’s stunning setback at UCLA for his weekly press conference. Follow our live updates, here:
James Franklin live press conference updates
(James Franklin press conference has ended at 12:30 p.m.)
Not giving a scouting report on the next team
10/06/2025 11:30:13 AMFocused on the last game, but should have done that. Northwestern and Coach Braun, who has done a good job. They’ve taken on his personality. Similar to what they see from Iowa defensively.
Offensively, 11 and 12 personnel team. Preston Stone transfer can do things with arm and feet.
On not playing fast and confidently defensively
10/06/2025 11:27:36 AMNot where they need to be right now. Is surprised about where they are in all three phases, after last game. Yes, that’s accurate.
Turning two losses into three
10/06/2025 11:26:57 AMNot focused on that other than tuning out the outside noise that does not help them go out and beat Northwestern, that’s critical. That can be challenging at times, but need to make sure within the Lasch Building they’re controlling the things they can, and going out and beating Northwestern, and playing better so they can be excited about what they do to get better.
Growth in the program from the beginning to now, and belief in what he can achieve at Penn State
10/06/2025 11:25:48 AMFair question. Believes in Penn State, believes in players, believes in men and women in the Lasch Building, and believes in himself. Going to get these questions after the last two questions. But when you look at the complete picture, which no one wants to talk about, people want to look only at last two games, but needs to make sure everyone in Lasch keeps perspective. Need to beat Northwestern and more motivated than ever to do that.
Making staff changes
10/06/2025 11:23:28 AM
Starts with him. His job is to hold everyone accountable. That’s what they’re going to do starting with Northwestern.
Discussions with staff
10/06/2025 11:23:06 AMTalking about stick together, because human nature is to point in other directions. Need to start with themselves and their responsibility. Have been places where O points at D or D points at O, and they’re not going to do that. Everyone owning their responsibility in this. Staying as positive as they can. Not spending energy on the things that don’t help them get better. Find solutions on film, the fundamentals and techniques and coaching. Those things never leave you wrong. Gotta make sure they’re executing the fundamentals and techniques within the scheme.
On defense, didn’t have a bunch of missed assignments, but not executing techniques and fundamentals at a fast enough pace.
Snap distribution with Nick/Kaytron and who makes that call
10/06/2025 11:21:21 AMDiscuss rotation with the staff every week. Part of coordinator plan, position coaches, and they’re tracking touches more than plays. They’re essentially rotating by series. That was a discussion after the game, but also before the game, that they need to get Kaytron more touches and carries.
Evaluating AK
10/06/2025 11:20:18 AM
It’s his responsibility, and then it’s a discussion with the coaches. Have not been as good as expected. Have had slow starts. In the second half, more of who they’re capable of being. But can’t start slowly two weeks in a row. Went down the opening drive and got a touchdown, the issue is they scored and had onside kick, so only had three possessions. Part of it is offense maximizing those possessions, part of it is defense getting off the field. Shares the responsibility with Andy and has not been productive enough at this point in the season.
End of first half management/rushing the punter
10/06/2025 11:19:35 AMThe end of the half – when you don’t execute the fourth down and not able to finish the drive and do what you want to do, then everything else is left up to interpretation. But to him, you can’t say that they should have used the timeouts, and then say they were left time to get a field goal. Trying to go down, score a touchdown, and leave as little time on the clock as possible. They get the first down, then they can use those timeouts. Gets it, when it doesn’t go the way you want, it’s criticized.
On the safety, expecting them to punt it deep and be in a position to get a return. They took the safety there, which was a discussion they had on the headset. Obviously they needed someone to rush the punter there.
On things he can do if it starts with him
10/06/2025 11:15:57 AMHow they practice, develop, holding everyone in the building accountable. It’s all of it. Won’t allow two games that are extremely disappointing to overshadow the growth they’ve had in the program over the past 12 years. It’s a balance of that. The last two weeks weren’t good enough. He’s responsible. He hired the staff, recruited the players, and is responsible for all of it. There to support those guys, challenge, hold everyone accountable. And that’s the nature of the job. Totally gets that. And totally takes responsibility for it.
On the locker room and possibility of losing it
10/06/2025 11:14:24 AMThis is a resilient group. When you watch the game, the guys battled and played hard. Didn’t always play smart, but battled. Had a chance to win both of those games where there were times in the game it didn’t look like they would have that chance. Didn’t win the game, but specific to the question, did same thing in both Oregon and UCLA games battling back.
Was there hurt? Yeah. Same on Sunday? Yeah, and there should be. No doubt about it.
But a strong group, and leaders who have been through adversity in the past, so doesn’t have those concerns right now. But they have to tune out the noise and negativity and focus on the things that will get it better.
On this offensive line not performing as expected
10/06/2025 11:12:36 AMThey’re missing Donkoh this past week, and that was a difference. But from the beginning of the season, that’s fair. The word he’s used is inconsistent, which no one wants to hear, but that’s the reality. Have done good things at times. Not dominating the line of scrimmage the way he thinks they can, not playing as fast or aggressive as anticipated. There are specific reaasons, but not broadly. Specific to each play, one guy not executing block the way it needs to be. Each play might be a different guy not physical or executing, or footwork or landmark. Combination of those things. It’s play by play.
People thought this would be among best teams in the country, why not, and things that could change coaching the rest of the way
10/06/2025 11:10:42 AMSome adjustments to what they’re doing on defense and getting the guys to play confident within the system. Still a work in progress. That’s not a question. Not playing as fast and aggressive as they have in the past defensively. Offensively, that’s where those questions are as much as anything. Year two with AK and so many returning players on that side of the ball, and they’ve been inconsistent. If he had the answer, would give it right now, but that’s what they’re working through every day is to be more consistent with execution, play calling, all of it, from the top down starting with him – coordinators, coaches, players, all of it.
Special teams has been the most consistent in year two with Lustig. Want to build on that. Blocked punt worked out exactly the way it should. Coaches came up with plan to get Dani on the long snapper. They went out and executed the plan and they had success. Need to take similar approach on offense and defense to put themselves in best position to be successful.
Not the only team in a similar situation like this. There are examples as recent as last season of teams having tough losses and overcoming it. Need to overcome it as quickly as they can, tune out the noise, focus on getting better. But also understand have had two losses in a row that are frustrating for everybody involved.
On Kaytron Allen usage
10/06/2025 11:07:08 AMNo doubt that Kaytron is having a good year, been very productive. That’s what they look at each week is how are they getting him touches. Then also not necessarily play count, but opportunities to touch the ball. That’s something they discuss as a staff each week. Has been productive.
When things don’t go well, that’s one of the first things you look at that he needs more touches and should have had more that game. Had a similar discussion as a staff.
Linebacker play
10/06/2025 11:05:50 AMWhen you lose a guy like Tony Rojas, who has played a ton of football and is a better player, that will have an impact. More reps for Amare, more reps for DeLuca, and the plan is will have to start playing guys like Cam – not significant reps due to how game was going. Have to develop those guys. Cam, Speca part of that discussion.
Times they did really nice things and other times they didn’t. Had some mistakes and missed assignments. Playing with confidence, that’s a challenge. When you lose a better player on their team, at a position already lacking depth, that creates challenges. Point of attention all week long with staff, with players, and have to rotate those guys in there.
Opening statement
10/06/2025 10:59:14 AMDisappointed with the result of last week’s game. Did not live up to expectations or standards. Haven’t really had those types of games over time here. When that happens, it makes you look at everything from the top down, starting with him.
Lost turnover battle. Had the one to start the second half, which was significant, and they’re not getting them right now. Won explosive play battle. Lost third and fourth down battle. Fairly consistent theme all year. Won sack battle. Won drive start. Lost penalty battle. Going into that game, UCLA 131st and Penn State 5th. And lost that by eight yards. Middle eight, won that.
End of the day, the stats are the stats. Didn’t play winning football. Uncharacteristic things that showed up. Every time they could swing momentum, they’d get it back to 7 and they’d go on drive and widen margin back to 14. Unsportsmanlike penalty after TD. Disappointed with the results and gets the frustration. Again, starts with him. Look at everything in detail and now on to Northwestern and doing everything they can to get a win against them and get on a positive roll.