Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference - UCLA
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Monday afternoon from Beaver Stadium. Follow our live updates, here.
Live updates: James Franklin weekly press conference – UCLA
(Press conference has ended at 12:44 p.m.)
Timeline on an offensive turnaround
09/29/2025 11:44:33 AMThe reality is, things can change quickly. There is the opportunity for that AHA moment when things just start to roll and momentum takes over. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s a grind and you’re going to grind this thing out and find ways to get ugly wins. Close to the Eagles and Saquon, and one of things sent to him today is their running game has been struggling and Saquon numbers not as big and people asking why. The answer from OL that he saw with the accent, and he said he has a block one play he wishes he could have back, and next play another guy, then TE, or a misread. You’re close. The fortunate thing for the Eagles is, they’ve been able to do that and do it through winning. For Penn State, able to win until last weekend, and all these things magnified and answering these questions and the answers become more impactful. Can make a few plays, get a couple big runs, the light goes on, the energy is up, momentum comes, and start to roll. Or could grind through it. But will do whatever they have to do to win games. Might be pretty and answering about a thing of beauty, or it could be painful and ugly, and if it gets a win that’s what they’re going to do. Gotta find a way that as they’re getting better, finding ways to win games and whether it’s explosive and pretty or ugly doing it, gotta find ways to win games and get better while doing it.
How he’s handled last 36 hours
09/29/2025 11:39:33 AMHave lost to really good teams. And takes that very hard and very personal because knows how important it is to so many different people. Always start with himself and things he can control. That’s why he takes things so personal and hard. And whenever you do that, you have to be careful. You try to tune out all the noise that you can, which is difficult in today’s day and age. Try to insulate the players as much as he can. Other people will send him cut ups or examples of how other coaches or people handle these questions, and that perspective is good. Some of the ways those people handle them wouldn’t go over very well here if he did it that way. Try to be as respectful as he can. Not always easy to do. Wouldn’t say he enjoys this whatsoever. But guys have a job to do and these questions will come. But not going to allow one loss to define the season. And not going to allow a few losses to define his career and what they’ve done here at Penn State. Although people don’t spend a lot of time on what they’ve done over his 12 years here, there are a ton of positives. Says this as someone trying to look at positives here and move it in the right direction and take the step they need to take this week. Not just focused on the negatives, because that doesn’t solve the problem. Screaming, yelling, pointing fingers – not going to do it – representing university and program with class and integrity. That shows up more in times like this than others. Not fun nor easy.
Him recalibrating personally in new landscape
09/29/2025 11:31:23 AMGoing through that with the team, talking about how last year played out, looking at what’s happened nationally with other highly ranked teams, and then also being able to look at the season and what they have left. Understands the questions, understands the frustration, but there is a ton of football to be played. Still ranked in the top 10. Still opportunities to do special things. Last year, lost game early on, got into playoffs, made a run, were a possession away from playing for a national championship after losses that resulted in a similar frustration and anger. Have to bounce back and bounce back quickly. That’s why moving press conference to Monday to help him and team move on as quickly as they can.
Drew completion percentage trend
09/29/2025 11:29:01 AMThe trend can’t sustain. But again, have to make sure not in run, incomplete, another run, obvious passing downs without clean pockets, no open receivers. Have to put him in the best position as possible. There are easier throws to find for him – quick game, screens, moving pocket, have to be able to do them in these games to get him going like most quarterbacks. Obvious passing downs or significant shots down the field, +20 yards, those impact completion percentage as well. All those things factor in. But no, you can’t have bad stats and expect it to lead to a positive result.
What offense does best
09/29/2025 11:27:21 AMWhen running theball, play action pass. When Drew runs, creates frustration for defenses. The stuff you saw read/option packages with speed sweep and QB power, that’s difficult to defend. Whether it’s zone read and out on the back side of the run to keep D offense, that’s valuable as well. And shown that Devonte Ross can make some plays. Trebor Pena some really good things. And Hudson some games as well. Need to continue to distribute the ball around. Kaytron is playing really well. Thinks Nick, although the stats would not say this, Nick is playing consistent to how he’s played in the past. Difference is one or two runs where there has been a gap/space/hole for him to rip an explosive run. Has done it through his career. That obviously changed the perception and statistics. Both questions are fair. But when they’re able to run the ball, play action pass has been very good to them. Better in short yardage than the past, but need to get there more. Need to distribute it around. Kaytron really good early part of the season and need to build on that as well.
Offensive identity and perception of it
09/29/2025 11:24:38 AMIt’s a fair question. Inconsistent in how they’ve been trying to run it. It’s a fair and good question. What do they need to be successful, doing well, not doing well, building, fixing things or pivoting in a different direction. Then also a part of when it comes to players holding themselves accountable and coaches coaching them to get it done. Point is a fair one. Just because this is how they did it last year doesn’t mean that’s how they have to do it this year. That’s part of leadership and how decisions need to be made.
Drew taking losses hard
09/29/2025 11:23:07 AMEveryone does. When you put so much into it, and you’re invested so much, it should hurt. Would love to say he loves winning as much as he hates losing, that’s not accurate. Drew takes it very, very hard. Similarities between QB and HC because of interactions you have with media and fans. He takes it very personal and that’s why he’s so driven and motivated. Also thinks it’s hard when you’re 17-20 year old kid and you’re walking off the field and you’re already disappointed enough and you’re doing it in front of passionate and invested fan base, as well. Would be more concerned if it was the opposite and he didn’t take it so hard. They’re similar in a lot of ways. Feels personally responsible for the players, the staff, for all of it. Thinks the best players approach it the same way, and Drew is like that. So when things don’t go well, they take an approach and Jim and Andy talked about this on Sunday, everyone in the locker room should start with themselves. Human nature to point outward. And family and friends trying to protect you do the same thing. But that’s how a locker room can be divided. And they’re not going to let that happen.
Reassessing recruiting during the open date
09/29/2025 11:19:55 AMIt’s like the scheduling question. When you lose a game, everything is going to be second guessed. Lost to really good team. Had a chance to win. Showed tremendous resiliency. Got on the scoreboard first, but didn’t start fast. So gets it. You lose a game, going to be second guessed. If they stay in, don’t go recruiting, win the game, but next year not where they need to be in recruiting and don’t have the type of season, and people will ask about the decision to not go recruiting. Anytime things don’t go well, every decision is going to be critiqued. Try to anticipate some of these things. Thinks they took the right approach. Spent a ton of time on Oregon. Did this summer, too. Then balanced week of the bye on recruiting and prepping for Oregon. Understands the question. Doesn’t agree with it.
Handling a loss in today’s 12-team format
09/29/2025 11:17:20 AMYou have to make sure you’re clear on that, because doesn’t think a lot of people, including players, don’t realize college football has changed. It’s NFL model now. With record and getting to the playoff. Have to make them aware of that. When three of top five teams in the country all have losses, that paints the picture as well. Also how last season went as well. Those things are important to discuss and make sure everyone is clear on. But it needs to be addressed, with the players, coaches. Those are the things he can control so that’s how he approaches it.
Last year’s Ohio State loss and Jim Knowles experience
09/29/2025 11:15:50 AMSpoke with Jim about it. Jim spoke to defense about it. Wants him to talk to the whole team about it. Talked to the staff about it as well. That’s been valuable. He has good perspective on these things and a ton of information from that situation. Definitely talked to him about it on Sunday. Conversations before Sunday about it as well. It’s an important message for the whole team to hear.
Is Drew Allar a better QB now than he was to end last year?
09/29/2025 11:14:31 AMWhen you talk about four games, have just been inconsistent. Inconsistent passing, run game. This past week is not the ideal situation for OL or QB to be in frequent third and longs. It’s across the board on offense of inconsistency. Flashes of brilliance, and inconsistency. Continue to do a good job of Drew decision making. Obviously that last throw, it’s a challenging route people have a hard time covering, but it was covered and should have thrown it away or moved on to have another chance to win the game. Have seen growth in practice, but these things need to translate to the game and it’s a consistency issue as much as anything.
Is the OL playing like one of the best in school history?
09/29/2025 11:12:35 AMThe OL like a lot of things on offense right now is inconsistent. Times they look really good and times they don’t. Pretty much across the board on offense. Inconsistent. Saw how they were structured last year, managing the offense and run the ball, stay ahead of the sticks, create manageable third downs, take play action shots down the field. But until you establish the run, which they did late and opened things up late, they couldn’t do it consistently. That’s really been all year so far.
Opening statement
09/29/2025 11:01:12 AMTurnovers, lost. Explosive plays, won. Won third and fourth down battle and surprised to see that. Depends on how you look at it. They went for a bunch more based on sequencing and where they were on the field. Sack battle was important, and not able to get to him. He played extremely well and watching tape showed that. No sacks for Penn State. That also factors into the storyline of the game, which was first down. Stayed ahead of the sticks all night. Penn State wasn’t able, so that created inadvantageous third and longs all night. Won drive start. Won penalties – though that could have been more significant. Didn’t get sacks and calls could have impacted that. Lost the middle eight by 3.
Thought the guys after watching the tape, played really hard for four quarters and overtime. There came a point, back to first downs, TOP, D ran out of gas. On the field too much for three quarters, as a combination of them not getting off the field and offense not staying on it. Ton of grit and resiliency from the guys. Continue to play consistent special teams, which has been a positive.
Growth: First downs. Protecting the football. Creating turnovers. Had an opportunity early in the game they didn’t make. Had one late that got overturned. From what he saw, didn’t see enough to overturn call on the field. But again, wanted to follow up because it was asked after the game.
Making sure they stay as positive as possible. Don’t let one loss turn into two. Got questions about anger and frustration. Totally get it. But if you’re not careful, that negativity can linger. Have had the issue in the past where one loss turns into two because so much negativity that it’s hard to get the team to move on. Also very telling, and a message with the team, that the team in the conference last year that won the national championship had two conference losses during the season. Two of the top five teams in the country lost this weekend. College football is different than it’s been in the past. Have to do your best to get into the playoffs, then make a run. Focus is on playing UCLA this weekend.