Penn State defense deserved more in 2023; next year starts now for Lions, more of what they're saying

DETROIT — Penn State did everything it needed to do on Saturday night in a 42-0 dismantling of Michigan State. The Lions had endless answers for the Spartans on defense, holding them to just 68 yards of total offense. And, on offense, the team put up 586 yards of total offense. That is the seventh most in a single game in the James Franklin era.

“I think there’s data if you go back and say how many times if there was a 12-team playoff, how many times would we have been in,” Franklin said. “I think just looking at that statistic and where we’re going to finish this regular season, depending on the College Football Playoff rankings, I think we’d be in it here and I think we’re playing kind of our best football now. So it’s good to be kind of trending at the right time. But that’s for next year.

“This year, we played good enough to win 10 games and hopefully get into a New Year’s Six Bowl game and play well there. I think that’s probably more challenging than it’s been in the past with all the different things that have changed in college football over the last five years. But yeah, again, I’m proud of it.”

Here’s what is being said by local and national reporters after the Lions’ 10th win of the season.

Next year starts now for the Lions

Penn State is celebrating its 10th win of the season on Saturday morning. But, as Franklin all but said after the game, the looking ahed to 2024 must start more or less immediately as the team prepares to hire a new offensive coordinator, close out the latest high school recruiting class, and deal with the opening of the transfer portal.

“The Nittany Lions are flying at 35,000 feet, comfortably above most every other college football program. But when they ascend to 39,000 feet, where Ohio State and Michigan cruise, the Lions encounter turbulence and must descend,” Mark Wogenrich writes for SI. “Franklin is building this offensive coordinator hire around flying comfortably at that altitude. He pretty much stated that outright before heading to Detroit.

“At his midweek media availability in State College, Franklin explained what he’ll be looking for in those Zoom calls. A proven track record as a play-caller matters, as do success rates on third down and with explosive plays. As always, relationships matter, too. But Franklin also is looking for someone with established success in big games. Beating Michigan State 42-0 is lovely. Franklin wants more.”

Read the full story here.

The Penn State defense deserved more in 2023

That is the take from PennLive columnist David Jones. Manny Diaz’s unit had Penn State in a position to win every game on its schedule this year. The special bunch, however, could not score for the offense (although it tried) and thus the team is 10-2 and on the outside of the four-team CFP again.

“You won’t see another Penn State defense like this any time soon,” Jones writes. “And that’s why this 10-2 season is anything but satisfying. Because, with a wrecking crew like this one, it could have and should have been so much more. This is a championship-level resistance we’ve been watching the past 12 weeks. This is the sort of unit that doesn’t come around very often. Friday night was surely the last time you’ll see it in all its ferocious glory. In the age of postseason shutdowns, even the bowl game will see all sorts of alterations.

“This Penn State defense deserves to match up against the best in the game – Georgia, Alabama, Washington, OSU or Michigan again – anyone the college football universe can produce. And it’s been wasted. That’s why a season that would be the envy of most feels so empty for PSU this particular year.”

Read the full story here.

The Lions finished strong

Is the Lions’ 10-2 record hollow? Perhaps. Disappointing for some? Indeed. Is that fair? That is a debate that will rage on throughout the offseason. But Penn State finished the regular season strong, BWI’s Sean Fitz writes, and that’s key.

“So back to 10-2,” Fitz writes. “Penn State has set itself up once again, as one of the nation’s most consistent finishers, for a potential New Year’s Six Bowl. Maybe Atlanta? The merit will be argued from now until the Nittany Lions kick off again, an unavoidable yet useless discussion that has become part of the bowl season itself. 

“But there’s something to be said for finishing strong. Penn State did so and depending on how some other chips fall this weekend and next, the Nittany Lions will likely find their level back in the New Year’s realm. That’s not bad for a program a few weeks removed from getting booed at home.”