James Franklin Gives in to Harsh Reality as Teary-Eyed Dan Lanning Makes Bold Penn State Statement

Performing well against ranked opponents? Looks like it’s not Penn State head coach James Franklin’s cup of tea. The Nittany Lions have hit 10 wins in six of Franklin’s 12 seasons, with only one losing year (2020) and six bowl victories, including two CFP wins in 2024. Yet, his teams continue to stumble in the biggest games. His career record against AP-ranked top-10 teams, including his time as a head coach at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, is currently 4-26. 

That includes a 1-18 record (.053) against top-5 squads, and Franklin is also 17-36 overall (.321) against AP Top 25-ranked teams in general. And Dan Lanning’s Oregon just made things worse after handing them a 24-30 overtime win. Instead of running away, Franklin faces the criticism with a brave heart. 

During the post-game presser on September 27, Penn State beat writer Lyle Alenstein posted a clip of the interview. Sounding low, Franklin said, “I get that narrative, and it’s really not a narrative. It’s factual. It’s the facts. I get it. But I try to look at the entire picture and what we’ve been able to do here. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to find a way to win those games. I totally get it. And I take ownership. I take responsibility.” Well, he had to.

James Franklin on his struggles against top-10 teams:

“I get that narrative and it’s really not a narrative. It’s factual. It’s the facts.” pic.twitter.com/Ltz0upn0dw

— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) September 28, 2025

For most of the night, Franklin’s offense looked stuck in neutral. The run game sputtered, Drew Allar misfired, and the Ducks dominated possession. Two overtimes couldn’t mask the struggles, just 276 total yards, with Allar throwing for 137 yards, two TDs, and an interception. Now, that’s what you call a brutal way to lose.  

And Frankli acknowledged his players’ feelings, “At the end of the day, I wanted that for those kids in that locker room. I wanted that for those kids. How hard they work, how much they sacrifice. And we had our opportunities. We had our opportunities. But yeah, I take responsibility.” While Franklin was spotted in a low mood, Dan Lanning had happy tears as he came up with a fiery message. 

(This is a developing story…)

The post James Franklin Gives in to Harsh Reality as Teary-Eyed Dan Lanning Makes Bold Penn State Statement appeared first on EssentiallySports.