James Franklin’s Penn State Has Little Chance to Beat Oregon Despite a Major Advantage

Penn State is 3-0, third in the rankings, but they have hardly been flawless. James Franklin has been left frustrated with the offense in some games. And then there are the naysayers who claim that the Lions haven’t really played anyone so far. Now comes the real battle. Fresh off their bye week, Penn State takes on Dan Lanning’s defending BIG 10 champions. But James Franklin’s team has an edge. Not just because it’s a home game, but also because it’s a White Out game. Will that be enough to sail them through?

In a recent episode of ESPN College Football, Greg McElroy and Aaron Murray discussed the White Out in Happy Valley, one of college football’s greatest atmospheres. “This game’s in Happy Valley. It’s a White Out, which is significant. I feel like Penn State always plays well in a White Out environment,” said McElroy. It’s undoubtedly the type of environment that rattles quarterbacks and energizes the defense of the Nittany Lions. But despite the major advantage, there is a persistent feeling that it might not be sufficient to defeat Oregon’s firepower.

The Ducks, on the other hand, look like an entirely different team this season. “They’re true contenders… Dante’s playing… their skill positions are absolutely tremendous… Benson can absolutely fly as well… So, like, they are as explosive as you want to be…. I love their offense,” Murray noted, pointing out that Oregon has two running backs averaging over 11 yards per carry.

When you consider Dante Moore’s skill at vertical passing, it becomes evident why Oregon appears so well-rounded. Murray added, “I do like Oregon,” but it’s unclear if they can stop the run after Penn State crushed them the previous year. He added, ” I love Dan Lanning… I think they’re going to find a way to get this dub this weekend.”

Franklin’s biggest hurdle hasn’t changed in a while; his team still lacks the dynamic receivers needed to keep pace with elite programs like Oregon. McElroy’s review was blunt. “I walked away, just not very impressed. I don’t think their receiving core is any better than it was a year ago… there’s just such a gap still in the skill position from where Oregon is to where Penn State is.”

And that gap could decide the game. Even if Drew Aller and the backs do their part, “they just don’t have the playmakers to make this offense scare you through the air,” Murray said. When you combine all of that, the story comes to you naturally: Oregon has the roster to leave Happy Valley with the win, despite Penn State’s crowd, noise, and energy.

Penn State’s White Out faces tough test against Oregon

It feels like one of those “circle the calendar” games when Oregon and Penn State play under the lights at Beaver Stadium, and this year’s game includes the entire White Out spectacle. James Franklin stated, “I think that happens naturally,” referring to how players soak it up throughout the week, so he doesn’t need to brag about it.

Franklin admits that he will take “eight seconds when we walk out of the tunnel and take it all in,” but after that, it’s all about the ball. Under him, the Nittany Lions have won six in a row and are 8-3 in White Out games. But the opponent this time is not Auburn or Illinois; rather, it is a team from Oregon that appears to be a playoff lock.

That’s because the Ducks are scoring 52 points per game on average and piling up over 255 rushing yards every game. With a 75 percent completion rate, Dante Moore has been almost perfect, and the red zone stats tell us that every trip has resulted in a touchdown thus far. A 6’3″, 245-pound tight end who averages 17 yards per catch and a rotation of backs with no one having less than 50 yards make up an offense that never lets the defenses rest. Penn State’s new DC Jim Knowles, who has witnessed this attack before, may have a sly strategy to tackle them.