Penn State head coach James Franklin stepped up to the podium on Saturday evening, still trying to process the Nittany Lions’ 35-21 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Despite a strong effort from his team, Franklin knew that they had come up just short against the top-ranked Ducks.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team and the way they battled tonight,” Franklin said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, and Oregon is a very talented team. They made some big plays, and we weren’t able to capitalize on some of our opportunities.”
Franklin praised the Ducks’ high-powered offense, which was led by quarterback Bo Nix and running back Bucky Irving. The duo combined for over 300 yards of total offense, including three touchdowns.
“Their offense is very explosive, and they have a lot of playmakers,” Franklin said. “We knew we had to be disciplined and gap-sound, but they made some big plays and were able to get ahead of us.”
Despite the loss, Franklin was pleased with the way his team fought until the end. The Nittany Lions trailed by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter, but they were able to score two late touchdowns to make the final score more respectable.
“I love the way our team competed tonight,” Franklin said. “We never gave up, and we kept fighting until the end. That’s what I’m most proud of – the way our guys battled and the way they supported each other.”
Franklin also praised the play of his quarterback, Drew Allar, who threw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Allar, a sophomore, has been one of the top players in the Big Ten this season, and Franklin thinks he has a bright future ahead of him.
“Drew is a special player, and he’s going to be a great quarterback for us for a long time,” Franklin said. “He made some big plays tonight, and he’s only going to get better with experience.”
As for the Ducks, Franklin had nothing but praise for their program and their coach, Dan Lanning.
“Oregon is a very talented team, and they’re well-coached,” Franklin said. “Dan Lanning is a great coach, and he’s done a tremendous job with that program. They’re a team that’s going to make a deep run in the playoffs.”
The loss drops Penn State to 10-3 on the season, while Oregon improves to 13-0. The Nittany Lions will now have to wait and see where they will be seeded in the College Football Playoff, while the Ducks will likely be the number one seed.
As for Franklin, he’s already looking ahead to next season. Despite the loss, he’s proud of what his team accomplished this year, and he’s excited to see what the future holds.
“We’re going to learn from this experience, and we’re going to use it to get better,” Franklin said. “We’re going to come back stronger and more determined than ever. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this team.”
