If we beat ND, Franklin gets his raise out of the University over the summer and hits the 2025 season with clarity and focus. We probably beat Oregon and possibly Indiana and make the playoffs. Goodness, ND was so beatable that day and we clearly had the superior talent.
That ND game was a microcosm of what Franklin became at PSU. He just never could get that big signature win, really ever. We did just enough to lose that game like so many other big games (mainly vs OSU).
I remember having a bad feeling about that game beforehand because of Franklin's poor track record and then in the 2nd half having this sinking dread that we just don't win games like this under Franklin and sure enough watch us fritter away a very winnable game. The biggest issue I had with that game is why does our 5 star QB starting like his 25th game play like he was 3 star freshman in his first college game vs a much better team? That is obviously on Allar but coaching has a lot to do with that. Why is he not mentally ready? Why is he making really bad decisions? Why are his mechanics failing him?
If we beat ND then I still think we don't win the NC in 2025 and probably struggle to get in the playoffs. Why? Because Franklin couldn't coach in big games and Drew Allar had the uncanny knack of making losing plays at winning time. There is no way we beat OSU. Oregon? Maybe, but again Allar never improved so who knows. Indiana most likely beats us. I know we were very close to beating them but I think they overlooked us and we played our best game. If we made the playoffs this past season I could see a first round loss.
What's the point? I think that ND meltdown could have been a blessing in disguise for the program. It created the dumpster fire that was the 2025 season (which sucked) but we got rid of Franklin which was necessary. If he got an extension last year then how many more big games were going to lose in how many subsequent seasons? All the while consistently underperforming.
Even if we beat ND and landed some of these guys who ND got and even kept Seider I am telling you Franklin would still find a way to screw things up in big games.
We have a new regime and do have to be able to compete with ND in recruiting and hopefully we can. I really hope we land either Bourque or Mencl which would be a huge boost and show we can get at least a few elite guys. Then we need the on the field performance where we actually win big games and show mental toughness in winning time.