A great win on many levels

[Jerry]

This was never gonna be an easy game. USC is a good team. They have a lot of good players. And their season was on the line.

But dealing with adversity...coming from two TD's back...putting Drew in a position where he had to lead the team in the 2nd half in order to overcome the deficit...these are all very important things going forward.

I feel like we now have the inside track for a playoff spot, regardless of what happens against Ohio State in early November.

But it won't be automatic. We need to show up in every game the rest of the way. As it stands, we'll be favored to win all of them except the one against the Buckeyes.

First trap game: in Madison coming off our bye next week. Wisconsin is a good team and we need to go in there ready for a war.

A lot of guys came up big today. I do wish I knew what's going on with Nick Singleton. Something about the way they used him and the way he performed today raises questions.

That aside, winning a big game...a pressure game...after falling behind...on the road...and in the process holding on to a top-5 ranking...taken together means a lot.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

This was never gonna be an easy game. USC is a good team. They have a lot of good players. And their season was on the line.

But dealing with adversity...coming from two TD's back...putting Drew in a position where he had to lead the team in the 2nd half in order to overcome the deficit...these are all very important things going forward.

I feel like we now have the inside track for a playoff spot, regardless of what happens against Ohio State in early November.

But it won't be automatic. We need to show up in every game the rest of the way. As it stands, we'll be favored to win all of them except the one against the Buckeyes.

First trap game: in Madison coming off our bye next week. Wisconsin is a good team and we need to go in there ready for a war.

A lot of guys came up big today. I do wish I knew what's going on with Nick Singleton. Something about the way they used him and the way he performed today raises questions.

That aside, winning a big game...a pressure game...after falling behind...on the road...and in the process holding on to a top-5 ranking...taken together means a lot.

Yep, definitely a "gut check" if I've ever seen one. Type of game that can do wonders for your confidence and launch you into your best play the 2nd half of year.

 

[Kasparaitis]

Yep, definitely a "gut check" if I've ever seen one. Type of game that can do wonders for your confidence and launch you into your best play the 2nd half of year.

Allar and Warren were unreal. Everyone stepped up in the second half. Fleming was clutch after a drop.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

Allar and Warren were unreal. Everyone stepped up in the second half. Fleming was clutch after a drop.

In my view Fleming may be the player feeling the best for the flight home. Allar went to him on both critical 4th down throws. They were not easy catches, especially given that he did not make the previous plays. Frankly, I was shocked at how those downs played out. An emotional roller coaster for sure.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

This could be a program changing win.

 

[Jerry]

In my view Fleming may be the player feeling the best for the flight home. Allar went to him on both critical 4th down throws. They were not easy catches, especially given that he did not make the previous plays. Frankly, I was shocked at how those downs played out. An emotional roller coaster for sure.

That first catch by Julian in particular was difficult...but he made it...and showed why he was rated so highly as a Pennsylvania kid coming out of high school. Ohio State's loss turns out to be our gain...finally.

It was so cool that we targeted him on those 4th-down life-or-death throws toward the end. As you said, the guy's gotta be feeling like a million bucks. He could probably fly home without an airplane.

 

[Jerry]

This could be a program changing win.

Definitely changes the buzz around the program. But the key will be whether we can build on it. Better start with Wisconsin in two weeks. If we go into Madison with anything less than our best game, we may be in for a rude surprise.

 

[PSUCYCLING]

As we’re finding out, these cross country in conference road games are massive landmines. Any cross country road win is a good win.

 

[Kasparaitis]

As we’re finding out, these cross country in conference road games are massive landmines. Any cross country road win is a good win.

Really any Big Ten win is a good win, especially on the road.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

Definitely changes the buzz around the program. But the key will be whether we can build on it. Better start with Wisconsin in two weeks. If we go into Madison with anything less than our best game, we may be in for a rude surprise.

Yeah they're solid

 

[bdroc]

In my view Fleming may be the player feeling the best for the flight home.

Barker feels the best. 4-4 including the game winner. Possibly the best day of his young life.

 

[NealPaige]

One of the most gratifying wins in my 55 years of loving PSU football.

 

[LMTLION]

There has been pure insanity in cfb this season. I think the portal is creating instability with many teams that lack cohesiveness. There is something to be said for Franklin maintaining stability that leads to success.

 

[Jerry]

Barker feels the best. 4-4 including the game winner. Possibly the best day of his young life.

Barker was clutch. Great performance. You need a reliable kicker to win a game like that...or to compete at the highest level against the good teams...and it looks like we found the guy.

 

[bdroc]

There has been pure insanity in cfb this season. I think the portal is creating instability with many teams that lack cohesiveness. There is something to be said for Franklin maintaining stability that leads to success.

What stability? New coordinators, no KLS, 2 portal CBs, Gucci, Fleming, etc. I don't understand your point.

 

[LMTLION]

What stability? New coordinators, no KLS, 2 portal CBs, Gucci, Fleming, etc. I don't understand your point.

Franklin has developed a core team and merely supplements with portal as needed. He has successfully kept the best pieces of the roster intact in this age of recruiting one’s own roster every year. KLS was a cancer in the wr room. Not sure why you would mention him. Diaz left because of success. In cfb these days for the most part the teams constructed mostly by portal overhauls have ranged from disappointing to total failures this season. I gather from your message you are unhappy with our current record and ranking?

 

[bison13]

This was never gonna be an easy game. USC is a good team. They have a lot of good players. And their season was on the line.

But dealing with adversity...coming from two TD's back...putting Drew in a position where he had to lead the team in the 2nd half in order to overcome the deficit...these are all very important things going forward.

I feel like we now have the inside track for a playoff spot, regardless of what happens against Ohio State in early November.

But it won't be automatic. We need to show up in every game the rest of the way. As it stands, we'll be favored to win all of them except the one against the Buckeyes.

First trap game: in Madison coming off our bye next week. Wisconsin is a good team and we need to go in there ready for a war.

A lot of guys came up big today. I do wish I knew what's going on with Nick Singleton. Something about the way they used him and the way he performed today raises questions.

That aside, winning a big game...a pressure game...after falling behind...on the road...and in the process holding on to a top-5 ranking...taken together means a lot.

We were saying the same thing while watching the game. Not many carries or even as many snaps. Still lingering injury or sickness? Bye week has come at a good time for Nick.

 

[Jerry]

We were saying the same thing while watching the game. Not many carries or even as many snaps. Still lingering injury or sickness? Bye week has come at a good time for Nick.

Agreed. The lingering-injury theory seems plausible and various people have expressed it, but then it's hard to explain why they would have run him inside the tackles on the give-up play right before half. Odd thing to do if you're limiting a guy's snaps due to health concerns. When he was in there, he seemed full-speed though he didn't have much of a game in the rushing department stats-wise.

USC totally flipped the script on us with regard to the run game. Theirs was highly productive. Ours less so.

 

[Cowbell Man]

USC totally flipped the script on us with regard to the run game. Theirs was highly productive. Ours less so.

Marks was playing his own game of Frogger.

 

[Waltwam]

That first catch by Julian in particular was difficult...but he made it...and showed why he was rated so highly as a Pennsylvania kid coming out of high school. Ohio State's loss turns out to be our gain...finally.

It was so cool that we targeted him on those 4th-down life-or-death throws toward the end. As you said, the guy's gotta be feeling like a million bucks. He could probably fly home without an airplane.

Jerry, agree totally. Except for 1 thing. You said Flemings gotta be feeling like a million bucks. Surely you meant he must be feeling like a million Lions!!!! 🙄

 

[voltz99]

There has been pure insanity in cfb this season. I think the portal is creating instability with many teams that lack cohesiveness. There is something to be said for Franklin maintaining stability that leads to success.

Players in the Portal is part. Coaches portal every season too which adds instability. Entire teams portal to different conferences.

 

[RickinDayton]

What stability? New coordinators, no KLS, 2 portal CBs, Gucci, Fleming, etc. I don't understand your point.

I think he's saying PSU has had less portal activity than some of the other Power 5 teams.

 

[bdgan]

I think he's saying PSU has had less portal activity than some of the other Power 5 teams.

True, but was that by choice? I'm pretty sure that PSU wanted a WR & LB. My guess is that we spent the majority of NIL money to retain existing players which left less to attract portal transfers.

 

[bdgan]

It was so cool that we targeted him on those 4th-down life-or-death throws toward the end. As you said, the guy's gotta be feeling like a million bucks. He could probably fly home without an airplane.

I'm sure that Fleming is happy and relieved that he finally made a couple of plays for PSU but I doubt that he feels like a million bucks. 5* kid had to be dreaming about a lucrative NFL career. My guess is he'll try out as a free agent.

 

[mcpat]

What stability? New coordinators, no KLS, 2 portal CBs, Gucci, Fleming, etc. I don't understand your point.

How many coaches do you think are on staff? While coordinators are important, not a single position coach changed. And a few portal moves on a roster of over 100? Please. The OP was right on.

 

[Jerry]

I'm sure that Fleming is happy and relieved that he finally made a couple of plays for PSU but I doubt that he feels like a million bucks. 5* kid had to be dreaming about a lucrative NFL career. My guess is he'll try out as a free agent.

OK, maybe only $500,000 then. Haha!

No seriously, coming out of high school, I've no doubt that he was dreaming about a lucrative NFL career. I mean, a lot of people saw him as a likely 1st-rounder.

But let's be honest, those dreams died long before the USC game last week. My point being, in the moment he made two critical plays, and I'm pretty sure in that moment he wasn't thinking about broken dreams but was rather feeling the elation of coming up big when the team most needed it.

His season has been fairly underwhelming to this point, only 9 catches I think, so I thought it was very interesting that they targeted him with the game...and potentially the season...on the line.

As we get into the 2nd half of the season, I'm really hoping we see him play a bigger role in the offense. It would be so nice if he did some damage to Ohio State in two weeks. And I wonder, if he were to finish out this season, including hopefully a playoff game (or two), on a highly productive note, could he improve his draft status. After all, there was a time that pro scouts were very high on the guy.

 

[johnmpsu]

I'm sure that Fleming is happy and relieved that he finally made a couple of plays for PSU but I doubt that he feels like a million bucks. 5* kid had to be dreaming about a lucrative NFL career. My guess is he'll try out as a free agent.

You're right but I'll bet almost every player dreams of a lucrative NFL career.

 

[PSUSignore]

Barker was clutch. Great performance. You need a reliable kicker to win a game like that...or to compete at the highest level against the good teams...and it looks like we found the guy.

Very clutch, but the longest attempt was only 36 yards. Clearly he's won the job for now but we are still going to need someone that is nearly automatic from within 45 yards. It's still TBD how strong his leg is.