Never in the history of analysis of Penn State has someone nailed it like Matt does here. Go to the 25:30 mark of the clip below.
What is the best Big Ten contender to make the CFP?
"I'm all in on Penn State, man. All in. And it's not just that they have the two best players in the Big Ten. It's so much more than that. I think the receivers are terrific. Their offensive line is terrific. I think they're way better on defense than people thought they would be. And to me, they've got that chip [on their shoulder] now. And it's not just for being ignored for last year's college football playoffs. It's so much more than that.
I was at Big Ten media days. And Penn State was literally like a second class citizen. When James Franklin came in for his break out interview, it was like behind the Big Ten set. And the Big Ten crew was so loud, it was hard to hear James. At one point James look up and was like "Really? Really?? And then he said to himself, "Just focus on the task, focus on the task". And I really think, I really think, that idea that "It's just Penn State, it was a fluke"....they're playing off of that. And they're a very good team. And to me, that's a team that's going to use that chip the entire season and they're going to play really well. And I wouldn't be shocked to see them in the college football playoffs."
So, with Penn State, do you think their program is going to be on a level with Ohio State and Michigan? They've had this year now, can Franklin keep it rolling? Not just be a fluke, even beyond this year, can he keep the recruiting going, are they going to be a powerhouse just like Ohio State and Michigan look to be for years to come now?
"You know what Alex, that question right there is what fuels Penn State. That fuels James Franklin and Penn State. The question do you think they could be on the same level. THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL. And they know they're on the same level. The big advance for them right now is guys like us who say "When can they get to that level", because that just motivates them. And that keeps them on the "Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron" ideal. It keeps them right where James wants them. James is a terrific recruiter. James is as good of a recruiter as you're going to get in college football. So he's going to get dudes there. They'll have players. The idea then becomes, when you have the players, can you develop them and can you keep them focused week after week after week, because that's the deal when you've got 18, 19,20 year old kids. But to me, that question that you asked and us talking about it, that's exactly what they want. Where you say, "They're not there with Ohio State and Michigan."
What is the best Big Ten contender to make the CFP?
"I'm all in on Penn State, man. All in. And it's not just that they have the two best players in the Big Ten. It's so much more than that. I think the receivers are terrific. Their offensive line is terrific. I think they're way better on defense than people thought they would be. And to me, they've got that chip [on their shoulder] now. And it's not just for being ignored for last year's college football playoffs. It's so much more than that.
I was at Big Ten media days. And Penn State was literally like a second class citizen. When James Franklin came in for his break out interview, it was like behind the Big Ten set. And the Big Ten crew was so loud, it was hard to hear James. At one point James look up and was like "Really? Really?? And then he said to himself, "Just focus on the task, focus on the task". And I really think, I really think, that idea that "It's just Penn State, it was a fluke"....they're playing off of that. And they're a very good team. And to me, that's a team that's going to use that chip the entire season and they're going to play really well. And I wouldn't be shocked to see them in the college football playoffs."
So, with Penn State, do you think their program is going to be on a level with Ohio State and Michigan? They've had this year now, can Franklin keep it rolling? Not just be a fluke, even beyond this year, can he keep the recruiting going, are they going to be a powerhouse just like Ohio State and Michigan look to be for years to come now?
"You know what Alex, that question right there is what fuels Penn State. That fuels James Franklin and Penn State. The question do you think they could be on the same level. THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL. And they know they're on the same level. The big advance for them right now is guys like us who say "When can they get to that level", because that just motivates them. And that keeps them on the "Akron, Akron, Akron, Akron" ideal. It keeps them right where James wants them. James is a terrific recruiter. James is as good of a recruiter as you're going to get in college football. So he's going to get dudes there. They'll have players. The idea then becomes, when you have the players, can you develop them and can you keep them focused week after week after week, because that's the deal when you've got 18, 19,20 year old kids. But to me, that question that you asked and us talking about it, that's exactly what they want. Where you say, "They're not there with Ohio State and Michigan."
