What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

[saturdaysarebetter2]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

 

[LandoComando]

Playoffs are a requirement now for a good season. And you can't be consistently one and down in the playoff.

All that data is irrelevant because you're factoring in bowl games. Since the playoff started we've failed to achieve the goal every season. Prior to that, counting major bowls us meh. Depending on the actual matchup.

 

[ryoder1]

Playoffs are a requirement now for a good season. And you can't be consistently one and down in the playoff.

All that data is irrelevant because you're factoring in bowl games. Since the playoff started we've failed to achieve the goal every season. Prior to that, counting major bowls us meh. Depending on the actual matchup.

Yep, gotta make the playoffs every year. This means top 12 which should not be an issue since that is where we recruit. But yeah can't be one and done every year or that will get old and put Franklin out of work.

For now make the playoff but over a 5 year horizon go beyond the first round 3 times and make the final four once.

 

[LandoComando]

Yep, gotta make the playoffs every year. This means top 12 which should not be an issue since that is where we recruit. But yeah can't be one and done every year or that will get old and put Franklin out of work.

For now make the playoff but over a 5 year horizon go beyond the first round 3 times and make the final four once.

That's probably optimistic. Playoffs 4/5 years and at least twice in that span they have to win a game or he'll be pushed out. There will be the occasional 3 loss season depending on how the schedule falls. Just can't happen often or be coupled with one an dones.

 

[ryoder1]

That's probably optimistic. Playoffs 4/5 years and at least twice in that span they have to win a game or he'll be pushed out. There will be the occasional 3 loss season depending on how the schedule falls. Just can't happen often or be coupled with one an dones.

There will be a down year in there so agree. We do need to balance that out with making a deep run to the final 4 and possibly beyond every 4 or 5 years. Joe did that in his prime and Franklin should also.

 

[heckmans]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

Respectfully, you're setup is myopic. You're asking the question as if every year is independent and totally separate.

Different time, but Paterno always said that his goal was that every player would compete for a MNC once during their 4 yrs. Joe gets passes on many 3 loss season because he proved he could get over the hump with 2 MNCs, a number of other undefeated seasons, regular major bowls when there weren't many bowls games.

This is not meant as a specific judgement of JF, but he gets less rope after 10yrs because he has run a definitively 2nd tier program. In his best season, he had 2 losses, including one to Pitt. In most other seasons, games against tOSU were far closer on the scoreboard than they were on the field. The lack of true competitiveness is a problem for him.

So...if JF can figure out how to win a B2G title every ~4/5 years he'll get a lot of slack. Based on where PSU has finished in the polls during his tenure, PSU probably needs to make the CFP approx 4 out of 5 years. Things will get worse for him if most years are an away playoff game loss of 14+pts. It's not fair to ask what is a successful season in a vacuum. Winning on occasion takes the sting out of a lot of losing.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

20-0 and nothing less every year for the next 10 years minimum... 😂

 

[brupsu]

Make the playoff

 

[Dynoman]

Beat Ohio State . We have them at home and have played close enough to beat them MANY times . Let's do it this year .

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

Playoff or bust.

 

[Obliviax]

Thanks. Interesting question.

Of course, college football has so changed in the last five years. NIL, xfers, playoffs, expanded playoffs, conference realignment.

The playoff will be interesting because we are looking, realistically, of the champion always coming from the SEC or B1G. There are a couple of outliers, potentially, in Clemson, FSU and ND. It is very possible that the B1G places four teams in the playoffs and that is probably realistic.

A "GREAT" year is playing in the semi finals or better. A "Good " year is making the playoffs. Making the playoffs means you are in the mix with UM, tOSU, USC, Oregon, and Washington. And you've got to also beat teams that rise up once in a while like Iowa, Sparty, and Wisconsin.

I am satisfied with making the 12 team playoff. I'd be excited to make the semi or better. But not making the 12-team playoff is an average to weak year.

 

[proud2bpsufan]

It has to be making the playoffs in the inaugural season. Especially, since PSU supposedly would have made it 6 or 7 times under Franklin had this same playoff system been in place for the last 10 years. If PSU ends up losing 2 games and the committee keeps us out of the playoff over other 2-loss teams, that will be a hard pill to swallow. However, I'll still try to look on the bright side in that PSU would have a chance to win a bowl game (hopefully against a tough opponent) and finish the season with a win. A 3-loss season would be extremely disappointing.

 

[Mufasa94]

…Winning on occasion takes the sting out of a lot of losing.

This is the best statement in this thread that uses multiple debatable words like good, successful, etc. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what they will be happy with in this expanded era until after they experience it.

Anything that resembled good to very good in the past will end with their team finishing the season with a loss starting this year. Many of them will experience those warm fuzzy feelings the weekend before Christmas.

This will be 30 years since the last great year for PSU. A great year can change the perspective and acceptance of other years.

 

[m.knox]

I'm not going to put some hard criteria on what is a good year for PSU football, but will say this. Had PSU lost to both UM and OSU last year in fantastic contests, I would have called last year a success even with the two losses. In that sense, success is simply being competitive.

 

[ryoder1]

I'm not going to put some hard criteria on what is a good year for PSU football, but will say this. Had PSU lost to both UM and OSU last year in fantastic contests, I would have called last year a success even with the two losses. In that sense, success is simply being competitive.

We needed to beat one of them last year, bottom line. Doesn't matter if the games were more competitive. Franklin gets paid to deliver wins. Last year was not a success. This year, we have to make the playoff or another unsuccessful season.

 

[heckmans]

We needed to beat one of them last year, bottom line. Doesn't matter if the games were more competitive. Franklin gets paid to deliver wins. Last year was not a success. This year, we have to make the playoff or another unsuccessful season.

During the JF era, the team has had a lot of years that would have resulted in making the 12 team playoffs. It's also fair to say that in those years, PSU hasn't performed very well against top teams. If PSU qualifies as a 10-12 seed and then loses an away game by 14 pts, will that be a success, or just confirm how far away PSU truly is?

 

[ryoder1]

During the JF era, the team has had a lot of years that would have resulted in making the 12 team playoffs. It's also fair to say that in those years, PSU hasn't performed very well against top teams. If PSU qualifies as a 10-12 seed and then loses an away game by 14 pts, will that be a success, or just confirm how far away PSU truly is?

Depends on the talent on the team and pre season projections. We had a lot of talent this past season and woefully underperformed especially in the passing game. So two losses even if we had sneaked into the playoff only to lose by 14 points would not be a success.

Maybe in other years where we are less talented but punch a bit above our weight class then that scenario would be a success.

 

[AWS1022]

If we go undefeated and win a NC, posters on here: “Our schedule was easy and even the teams we played in the playoffs were having down years. We’ll see how he does next year.”

If we get to the final four and lose: “See, James can’t win the big game, we need a new coach.”

If we go 10-2 and make the playoffs but lose in the first round: “See, James can’t win the big game, we need a new coach.”

If we don’t make the playoffs: “James can’t even make the playoffs with 12 teams, we need a new coach.”

 

[JerseyRon]

20-0 and nothing less every year for the next 10 years minimum... 😂

No bad weather for the seven home games.