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Paul Finebaum, Matt Barrie lament that James Franklin is stuck in a gray area
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James Franklin and Penn State faced another loss to Ohio State on Saturday, making it 7-straight wins for the Buckeyes.
On Sunday, Paul Finebaum and Matt Barrie discussed the gray area that Franklin is stuck in as a head coach. He’s managed to put together solid seasons, but he can’t get over the hump of beating Ohio State.
Franklin has one more chance at a signature win later this season against Michigan, but it won’t be easy.
“He has one more shot and, raise your hand — and I don’t see any — if you believe he’s going to beat Michigan at home,” Finebaum said. “He’s in that gray area where he’s got a good program, 10-win program, is it enough? And I don’t think many Penn State fans today really believe it is.”
Barrie explained how things are going to get harder for a team like Penn State with several Pac-12 teams joining the conference.
“Here’s the problem with a program like Penn State, James Franklin,” Barrie said. “USC’s coming, UCLA’s coming, Oregon’s coming, Washington narrowly escaped Arizona State, but they’re coming. So now if you’re one of these Big Ten programs, outside of Ohio State, Michigan, .5 Penn State, how is this job getting any easier for James Franklin with those 4 teams coming with no divisions?”
