Another “big game” for Penn State, another loss.
I’m getting tired of this.
There are about 100 different narratives you can take from Penn State’s loss to Oregon: the offense not being productive until it was too late, James Franklin’s inability to win a big game, Penn State’s inability to keep up with the big dogs despite improvements across the board over the years, Drew Allar being unable to clutch up in big games, the offensive line forgetting it returned most everyone from a mauling unit last
year, Nicholas Singleton disappearing, the defense coming super close to big stop after big stop but ultimately giving up a first down (or a touchdown).
And I’m tired of all of them.
There’s really nothing to be done for it, of course, I’ll dutifully be back here next week to watch the Lions slap UCLA around. And then I’ll watch them do it to Northwestern, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers.
Then I’ll watch them on the struggle bus against Iowa and Indiana, two teams with actual pulses.
THEN I’ll watch them lose to Ohio State again.
Then I’ll watch them in whatever postseason destination they end up with – bowl game, playoffs, whatever – only for the final game of the season to play out like Saturday night. Or like the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame. Or like the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon.
I’m sure it’s mostly on me. I let the hype get to my head, and the expectations I myself placed on the team. Of course they’ll beat Oregon this time, they bring everyone back and the Ducks have to replace everyone. Of course they’ll make the playoffs, and of course they’ll play for – and maybe, just maybe – win the national championship.
But here we are, narrative upon narrative later, and the Lions simply cannot find ways to win these games.
I’m tired of it.
Quick aside – I don’t often blame the refs for how games play out. I do largely think they do a good job, and typically call the games evenly.
But good Lord the drive on which Oregon took their 10-3 lead was atrocious.
First, let’s begin by the general tone that holding was not called all night. Simply was not a penalty the refs wanted to blow the whistle for. But on 3rd and 3 at the Oregon 27, Dani Dennis-Sutton was absolutely mauled by the left tackle. I mean, wrestling-style double underhook sorta thing. Of course, wasn’t called, Dante Moore got away, and completed a 23-yard pass for a first down.
Massive, massive missed call.
Then later on the same drive, the defense came up with a gigantic forced fumble, and returned it back out to midfield.
Yet somehow by the grace of God the officials determined that a single blade of grass grazing the knee pad of the runner was enough to determine he was down, despite seeing daylight under said knee pad.
Next play, touchdown, and the drive after that, another one.
In a game that a) went to overtime and b) was ultimately lost by a touchdown, the refs gifting Oregon 7 points on that drive seems pretty consequential.
But I can already hear the internet slapping away at their keyboard.
Learn how to throw the ball and it won’t be a problem! Defense should be able to make a stop! Just run the ball better and this won’t be a problem.
Both things can be true.
Penn State can have played an atrocious game of offense, and can also be on the receiving end of one of the worst string of officiating I can recall in recent memory.
It’s possible that they can be awful at offense, and also have had at least that drive, if not that game, altered heavily by the refs.
But like I said. I’m tired. That the refs were even a factor is tiring.
But we’ll go on. We’ll keep watching this team pummel bad teams into submission, finish out the year 10-2 or 9-3 and be left wondering “what if” for what seems like the 4th season in a row.
Can’t wait.
