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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michelle R. Martinelli

College football fans roasted James Franklin for losing yet another big game to Michigan

James Franklin Michigan (Organization) College Penn State Football Blake Corum Ohio State The Nittany Lions Wolverines

While Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh dominated college football storylines on Saturday with his suspension by the Big Ten over the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal, fans weren’t about to let James Franklin off the hook.

Saturday in an always-hostile Beaver Stadium, Franklin’s No. 10 Penn State team was within eight points of No. 2 Michigan for a huge chunk of the second half, and an upset seemed plausible. Until you remembered what tends to happen to the Nittany Lions in big conference matchups.

Franklin continued his run of extremely questionable coaching decisions, puzzling just about everyone.

The dagger for Penn State came late in the fourth quarter when the Nittany Lions kept trying to force a pass when the ground game doing most of the work against the Wolverines. Quarterback Drew Allar threw three consecutive incomplete passes, including on fourth-and-6 at their own 30-yard line. Not only did they not get the conversion but, on Michigan’s next drive, also allowed running back Blake Corum — a menace for the Nittany Lions all day — to find the end zone seconds later.

While Michigan remains undefeated with the 24-15 win, Franklin’s squad hasn’t won this matchup since 2020, and, after already losing to Ohio State earlier this season, continued its streak of losing big games. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, his team is now 4-16 combined against Michigan and Ohio State and has lost 12 of 13 games against AP top-5 opponents.

RELATED: A Penn State player trolled Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal with his celebration

Penn State fans at the game were fuming after the loss and were booing, according to The Athletic‘s Audrey Snyder.

And fans on Twitter, now X, didn't hold back absolutely roasting Franklin either:

More NCAAF

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Jimbo Fisher will receive a record buyout from Texas A&M after reported firing

Colorado State ran a trick play so effective that it briefly broke the CBS Sports broadcast

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