Franklin Focused on Improvement Ahead of Matchup with Villanova

James Franklin, head coach of Penn State, is keenly focused on honing his team’s performance as they prepare for their upcoming game against Villanova. Although the second-ranked Nittany Lions have enjoyed significant victories in their initial contests, Franklin expressed a desire for improvement when speaking to the media on Monday. He highlighted the need for greater explosive plays and looking to enhance the team's efficiency on third downs. Franklin emphasized the importance of a 'next-play' mentality to ensure that one missed opportunity does not negatively impact subsequent plays.

A specific example of this came from the team's recent 34-0 shutdown of Florida International, where quarterback Drew Allar displayed visible frustration after a few inaccurate throws in the first half. Franklin noted that Allar's feelings of frustration could linger and affect his performance, especially given the commitment displayed by both him and the rest of the team. Additionally, running back Nicholas Singleton was mentioned by Franklin for overthinking during the game. Nevertheless, Singleton found success, scoring a touchdown shortly after teammate Kaytron Allen’s impressive 67-yard run in the same quarter. Both players surpassed the 3,000-yard rushing mark in their careers during this game, marking them as the first FBS teammates to achieve this milestone since 2020 and the first Power 4 rushers to do so since 2017.

Franklin commended his offensive line, acknowledging the strides they have made recently. He recognized the high expectations placed on this group heading into the season and affirmed that their performance plays a critical role in the team’s success. While Penn State heads into this matchup with a solid 2-0 record, Villanova faces challenges after a more difficult opening game. Pat McQuaide, a Nicholls State transfer, stepped up as the new quarterback for Villanova, throwing for an impressive 299 yards and a touchdown in their recent 24-17 victory against Colgate, setting a record for the most passing yards for a Villanova quarterback in his first start. McQuaide attributed his success to his offensive line, emphasizing their efforts over his own. Villanova coach Mark Ferrante expressed satisfaction with being 1-0, recognizing the importance of starting the season on a positive note.