James Franklin: Penn State shows it remains a ‘real college football program’ with CFP win

Happy Valley had postseason “White Out Energy” Saturday as Penn State football secured its first College Football Playoff win in program history against SMU in a day that featured both blistering temperatures and a defensive performance from the Nittany Lions.

On the fourth drive of the game, linebacker Dom DeLuca set the tone with a 23-yard pick-six for the Nittany Lions’ first score. While it took the Penn State offense most of the first half to gain traction, the defense made up for it by stifling Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings again and again.

Tony Rojas kickstarted the second quarter with a 59-yard pick-six, doubling the Nittany Lions’ lead to 14. It was the first time in 26 years that Penn State football returned multiple interceptions for scores in a single game.

DeLuca wasn’t done disrupting the SMU offense. The redshirt junior shut the door on a prime scoring opportunity for the Mustangs, intercepting Jennings again inside the 10-yard line. The third turnover led to the Nittany Lions’ first offensive touchdown of the day. And the rout was on from there.

James Franklin: Penn State is one of the last places with “a real college football program”

© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Spearheaded by DeLuca, Penn State football held SMU to 3.5 yards per play, including only 1.6 yards per rush. The former walk-on’s performance was, to James Franklin, emblematic of his locker room’s old-school mentality.

“It’s awesome, right?” Franklin said of DeLuca. “We talk about the journey a lot in our program, and everybody’s journey’s different. Everybody’s race is different. You’ve got to run your race and maximize the opportunities that you get…I think Dom is a great example of that.

“I love the guys in that locker room. I said it to them in there, and I’ll say it again. In my opinion, [we are] one of the few places left where it’s a real college football program in there. It’s a real college football program in there and a college football program that everybody should be proud of because those guys are doing it the right way at a time where it’s more challenging than it’s ever been.

“These guys put the team first. They put their teammates first. They sacrifice. A lot of distractions right now, and these guys could have played for Penn State in the ’90s, the ’80s, the ’70s, and the ’60s. No disrespect to the ’50s, but they could have played there too. I’m proud to be their head football coach.”

Want to stay up-to-date on all things Penn State football as the Nittany Lions prepare for their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our free newsletter for live news and insights sent directly to your feed!

“To speak of the tradition of this place, to have football as long as this place has had it, to have this stadium the way it is, and to do something that’s never been done here, that’s pretty rare, and it’s pretty cool to be a part of it,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said after the game. “The comment that he [Franklin] made about being part of a family, that’s totally true.

“Honestly, I feel like just a spoke in the flywheel that he’s [Franklin] created here. The offensive coordinator is an important position, but he doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s done here consistently, honestly, and I feel like I’m just a spoke in that process. I’m blessed to be a part of it. I’m having a ton of fun, but it’s an unbelievable experience.

“All those things he talked about, they’re real. It’s a family. The guys love each other. They’re playing for each other. We’ve had a ton of gritty wins this year. We’ve dealt with adversity and respond the right way. That’s what being a competitor is about, and he deserves a ton of credit for creating this program.”

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.