Penn State's James Franklin: Addressing Concerns and Defending the Nittany Lions

Penn State's lack of explosive plays on offense is a cause for concern as explosive plays are a strong predictor of victory in college football. While their defense has been solid, allowing only 12 plays of 20-plus yards, their upcoming game against Ohio State, a team with a highly explosive offense and the best explosive play rate allowed on defense, will require more than just time-consuming drives. The offensive coordinator needs to find answers to generate big plays, especially with tougher competition ahead. Additionally, the article discusses the significance of the Oregon-Washington rivalry, predicts the number of zero or one-loss Power 5 teams by Selection Sunday, shares the writer's timeline for writing the column, speculates on Jimbo Fisher's future at Texas A&M, evaluates LSU's Jayden Daniels as a Heisman candidate, and compares UNC and USC's football teams.