In Penn State’s 9 seasons under James Franklin’s leadership, Penn State had lost more than two games in a row twice. The first two came in 2014 and 2015, as the Nittany Lions were in the middle of the sanctions levied because you know. The third would have to wait all the way until 2020, when the Lions started the season 0-5. In 2021, the fourth time Penn State has gone on a losing streak of three or more, one could argue is the most gut punching of them all.
In the span of a month, the Nittany Lions went from an undefeated, top five squad that controlled its own destiny, to a possibly unranked, injury-riddled squad that is looking to salvage what’s left of its season.