Penn State got the signature win. Happy Valley got the signature win. James Franklin got the signature win.
Even if Franklin never admitted it in the preseason, Saturday’s game against No. 2 Ohio State was an all-in “White Out.” The Nittany Lions had not defeated a ranked team under Franklin the last three seasons.
Penn State, Happy Valley and James Franklin were looking for that signature moment to help pull the program out of the aftermath of the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal that forced Joe Paterno to retire. It wasn’t a once-and-for-all moment, but it was a moment.