Season wraps up on uncertain note
Michigan State awaits; beyond that ...
A regular-season finale typically provides clarity. But this is 2020, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Penn State’s game at noon Saturday against Michigan State (2-4) will leave the Nittany Lions (2-5) with several more questions than answers, no matter the result on the field.
Being victorious against the Spartans will come with the Land Grant Trophy and a potential set of quandaries. If the Nittany Lions push their record to 3-5, they will enter a ninth game with an opportunity to end the year on a four-game winning streak.
But there’s a problem. Nobody knows where the contest will happen. The original plan was for the games to either be at neutral sites such as Indianapolis or Detroit, but then the conference pivoted to playing the non-title games on the Eastern Division teams’ home sites. But even that might be changing, according to head coach James Franklin.
“That’s been a challenge. I don’t think it’s right, to be honest,” Franklin said about the schedule. “What I was told a week ago is that the West teams were all going to come to the East because this is the year to do it, and next year we’re going to have to travel. I heard that may be changing, which I don’t think is right.”
Franklin took the concern to athletic director Sandy Barbour and others.
“I did talk to some other coaches in the league. I did talk to Sandy about it,” he said. “The fact that the game’s next week and we still don’t know — and we were told one thing last week, and now it’s different-—is a little bit of a concern.”
A win would put the Nittany Lions in at least fourth place with wins over Michigan, Michigan State and Rutgers. The Nittany Lions could end up playing Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska or Purdue.
Assuming the game happens, the Nittany Lions also have to prepare for early signing day starting on Dec. 16. Finishing up the incoming recruiting class brings a set of questions for the coaches and players. The NCAA ruled that this season wouldn’t count against athlete’s eligibility. A senior such as cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields or safety Jaquan Brisker could decide to return. Castro-Fields has missed a lot of the season with a nagging injury, while Brisker had his best game against Rutgers, but his performance has been up and down.
Other seniors such as safety Lamont Wade, defensive lineman Shaka Toney and offensive lineman Will Fries will be honored Saturday for senior day. Their parents and families won’t be in attendance because of newly implemented policies from the Pennsylvania government, so it’ll be quiet, which could lead to a bit of extra time for thinking. Does an older player enter the transfer portal, try the NFL, or stay?
“There’s a lot of conversations that we always have at the end of seasons with young men and their families about their futures,” Franklin told reporters on Tuesday. “And obviously this year, with a lot of the things that are going on, and some of the decisions that the NCAA made and that the Big Ten made, makes those conversations a little bit different. Obviously, this season has had an
impact on that, as well.”
Nobody knows if there’s going to be a ninth game or if there will — or should — be a bowl game. But the Nittany Lions do see a game is scheduled on Saturday. It could be the last game, or it could be one of three. How does a team deal with such a weird scenario during such a strange year? Franklin takes it a day at a time, much like many Americans in 2020.
“I would assume we’re going to hear more about Week 9 here really soon, if not later this week. I would think right after the game, we’ll have an idea, I would hope,” Franklin said. But it just hasn’t been clearly defined yet.
“There’s still a lot of things out there that we’re not completely sure on, but again, it is what it is and we’ll deal with it the best we can.”
“I don’t think it’s right, to be honest.”
— Penn State coach James Franklin Big Ten uncertain where teams’ ninth game will be played