No quick fixes for winless Nittany Lions vs. Michigan

With Penn State’s confidence shaken by the first 0-5 start in school history, coach James Franklin knows there are no quick fixes.

Franklin can’t snap his fingers and magically boost the Nittany Lions’ self-esteem, eliminate their turnovers, improve their tackling and hand them their first victory.

He’s imploring his players and his coaches to put their heads down and stay present as Penn State prepares to face Michigan (2-3) Saturday at noon at Michigan Stadium (TV-ABC, WEEU-AM/830).

“We’ve just got to get better today,” Franklin said Tuesday. “When you look in the past or you look in the future, then it becomes a little bit more challenging, a little more difficult. You just take it one step at a time. You find things to get better at today and the more days you put together like that, then the results will take care of themselves.

“That’s easier said than done. There’s no doubt about it.”

The Lions and the Wolverines are the two most disappointing teams in the Big Ten. In order to win at Michigan for the first time since 2009, Penn State first and foremost must limit its turnovers.

Quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Will Levis have accounted for all of the Lions’ 13 turnovers, which have led to 51 points for their opponents, including 24 last week in a 41-21 loss to Iowa.

Franklin started Levis in place of Clifford against the Hawkeyes, but he fumbled three times, losing two. Clifford entered the game in the third quarter, threw long touchdown passes to tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Jahan Dotson and then had two interceptions, one that squashed Penn State’s comeback hopes with about two minutes to go.

“We have to protect the football on offense,” Franklin said. “That is going to be emphasized all week long.”

Franklin probably won’t announce whether Clifford or Levis will start before game time Saturday.

“When it comes to Will and Sean, we’re going to need them both,” he said. “They’re both very passionate. They both work really hard. They both have skills. We’re going to continue to grind and work through this to try to find a way to be successful.”