Some nitpicking as Penn State attempts to show it can regroup from its loss to Ohio State:

n James Franklin can’t get over the hump in big games, specifically Ohio State (1-10), in part because he allows the moment to get too big for him.

He preaches a 1-0 mentality, but it’s clearly not against the Buckeyes.

After the gut-wrenching loss, when the Nittany Lions’ red-zone offense was inept, Franklin reiterated Monday what he said after the game, “I had already planned out what I was going to talk to you guys about … There is nothing more than I wanted to do than walk into that press conference after the game and talk about why that game was different and also where we were headed.”

Obviously, Franklin’s message was not applicable after a loss so he decided to “save that for the appropriate moment.”

It shocks me that not only does he worry about a post-game sermon, but that he admits it. Of course, this all started in 2018 after a loss to the Buckeyes — in another pre-rehearsed speech — when he promised to coach the Lions to elite status.

The statute of limitations has expired on that.

This year’s pre-game preparation time would have been better spent making certain his best player — Tyler Warren — got the ball in case the Lions advanced it to the 3 in the fourth quarter.

Instead, Franklin left the field with “Fire Franklin” chants — in the home tunnel — ringing in his ears.

n And let’s please stop with the “99 percent” of the schools in the country “would die” for the Lions’ resume these last 10 years. Franklin didn’t seek the job at “99 percent” of those schools.

n One statistic that hangs over Franklin is his now 1-14 record vs. the AP Top 5. These are the toughest games to win, a super high bar and kind of like saying, “What was your record against the 1927 Yankees?” For some perspective, Joe Paterno was only 14-33 vs. the Top 5. He was 2-12 from 1966-80, an incredible 9-4 from 1981-86 at the program’s height but just 3-17 thereafter, including 1-12 after 1994.

n Then again, by the time JoePa got his third win vs. the Top 5 (in 15 tries), he had three unbeaten seasons and had played for the national championship in a fourth.

n To put a cap on last week’s fatal series inside the 5, of course Warren should have gotten the ball at least once via a direct snap since that play had just produced a 33-yard run. It was the perfect time to slam him up the gut on first down and, if unsuccessful, align him again and let him try a pop-pass on second down. Instead, Kaytron Allen was the choice three straight times. After the third call came in for Allen, Franklin should have called timeout and figured something else out. And if the Nits were so committed to the run, they should have tried it one more time on fourth down.

n Somebody in power at PSU (Pat Kraft) needs to explain to Franklin that interaction with fans, especially after bitter losses, is a bad look and can’t be tolerated. Just get off the field.

n Problem position: No Penn State wide receiver has a touchdown catch in five Big Ten games this year. Trey Wallace, we know, dropped one against the Buckeyes. It’s surprising Omari Evans’ opportunities have been limited.

n Last year’s offense under Mike Yurcich averaged 37.7 points in nine games. This year’s, under Andy Kotelnicki, is averaging 30.8.

n Speaking of numbers, the Lions’ defense averaged 3.7 sacks per game last year and just 2.1 so far this year. That’s one reason PSU’s turnover margin is 0.38 per game this year as compared with 1.23 last year.

n Nick Singleton doesn’t appear to be 100 percent and has rushed for just 90 yards in the last three games, although he’s the Lions’ best receiver in open space.

n When explaining the Lions’ success in the running game earlier this season, Franklin mentioned the difference in competition. And yet, he keeps lining up non-conference cupcakes. Ohio State, by the way, has scheduled non con home-and-homes with Texas, Alabama and Georgia through 2031. The Buckeyes are serious.

n When I saw Ohio State’s fourth-quarter fumble in real time, I thought it was an incomplete pass. But after repeated reviews, I don’t think there was enough evidence on the field to overturn the call, which the officials did.

n Penn State is still in ideal position to make the College Football Playoff and even host a first-round game. Last week’s loss was competitive enough to give the Lions reason to think they can beat Ohio State and allows them the scheduling advantage of, at this point, not having to play in the Big Ten championship game probably against Oregon.

n Florida has announced that Billy Napier, 15-18 in his third season, will return in 2025. Franklin’s name had already been coming up as a potential replacement.

n Tonight’s White Out vs. Washington will look good at night but not nearly as many people will see it because it’s on the Peacock streaming service rather than regular TV. Washington just played for the national championship and is a Big Ten newcomer. This TV selection is an injustice to both schools.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com. He will respond to questions and brief comments in Gameday.