When it comes to evaluating the Nittany Lions, not this year but also previously under James Franklin, many across the country — myself included — have a tendency to point to what isn’t.

That, of course, is tied to the Ohio State albatross.

There’s no escaping that narrative, at least until it changes, but this season is providing another positive example of what is.

With the clock nearing midnight on the regular season, and just two games left, Penn State stands at a sturdy 9-1, ranked No. 4 in the country and has at least matched expectations so far for 2024.

The Nittany Lions further solidified their position Saturday with a 49-10 win at Purdue before 58,346 suffering fans at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Evidenced by the rankings, the Big Ten’s upper crust of Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and (for now) Indiana is viewed with respect.

But in comparisons with the SEC, which will be important when the College Football Playoff pairings are considered and announced, the Big Ten gets dinged for its middle echelon — Illinois, Minnesota, USC, Nebraska — being incapable of the south’s cannibalization.

And then there’s Purdue, losers of now nine straight and having been outscored 195-17 against the top 10 this season.

The Boilers gave it what they could Saturday before pretty quickly falling apart and generally providing less resistance than you see in the Blue-White Game.

Of Penn State’s seven touchdowns, six either came or were set up by chunk plays with no Purdue defenders in the same TV replay screen.

What best summed up the Boilermakers’ day came in the second quarter, down 14-0. Purdue quarterback Hudson Card found De’Nylon Morrissette open behind the Lions’ secondary for a touchdown.

Except Morrissette was out of bounds, in part because there’s a deceiving double-line in the Boilermakers’ end zone.

Add that to the list of things Purdue will need to address in the offseason.

Penn State, meanwhile, played what Franklin called its “most complete” game of the season on both sides of the ball.

Since the goal-line meltdown vs. the Buckeyes, the Lions have played with renewed vigor, gotten off to decisive starts offensively and maintained their defensive stinginess.

Drew Allar said, “We want to be the most improved team in college football the rest of the year.”

He’s doing his part. Allar completed 17-of-19 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He raised his two-year touchdown-interception ratio to 45-7.

Once again, tight end Tyler Warren — who Penn State is pushing for the Heisman Trophy — starred with 190 yards of total offense (127 yards on eight catches and 63 on three runs) and two touchdowns.

Defensive end Abdul Carter, with two more sacks and a couple forced holding penalties, led a first-team unit that didn’t allow a touchdown (the reserves yielded one in the fourth quarter).

The Lions were able to rest their starters late and used a total of 68 players that “is really going to help us from an experience standpoint,” Franklin said.

Not to mention keeping the regulars fresh and the backups happy.

That’s one reason Franklin elected to have backup Beau Pribula throw a touchdown pass with 1:51 left to freshman tight end Luke Reynolds, who, not surprisingly, was wide open.

“I’m a big proponent of, when we get our other guys in the game, that they deserve a chance to play and play traditional football,” Franklin said. “So I thought that was really valuable late in the game as well.”

It added to Purdue’s misery.

“It’s inexcusable to have guys wide open and other guys not being touched on explosive runs,” Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters said. “That can’t happen. Obviously, the strength of the schedule and the combination of not executing and having mental errors, that’s not a great combination.”

Penn State made sure of that as the Lions have now bounced back from their Ohio State loss by outscoring its next two opponents, Washington and Purdue, by 84-16, and even if the competition hasn’t been strong, Penn State has been in all phases.

This week’s visit to Minnesota, which was off Saturday, should be more of a telling test.

But with the first expanded CFP on the horizon, Penn State is playing its best and appears determined to prove this is a season not of what isn’t but of what could be.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.