Cory Giger

Something fascinating happened to Penn State last season with regards to perception. I’d even call it bewildering.

The Nittany Lions didn’t really beat anybody, and yet lots and lots of people convinced themselves that the program took big strides forward. But did it really?

Yes, PSU made it to the national semifinal and had a chance to beat Notre Dame to reach the championship game. All of that was, of course, a big deal.

But the Lions did not beat Notre Dame. They blew an early 10-point lead and a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. They also did not beat Ohio State, falling at home thanks to some horrific offensive playcalling. And they did not beat Oregon, getting smoked for 45 points in the Big Ten championship game.

Those were the big games. And Penn State went 0-3. Under just about any circumstance throughout the program’s history, that kind of season would have been considered disappointing — because winning the big games is really what it’s all about at PSU.

Ahhh, but things have changed with a 12-team playoff. Getting into the playoff is how programs are now judged, and if you win a couple of games, then hey, that’s got to be a great success, right?

Well, who did the Lions beat in those playoff games? They got the easiest draw imaginable — so much so that the entire seeding format was changed — with an opening game against SMU (an 8.5-point underdog), followed by a matchup with Boise State (a whopping 12.5-point dog).

Beating those two teams is essentially like beating a solid Illinois squad. Penn State is supposed to win those games, and such contests have never been the criteria on which the program is or should be judged.

Penn State has to beat some big boys to be a success.

James Franklin has to beat some big boys to be a success.

While Heather Dinich of ESPN has picked Penn State to win the national title, Paul Finebaum has vehemently disagreed, claiming that he cannot get on board with the idea of Franklin winning it all. Finebaum seems to be about the only national media figure who wasn’t swayed by last year’s deceiving playoff run of wins over ho-hum opponents.

My feeling is that, for this to be a successful season, Penn State has to at least advance to the national championship game. The Lions don’t necessarily have to win it, but they’ve got to get there.

Because getting there, you’d have to think, would include finally being able to win at least one huge game over a marquee opponent.

If the Lions have a great regular season, which they very well could, they’d likely get a top-four seed and a bye in the first round. They’d have to beat one solid team in the second round — a team they’d be favored against — then everything would boil down to whether or not Franklin can finally exorcise his demons by knocking off a great opponent in the semifinal.

Short of doing at least that, there still would be no reason to believe that Penn State and Franklin have truly taken a big step forward.

Cory Giger will be hosting the new Blue & White Wrapup show following each Penn State game this season on 96.9 and 100.7 FM.