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Following are the highlights of James Franklin's Tuesday press conference:
Saturday's game: vs. Minnesota (7:30, ABC)
Records: Penn State is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota is 4-2 and 1-2.
Last week: Penn State was trounced at Michigan, 41-17; Minnesota lost at Illinois, 26-14.
Rankings: Penn State is ranked No. 16 by the Associated Press. Minnesota is not ranked.
Main storyline: Quarterback Sean Clifford did not finish last week's game because he was injured, Franklin said Saturday. Clifford was sandwiched late in the third quarter by two Michigan defenders and appeared to suffer a shoulder injury. Franklin only confirms length of absence due to injury if it's season-ending, and he offered no update Tuesday. "We haven't even practiced yet. So, it's hard for me to give you guys an answer that helps you do your job at this at this stage. But yeah, nothing has changed with the plan or the model at this stage." Many in the Nittany Nation are pushing for a QB change, eager to see decorated freshman Drew Allar, who has played in five of six games. Allar, the nation's top quarterback recruit, completed 5-of-10 passes in the fourth quarter at Michigan for 37 yards. He also had a pass dropped. Franklin, though, is in no rush to sit Clifford should the latter be available, regardless of what Twitter says. "There's a lot of different things that I would say," Franklin said. "I think number one that's the wrong message. That's the wrong signal. And Sean has earned the right to be on the field. That doesn't mean that Drew hasn't done some good things. Would we love to get him an opportunity and continue to grow him and continue to develop him for his future? No doubt about it." Franklin pointed out that six unbeaten teams suffered their first loss last week. "I think there are tons of examples not only at Penn State, but across the country, where you do everything you possibly can to win the next week," he said. "And I think some of those approaches (QB changes) aren't necessarily about winning this week."
SUBHD: Word of encouragement
As Franklin was reviewing a tape of the carnage at Michigan, he got an encouraging text from former Lion Mike Gesicki, now making his mark with the Miami Dolphins.
Gesicki reminded Franklin of the 2016 season when the Lions were 2-2 with a close loss at Pitt and a 49-10 trip to the Michigan woodshed.
The team bounced back by beating Minnesota in overtime the next week and winning the Big Ten.
"The rest of the season went pretty well," he said.
SUBHD: (Lack of) tight end use
Brenton Strange has been limited to one catch the last two weeks as targeting of the Lions' tight ends has declined.
Strange caught 11 passes in the two previous games, and his late first-half touchdown at Purdue was a momentum swing.
Fellow tight ends Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson have four and two catches, respectively.
Prior to the season, Franklin said he thought Penn State "had the best tight end room in the country."
"When we have played well, the tight ends have played a big role," he said. "When we've struggled, they haven't. We need to keep them involved."
For the second straight week, Franklin lamented the lack of PSU explosive plays in the passing game, certainly a dropoff from last year when Jahan Dotson was a frequent deep option.
"We've got to hit the ones we call or call a few more," he said.
SUBHD: Defensive demise
After allowing 398 rush yards total in five games, the Lions were trucked for 418 at Michigan - the third-most in school history behind Michigan State's 452 in 1997 and Notre Dame's 425 in 1989.
Franklin said part of the issue was players straying from their assignments.
It necessitated a team meeting with the defense, that Franklin attended.
"The guys' investment is really high, and guys try to make plays rather than specifically doing their job," he said. "When you do that, plays come to you organically. It was a good meeting, and we went through everything to make sure everyone is on the same page."
Franklin said the team "played hard (at Michigan) but not nearly as clean as we needed two, and there were times we lost our poise and composure."
SUBHD: Clarifying size comment
Franklin said after the Michigan game that the Lions are "undersized" at some spots and "everybody thinks they're Aaron Donald, and they're not."
Donald plays at 295 pounds. P.J. Mustipher is 315 but the Nits have other defensive tackles under 300.
"I really like our D-line room, but some guys it would help us and help them if they gained a few pounds," he said. "Size is a weapon and we would like to be bigger across both fronts."
SUBHD: Tunnel vision
A video circulated after the game of Franklin yelling at Michigan's camp in a crowded UM tunnel - the only way to the field - to "stop talking to us."
"The one tunnel is a problem," he said Tuesday. "It's a problem and has been. This isn't the first team to get into a jawing match with Michigan. There really should be a policy that there's a buffer between the first and second team to go in. Something bad is going to happen before there is something put into policy."
Until then, Franklin added Penn State wasn't "the first team to have that happen. And won't be the last."
He said the Big Ten needs to implement a protocol to avoid the teams walking up or down the same tunnel together before the game, afterward and at halftime, when the incident apparently happened.
Quick hitters ...
N Franklin mentioned Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca in his opening remarks, saying, "Kirk's done a great job and he's had a great career." Franklin fired him after one season (2020) and hired Mike Yurcich.
N Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan, who suffered a concussion against Illinois and was hospitalized, is back with the team and hasn't been ruled out for Saturday.
N RB Mohamed Ibrahim is the nation's fourth-leading rusher, averaging 138 yards per game. Franklin called him a "great player."
N Franklin said Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck visited Vanderbilt and also when he was hired at PSU to pick each other's brains.
*Penn State leads the series, 9-6.
*Guard Landon Tengwall, who was injured in the pre-game at Michigan and didn't play, would be assessed this week. Franklin is "hopeful" Tengwall can return.
*Saturday marks the 14th whiteout game PSU has hosted. The Lions are 7-6 in those games.
(Compiled by Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.)