In a thorough story for The Athletic on college football’s “Playoff-centricism,” multiple stakeholders expressed Franklin’s sentiment and discussed how the new playoff format might recast the system.
But until the 12-team plan is enacted, college football will continue wrestling with something it has done to itself.
“If we just become too much about Playoff and you lose one game, and we’re saying, ‘Forget about them, they lost the game.
3, after his team lost to Ohio State and fell to 0-2, Franklin in part said this when asked how he’s addressing team morale: “That’s the challenge.
There’s a mentality and a sense you’re in the playoffs and playing for a national championship or you’re not.
And in late November, after Penn State lost to Iowa to reach 0-5, Franklin took this path once more.
“To be honest with you, I think that’s a little bit of the nature of college football now with where programs, like a Penn State, are in terms of the playoffs,” Franklin said.
“I do think a playoff expansion, which has been discussed for a while, is important so that every conference, every Power 5 conference, would get an automatic bid.
I do think there’s some positives and I do think there’s some challenges that have come from that.