So, what now?
That has to be the question Penn State is trying to figure out right now. After a heartbreaking double overtime loss at home last week against arguably the best team in the conference, Penn State flew out to the West Coast and left its defense at home in a jarring loss to arguably the worst team in the Big Ten. On the first weekend of October, Penn State’s hyped 2025 season, which was heralded as a potential national championship season, is off to a 0-2 start in Big Ten play, and they still have to play Ohio State and Indiana. This is not at all the situation anyone could have possibly envisioned at the start of the season, even if you are one of the harshest James Franklin critics.
But Franklin will once again hear plenty of criticism for Penn State’s latest setback, a 42-37 loss to UCLA, as well he should. There is more than enough blame to go around, with the possible exception of the offense. The offense was not perfect, but it did more than enough to have a chance to win. Penn State’s defense was thrashed all game long by UCLA, a team that inserted a new offensive coordinator in the middle of the week. UCLA, led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava, tore through the Nittany Lions, especially on the ground. Penn State not having linebacker Tony Rojas due to a long-term injury hurt, but it should not have come close to hurting as much as UCLA made it. The Bruins overpowered Penn State on the line of scrimmage and were dominant in running right at Penn State’s defense, and in many cases dancing around them en route to picking up some big gains in key spots.
The first question to address is who is to blame. Franklin unquestionably takes the blame of this one for the way Penn State played in the first half. The defense was atrocious. The special teams were unaware of UCLA’s onside kick attempt early in the game and seemed unprepared for the UCLA punt team’s sacrifice safety to kill some clock at the end of the game. The defense was nowhere close to being ready to play against a team with nothing to lose, and it showed. A bizarre management of the clock at the end of the first half and a 4th down play being blown up led to a free field goal by UCLA.
The second question to answer is where does this season go from here?
The College Football Playoff feels impossible right now, but it is not. But the path to a return playoff trip is now about as steep as it could be for Penn State. As already mentioned, there are still two games to play against Ohio State and Indiana, not to mention a road trip to Iowa looming. If Penn State could somehow run the table for a 10-2 regular season, a playoff berth could be within reach, and a shot at a Big Ten title could still be a possibility. Likely? Not at all, but the hope for a magical season is not quite put to rest just yet, officially speaking.
But the reality is we have seen enough evidence over the years of the James Franklin era to believe the playoff is probably not going to happen at this point. Penn State could have afforded a loss to Oregon if it did not stumble where it shouldn’t have elsewhere. Penn State didn’t just stumble in Week 6. It stepped on a LEGO in the hallway and tripped down the stairs as a result. Penn State is battered. Penn State is bruised. Penn State can recover but the more likely scenario now may be a 9-3 season at best, and that is not going to get any team into a 12-team College Football Playoff.
The coaching staff is now going to be tasked with trying to find ways to keep this team motivated before this season really gets flushed down the drain. Fan enthusiasm is already about to fade quickly, and the players that returned for a playoff push may be some of the easiest to lose focus on the team goals.
This season just got a lot more challenging for all of the wrong reasons.
Penn State will try to get things back on track next Saturday with a home game against Northwestern.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where does Penn State go now after devastating loss to UCLA?
