In the college football world of 2023, where there is so much more parity than during the Paterno years, 10-2 is a great record on the surface; college football now is more like the NFL, where even the best teams are going to lose at least one or two games a season.
However, not all 10-2 records are the same. If PSU had achieved a 10-2 record this season by beating OSU and/or Michigan, I believe that almost everybody would be happy with that. The disappoitment with this season is that the Big 10 is as down as it's been probably since PSU started playing Big 10 ball, and, at least with PSU's defense, both OSU and Michigan were eminently beatable even with our ridiculous offensive scheme.
I previously posted that if PSU did not beat either OSU or Michigan, this season should be considered a failure regardless of whether we finish 10-2. While saying that, and considering that we played this season with a first-year starting qb who clearly is a work in progress and obviously wasn't ready to beat the big teams, I definitely would gladly accept 10-2 and a NY6 bowl with the understanding that beginning next season, the ultimate endings of most seasons must be the playoffs.
^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^
The B1G is abysmal this year. I can't remember the last time that only 3 B1G teams were in the Top 25.
PSU's best win is Iowa - currently ranked 26 in AP (23 in coaches)and they would not be close to that if the B1G had a pulse this year. PSU should finish with 10 wins while beating 0 or 1 team in the Top25 and only 1 team in the Top 35(at least). No other B1G team is even receiving votes in the AP.
Leading up to tOSU, many of us said that the PSU offense was not good and the games against tOSU/scUM were going to be long shots. Unfortunately we were correct. While the D kept the scores close, it was clear (even at 14-9 against scUM) that the offense was unlikely to produce a win (The only chance was the D putting up points).
In the end, people are frustrated at 10-2 because this team is not competitive against good teams. We have an $8.5M head coach who doesn't understand how to apply analytics, a roster of 4* players and a 5* QB, and they are producing poor football.
For me personally, I wouldn't be as critical if PSU was playing good football and simply getting beat by good tOSU and scUM teams. But the reality is that the 2023 offense is not competitive against a decent defense and even showed it's ineptitude against bad teams. Last year we seemed to have a reprieve from poor coaching calls, but they have reemerged this year. Against scUM, the 2pt conversion and the 4th down call in our own territory were bad. Even more ridiculous was Franklin saying the Analytics dictated those decisions. Let me just say that he is either not being honest, or he is horribly incompetent. The PSU offense is not good. The analytics only hold up if the team is competent. Just before the 2pt try, we watched 5 plays inside the 5yd line gain 1 yd - on a QB sneak.
I say this to JF: The overall analytics may say go for two, but the reason you are making $8.5M is to field a team capable of playing to the analytics, and if they can't, your job is to make in-game decisions that reflect the team's strengths/weaknesses and gives them the best chance to succeed. Like in the infamous 6-4 game, Ferentz took a safety and kicked to PSU b/c he knew the PSU Defense was more likely to put points up against his offense that was just as bad as PSU's.
In 2023, the PSU offense is not a strength. The defense IS. Against scUM the "analytics" say to give your defense the best chance to make plays and win you the game. That means you kick the extra point and it means you don't go for it on 4th down at your own ~30 with several minutes remaining. You punt and give your defense a chance to get you the ball back, or even force a turnover.
I'm not a football coach and I know this. These are not hard decisions. Playing to your strengths is not a hard concept. It shouldn't be hard for a coach making $8.5M either.
