Ryan Day learned from soul-crushing losses to win big. Can James Franklin?

The same lonely, desperate look. Saw it on the face of Day last season, saw it on Franklin last weekend.

But there’s a road back for Penn State, no matter what Franklin feels gnawing at his insides. From the lowest of lows, to maybe — just maybe — the highest of highs.

“At some point, and quickly, you make a decision to move on with a plan of how to make it right,” Day said in January, days before his Ohio State team rebounded from the worst loss of his coaching career by winning the national title.

If there’s one takeaway following Penn State’s gut-punch of an overtime loss to Oregon, it’s this: At least it wasn’t to a bitter rival for the fourth consecutive season.

Because other than that, Franklin is mirroring Day. Day found a way out last season, rallying from another loss to Michigan to win the College Football Playoff as a No. 8 seed.

Franklin will begin down that road this week, days removed from yet another loss to a top-10 team despite a talented, loaded roster and a three-year starter at quarterback.

Penn State is 4-21 vs. top-10 teams under Franklin, and early in the fourth quarter of the Oregon game — after the Ducks had taken a 17-3 lead — Lions fans began chanting “Fire Franklin” for the coach with a 37-9 record since 2022. Those chants from fans in Happy Valley at the end of their rope with a coach who has won at least 11 games five times since 2016.

Back in last November, as Michigan celebrated its fourth straight win over Ohio State and the teams fought at midfield after the game, fans in Columbus began chanting “Fire Ryan Day.” For a coach that has won at least 11 games five times since 2019.

Day and Ohio State rallied behind a senior-laden team and an experienced quarterback who got hot at the right time. They beat a surging SEC team (Tennessee) to begin the CFP, then beat No. 1 Oregon, SEC runner-up Texas and a Notre Dame team that had won 13 straight games.

They did it by doubling down on what they did best: run the ball and throw off play action. It was no longer about proving toughness, it was about getting the ball into the hands of the most talented players on the team.

It was also about continuing to play tough, punishing defense behind coordinator Jim Knowles, who spent three years tweaking and perfecting his system before moving to Penn State at the end of last season.

Hours after the soul-stealing loss to Oregon, Franklin started talking to Knowles about how Ohio State found a way back from the abyss. Then Franklin had Knowles address the players and staff.

In this highly visual society, it’s advantageous to have someone who can paint the picture of success for all to clearly see.

Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught five passes for 35 yards against Michigan. In four CFP games after Ohio State decided to focus on its greatest strengths, Smith had 19 catches for 381 yards and five touchdowns.

There’s nothing magical to it. Do what you do best, and do it without hesitation or disruption.

Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the strength of the Penn State offense for three seasons, combined for just 96 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries against Oregon. That will drastically change over the next two months of the season.

“There’s a ton of football left to be played,” Franklin said.

And a road back to the highest of highs.

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