'This is a grind': Penn State celebrates 1st CFP win, preps for new workload, opponent

UNIVERSITY PARK — Before this season, all previous iterations of coach James Franklin’s Penn State football program failed to reach the promised land of the College Football Playoff.

A good chunk of the past decade saw the Nittany Lions stymied by the former four-team CFP field when a national title appeared closest at hand.

But in Year 11, Franklin’s squad has broken through, earning the No. 6 seed in the debut of the expanded 12-team field.

Penn State’s first CFP win was secured Saturday with a 38-10 thumping of No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium, and now it’s onward to the quarterfinals. A Dec. 31 showdown against No. 3 Boise State awaits in the Fiesta Bowl.

“To have football as long as (Penn State) has had, to have this stadium the way it is and to do something that’s never been done here, it’s pretty frickin’ rare, and it’s pretty cool to be a part of it,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said.

Nittany Lions players and coaches are taking time to enjoy their win before formal preparations for the Broncos begin.

As they do, Franklin is stressing the precious nature of the moment.

“A lot of college coaches I saw this week, talking about this (being) a four-game season,” Franklin said. “It’s not. It’s a one-game season with an average of 65 plays on offense and 65 plays on defense and 20 plays on special teams. How you value those reps and how you prepare for those reps will give you an opportunity to play again.”

That Christmas is only days away was not lost on Franklin, who noted that the next week-and-a-half will feature a balance between work and everyone inside the program getting to spend time with family.

As a new challenge faces his program, Franklin paused to articulate what it has taken to get this far and what will be required as long as the Nittany Lions remain alive.

“This is a grind,” Franklin said. “We have turned college football into a grind. Used to talk about the difference between college and the NFL. It’s essentially the same now. It’s a grind on the coaches, it’s a grind on the players, it’s a grind on the staff, it’s a grind on the wives and kids. To see them have success is to me, what it’s all about.”

Soon enough, it’ll be time to refocus into the Fiesta Bowl showdown.

But for the Penn State seniors who just played their last game in Beaver Stadium, Saturday represented a closing of the book even with more meaningful football just around the corner.

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Sal Wormley, competing in his sixth season with the Nittany Lions, was one who took time to soak it all in before leaving the field.

“He didn’t want to leave the field,” Franklin said. “Not an emotional guy, (but today) he’s emotional. It’s emotional for all of us.”

Senior defensive lineman Dvon J-Thomas took immense pride in how the Nittany Lions played against SMU’s offense, recording three interceptions, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks while limiting the Mustangs to a season-low 10 points.

“There’s no other way that I wanted to go out of Beaver Stadium than to put on a defensive performance like we did,” J-Thomas said. “Two pick-6s, we stopped the run, we stopped the pass game, we shut everything down. I truly thank everybody on defense and on offense for everything they did, just because it made the moment so special.”

Somewhat lost in the moment Saturday was the win representing Franklin’s 100th at the helm in State College.

For quarterback Drew Allar, who doubtless wants to get Franklin to win No. 101 on New Year’s Eve by defeating Boise State, it made an unforgettable day all the sweeter.

“Winning his 100th game, it’s special to be a part of that, be the team that was able to deliver that 100th game win to him and to have it on the stage like the playoff at home at Beaver Stadium is truly special,” Allar said. “We don’t take these moments for granted.”