Now who would not like some last-minute tips? That too when it’s the semifinals. Well, in that case, James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions got really lucky. Already, there are a lot of things about Franklin’s fate. The Orange Bowl marks their face-off against Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame after 18 LONG YEARS. So what’s the advice that Penn State got? They now have someone to look up to. That’s none other than Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, you read that right. Such has been the glow-up of the program that almost lost hope of the fans. Now that they have made a grand comeback, it might help Franklin to stop the Fighting Irish. 

So, we know how Day had been walking on thin ice when it came to saving his HC role in Columbus. Even after coming off with two massive victories against the Tennessee Volunteers and Oregon Ducks, they still kept getting sideways. That’s mainly because they’re still reeling from losing to rivals Michigan for the fourth straight time. On the flip side, Franklin has been running after his “goal.”

As seen in the old video that went viral, “I don’t usually talk about this publicly but my goal has been to be the first African American football coach to win a college national championship. That’s something that’s very historic.” Now college football analyst Joel Klatt has a suggestion for how he can do it. 

On The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod, he had some message for Franklin before his fight against Notre Dame: “Get the ba-l to the best players in the biggest games. There is no bigger game than this you’re in the National Semifinals. You win this you are playing for a chip.” And who, according to him, are the best players?

Klatt carefully picks the players he believes are the best from Franklin’s squad: RB Kaytron Allen, RB Nick Singleton, and TE Tyler Warren. The analyst then sounded an alarm for QB Drew Allar, who might be struggling without outside threats. So what’s the solution? Klatt advised Franklin, “Get the blinders on if you are Penn State. Put them up, and it’s like that’s who touches the football in the most creative ways that you can possibly get them the ba-l.”

He added, “Take a page out of Ohio State’s book.” What chapter from the Buckeyes playbook will benefit the Nittany Lions? The way they are managing things on the offensive side.

Day’s program showed that the key to victory lies in the first 15 plays and who gets their hands on the pigskin. The design is ready. Franklin needs to figure out how Ohio State gets the job done with just a few key players like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, Quinshon Judkins, and Treveyon Henderson. It’s way more crucial now that Freeman has an advantage. 

Why does James Franklin need to be extra careful about Marcus Freeman?  

The games count for Notre Dame this season is 15 while Penn State’s is 16 games. In that case, Freeman’s squad has undergone a bit less wear and tear as compared to their Orange Bowl opponents. Plus, they got a bit more time to tailor a game plan to counter Franklin’s program. Now when it comes to Freeman, he has already proved himself.

There have been people, including ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, who doubted the Notre Dame HC changing the college football landscape. That’s when Stephen A. Smith entered to give a clearer picture.

On ESPN College Football’s podcast First Take, he dug into Fighting Irish’s history. After that, he claimed, “Think about that Paul. We go around and Notre Dame hasn’t really I mean this kid Marcus Freeman, this coach doing a hell of a job. He’s got them relevant even Chip [Brian] Kelly, when he got them to the national title game, we knew they were going to get stomped by Alabama.” 

Marcus Freeman has already shown his powers that the former Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly failed to show. And what’s that? The new HC brought home a New Year’s Sugar Bowl victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. So, it’s high time that James Franklin gets himself a copy of Ryan Day’s playbook.