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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — James Franklin seemed destined to break the skid.
His skid, to be more specific: 12 consecutive losses to top-five opponents, a miserable eight-year drought.
But the 11th-year Penn State coach was on the way to snapping that streak. He was en route to ending the nasty stretch, to quieting the critics, to shutting down the talk.
Here in South Florida, inside Hard Rock Stadium against, of all teams, one of the biggest brands in the sport, Franklin’s skid seemed over and done with. His team led 10-0 in the second quarter, 24-17 in the fourth quarter and held offensive possession in the final seconds of a tied game.
And then, in a nightmare of a play, his quarterback, Drew Allar, threw one of the most costly interceptions in College Football Playoff history.
Skid continues. Streak extended.
A few seconds after that late-game turnover, Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard field goal split the uprights to send Notre Dame to the national championship game in Atlanta — 27-24 victors of a rock fight of a football game.
The skid is now 13.
And this one —in the national semifinal, one step away from a national title appearance — perhaps stings the most.
Afterward, tears flowed. Voices cracked.
James Franklin’s team seemed to be in control late in the Orange Bowl before falling to Notre Dame. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Allar explained his brutal interception. In a tied game with 33 seconds left and at his own 28-yard line, he danced around in the pocket. His first read was covered. His second read was covered. And then, off his back foot, he hurled a pass toward receiver Omari Evans.
He meant to throw it more at Evans’ feet. Instead, the ball floated up and wide into the arms of Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray.
A pick to top all picks.
An interception for the ages.
A game-changing, jaw-dropping turnover — in the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/after-another-heartbreaking-loss-will-james-franklin-and-penn-state-ever-get-over-the-hump-063516459.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2025-01-10 06:35:00
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