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Following are the highlights of James Franklin's Tuesday press conference:
Saturday's game: vs. Massachusetts (3:30 p.m., BTN)
Records: Penn State is 5-0. Massachusetts is 1-6.
Odds: Penn State is a 42.5-point favorite.
Rankings: Penn State is ranked No. 6 by the Associated Press.
Main storyline
As sometimes happens when the Nittany Lions are playing an opponent perceived to be outclassed, the topic of non-scheduling came up and whether philosophies will change with a 12-team playoff arriving next year.
Franklin is on record as saying teams should best position themselves to be in the playoff.
He was adamant that despite sweeping a home-and-home with Auburn (2021-22), he didn't support the idea.
Tuesday, he suggested teams are begging out of certain games to protect their schedule.
"There's a team in this conference specifically that's buying out of a ton of game contracts that are already signed to go in the complete opposite direction," he said. "... You've got to do whatever you possibly can to give yourself a chance, number one, to be undefeated at the end of the season. With a bigger playoff ... you're scheduling to have the least amount of losses possible."
It's unclear to which Big Ten team Franklin was referring. Indiana reportedly backed out of a two-game series with Louisville in the coming years.
Some speculated it might be Michigan, but the Wolverines are scheduled to play Texas next year and visit Austin in 2027. UM, though, hasn't played a non-conference game off its campus in three years.
"There's another team in this conference that has had a ton of success the last couple years, and again, I think it would follow the same argument (of weaker non-conference foes)," Franklin said.
Ohio State has played Oregon and Notre Dame in non-cons over the last three years.
According to PennLive.com, UMass will receive $1.6 million to play at Penn State on Saturday.
Franklin did not say he favors attempting to buy out scheduled non-conference games with WVU (2024) or Syracuse and Temple in the future.
"I don't think the (PSU) philosophy or the model has changed," he said.
In addition to UMass, the Lions' non-conference opponents this year were visits from West Virginia and Delaware.
Scouting UMass
Franklin is quite familiar with Minutemen head coach Don Brown, Michigan's former defensive coordinator.
In fact, Brown was the DC at Maryland when Franklin was the OC (2008-10).
"I go way back with Don," Franklin said.
UMass won its opener over New Mexico (41-30) but has lost six straight, including last week at Toledo (41-24).
Franklin said the Minutemen are explosive on offense, thanks to a number of transfers.
"We think their skill players would start for a lot of people," he said. "Those guys have got our attention."
Franklin said the Lions recruited UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, who went to Clemson and Georgia Tech before landing in Amherst.
UMass has struggled defensively, allowing 39.4 points per game, ranking No. 129 of the nation's 133 FBS programs.
Open date
Franklin said the Lions used their open date to "self scout," with the offensive and defensive coaching staffs evaluating each other candidly.
Several light practices were held and, "we had a chance to get fresh," Franklin said.
Most of the coaching staff, including Franklin, spent Thursday through Saturday out recruiting, and players got the weekend off with some going home.
Protecting the ball
When it was brought up that starting quarterback Drew Allar has not committed a turnover in the 15 games he's played - five as a starter this year - Franklin praised his 6-foot-5 NFL prospect but quickly added, "I don't want to talk a whole lot about it."
Franklin did compliment Allar on his checkdowns, knowing when to throw the ball away and his overall poise.
"Turnovers go hand-in-hand with guys that are panicking," he said.
Notable ...
*Of those injured in the last couple weeks — (WR Trey Wallace, G J.B. Nelson, RB Kaytron Allen) — Franklin said there are no changes, "but we're in a pretty good place."
*Franklin opened the press conference by "giving some love" to cornerback Johnny Dixon, who has been overshadowed by opposite corner Kalen King.
*Penn State has scored 30-plus points in 11 straight games, the longest streak in the nation.
*The teams have only met once, with the Lions winning 48-7 in 2014 - Franklin's first season at PSU.
*Saturday marks Penn State's 103rd homecoming, and the Lions will be wearing their "Generations of Greatness" uniforms, which includes numbers on their helmets.
(Compiled by Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.)