Penn State football will move up quickly after the loss at Oregon

INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State’s football coach sat on an interview podium in the lower section of Lucas Oil Stadium after midnight, between two of his leaders.

James Franklin spoke with determination and urgency.

He seemed convinced that this frustrating loss to the No. 1 Oregon Ducks could be used for encouragement and even good.

That his players, like defensive tackle D’Von J-Thomas, sitting to his right, and quarterback Drew Allar, to his left, can still be better for their mistakes that allowed Oregon to beat them in that 45-37 Keep your distance Losing in the Big Ten Championship Game.

In other years, such a defeat would be followed by a proper final.

Now, a playoff game at, of all places, Beaver Stadium — and a possible postseason run toward a national championship — is still possible. If his Nittany Lions can once again find answers to their problems.

“One of the things I talked to the guys about in the locker room was, ‘This is a new college football.’ “There is a 12-team playoff and our season has just begun,” he said.

“We’ll find out (Sunday) if it’s a home game with 16 inches of snow or if it’s an away game on the road. We will be excited for every opportunity that comes our way and we will be prepared and we will be ready.

“Because we have two losses this year, (against) two top-five teams. I had a chance to win both games, learned a lot from (the first one against Ohio State). Same thing tonight.”

It was a frustrating performance as Penn State’s defense, which is so highly regarded and has adapted so adeptly in every way this season, couldn’t get enough stops and almost make enough big plays when it was needed most.

It’s frustrating how four 15-yard penalties hampered them early. Because they played so well on offense, only to have two plays — two interceptions by Drew Allar — early and late.

It’s frustrating that they gained more yards and first downs and completed more long plays than Oregon and still lost.

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That was the case: It was encouraging that the Lions never stopped fighting back and putting pressure on the undefeated Ducks after they were almost run out of the stadium early on. He ran so hard that leading linebacker Kobe King vomited on the field before halftime.

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