STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State coach James Franklin famously walked the walk after a loss in a big game, stopping to talk to former players and other notables Saturday as he left the field at Beaver Stadium.

He walked through the end zone where No. 3 Penn State had twice failed to score from first and goal inside the 5-yard line against No. 4 Ohio State. Before reaching the Victory Bell next to the team tunnel, Franklin had a brief conversation with two fans who questioned the playcalling on the second goal-to-go sequence of Saturday’s 20-13 loss before 111,030, the largest crowd ever in Beaver Stadium. Franklin then entered the tunnel to address his team after its eighth consecutive loss to Ohio State, the fourth at home.

Penn State’s last major loss under Franklin came down to two blown chances inside the Ohio State 5-yard line, several untimely penalties, a few critical refereeing decisions and an offense that couldn’t reach the end zone even once despite it was noticed Less than 10 minutes into the match, 10-0 lead. But the outcome, however it occurred, will be grouped with others under Franklin, who fell to 1-12 against AP top-10 teams at Penn State and 1-15 overall as an FBS coach.

Franklin said he “understands” the fans’ frustration.

“We get an incredible crowd here, we get incredible support,” he said. “You don’t do that without passion, and great things come from that, and difficult things come from that. That’s part of the job, and I own it all.”

Franklin, seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance despite a 95-40 record at Penn State, has not defeated Ohio State since 2016, which marked the Lions’ last Big Ten title. The Buckeyes improved to 10-1 against Franklin, who has six AP top-20 finishes since 2016, but none in the top five.

“There’s no one who looks in the mirror harder than me,” Franklin said. “Ninety-nine percent of the programs in college football would die if we did what we’ve been able to do in our time here. But I also understand that when you’re in a place like Penn State, there are really, really high expectations. … I get it, I totally get it.”

Franklin added that he planned to discuss several topics during his post-game press conference, but decided it was “not appropriate to say now.” He later referred to “a lot of calls, 50-50 calls that can go either way, and in those types of games they are critical.”

Quarterback Drew Allar said Penn State “didn’t win enough moments” on Saturday, including the crucial turnover on downs with 5:13 to play. After a direct snap to do it all, Tyler Warren ran for 33 yards, Penn State’s longest play of the game. The attack was set up at the Ohio State 3-yard line. But three Kaytron Allen runs up the middle accomplished little, and on fourth down, Allar couldn’t connect with tight end Khalil Dinkins, who was well covered.

“We wanted to take it to Ty Warren,” said Allar, who returned from a knee injury to pass for 146 yards with an interception in the end zone late in the first half and rush for 31. good job playing over it and controlling it. It would have been a cracking play, short of the goal line or incomplete. I looked at Dink. We just didn’t connect with it.’

Penn State’s defense, which had kept Ohio State out of the end zone since the start of the second quarter, had a chance to make a stop and regain possession. But the rushing trident of Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson and Will Howard overpowered the Lions as the Buckeyes ran out the clock.

The Buckeyes, who had a season-low 64 rushing yards against Nebraska last week, finished with 176 yards on Saturday.

“Kind of a bad feeling,” linebacker Kobe King said. “We prepare all week and do certain things with certain packages and coverage. We just didn’t execute it the way it should be. Mistakes were made. Guys have to be in the right places.”

Several Penn State players deflected blame from Franklin and reiterated their support for the 11th-year coach. In recent years, losses like Saturday’s have eliminated Penn State from CFP contention, but the deep field keeps the 7-1 Lions very much in the mix.

Still, it is recognized that coaches and teams are judged based on games like Saturday’s.

“If you don’t judge yourself after a game like this, it questions your love for the game,” offensive lineman Sal Wormley said. “For example, it’s impossible for you to strictly point fingers at other people in a game like this. There has to be something you could have done.”

Penn State closes the regular season against four unranked opponents – Washington, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland – before awaiting its postseason fate.

“Okay, we lost, now we have to keep going because that could very well be the difference between winning a national championship and not winning a national championship,” defensive lineman Dvon J-Thomas said. “So how we respond to this loss will be a big indicator of the type of team we are, and the type of team you’ll see in the playoffs.”