Franklin making sure Georgia State has Penn State's full attention

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – At 0-1, with its loss coming against an FCS opponent, and considered a more-than-five-touchdown underdog this week, Georgia State might not strike much fear in the hearts of Nittany Nation.

But you can bet Penn State coach James Franklin made it possible for his players to punch up the video of last year's game the Panthers played against Wisconsin.

Eleven weeks before the Badgers would give the Nittany Lions all they could handle in the 2016 Big Ten championship game, they were on the ropes in front of an impatient home crowd at Camp Randall Stadium after Georgia State took a 17-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin ended up winning, 20-17, limiting the Panthers to 7 yards and no first downs in the final 11 minutes, 28 seconds, after their go-ahead touchdown. But you know the visitors for Saturday night's game at Beaver Stadium have the undivided attention of Franklin and his players, especially as they try to avoid looking ahead to next week's Big Ten opener at Iowa.

"They're a solid program," linebacker Koa Farmer said earlier this week. "They had a good game against Wisconsin last year at Wisconsin. Me and Jason [Cabinda] were actually going to watch some film on them. They have some athletes. They run a solid offense. And I think it's going to be a challenging opponent."

Franklin noticed that the Panthers, who are in only their fifth season of FBS football, returned their top performers from the Wisconsin game, players such as quarterback Conner Manning, running back Kyler Neal, wide receiver Glenn Smith, linebacker Trey Payne, and safety Bryan Williams. Manning passed for 269 yards and a touchdown and Neal ran for the late go-ahead score.

"I think the thing that probably jumps out to me is this is the same team, essentially the same team, that went to Wisconsin last year and was leading in the fourth quarter," Franklin said. "So they are going to be used to playing in these Big Ten type of environments on the road. Obviously, they are a talented team."

Even with the scare it threw into the Badgers, Georgia State finished 3-8 and without the same head coach with whom it began the year. Shawn Elliott, a former offensive coordinator at South Carolina, took over as head coach and lost his debut, 17-10, to FCS team Tennessee State.

With an off-week last week, the Panthers addressed the mistakes of their loss, which included four turnovers. And Elliott knows a repeat would be fatal on the road against Penn State.

"Up front, they're strong and physical and fast," he said. "You probably don't see the big pass rusher that you see typically in the SEC, but man, they're a good football team. They're a solid, solid football team. There's a reason why they're ranked where they're ranked. Coach Franklin is doing a great job in getting the talent there to Penn State and implementing a great scheme. Let me tell you, they've got players all the way around."

For their final regular-season non-conference game, the Nittany Lions will be looking to improve on last week's 33-14 win over Pittsburgh. Quarterback Trace McSorley missed some easy connections early and finished 15 for 28. The defense spent more than 38 minutes on the field, a stat the must improve given what's coming up in the Big Ten.

Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College

TV:  Big Ten Network. Radio: WNTP-AM (990), WNPV-AM (1440).

Records: Georgia State, 0-1. Penn State, 2-0.

Coaches: Georgia State, Shawn Elliott (0-1 in 1^st season at Georgia State, 1-6 overall). Penn State, James Franklin (27-15 in 4^th season at Penn State, 51-30 overall).

History: First meeting.