Dire warning could head toward James Franklin if Penn State loses to Ohio State again

The Big Ten game of the year may not come in Week 14, when the Michigan Wolverines host the Ohio State Buckeyes.

It might just be four weeks prior when newly minted defensive coordinator Jim Knowles arrives in Columbus for Penn State's showdown with the Buckeyes. It's a game that continues to backfire under James Franklin's watch with a possible breaking point in sight.

Plain and simple, the bleeding has to end at some point.

Despite all the anticipation and possible national title ambitions in Happy Valley, CBS Sports' Will Backus says it's hard to trust James Franklin as he continues to fall short of lofty expectations every year to the point of near insanity.

"Expectations in Happy Valley are sky-high as the Nittany Lions return crucial contributors all over the field," Backus wrote. "To meet their goals, coach James Franklin has to finally notch a signature win against one of Penn State's historic rivals. Ohio State is a prime opportunity, given that PSU has just one win against the Buckeyes since 2012. Ending that drought and downing the reigning national champs would be quite a statement for a program looking to take that next step."

The "next step" that Backus describes above is more than just beating Ohio State again. It's about becoming elite while committing to a standard of excellence where losing to teams like the Buckeyes, Wolverines, or Oregon Ducks is simply inexcusable.

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Thirteen years is a long time to notch one win despite many close calls over the years, including this past season.

If things break the Nittany Lions' way this fall, the labels surrounding Franklin's legacy will start to subside.

By continuing to lose to the same teams yearly, though, the narrative will continue to live on.

It's up to Franklin to fix it, validating Knowles' decision to swap Columbus for State College was the right one, too.