PITTSBURGH — It would be silly to suggest that Penn State's James Franklin needs a win Saturday afternoon at Michigan. He signed a 10-year, $75 million contract extension in November that runs through the 2031 season. He has plenty of job security. He doesn't need much of anything.
But Franklin really could use a win against a Michigan team that is 6-0 and ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. It would do wonders for his Penn State team, which is 5-0 and ranked No. 10. A win would make a hard push toward Franklin's second Big Ten title at Penn State and a shot at the College Football Playoff, although a home game against No. 2 Ohio State lurks on Oct. 29. It also would do wonders for Franklin's image as a coach. Right or wrong, he is regarded as a terrific recruiter and lousy game-day coach.
Franklin is 2-13 at Penn State against top-10 opponents, a dismal record that includes nine consecutive losses.
