Penn State head coach James Franklin offers praise to Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks ahead of a much anticipated match up in Happy Valley
James Franklin was complimentary about the Oregon Ducks in his early week press conference.
Penn State head coach James Franklin had no shortage of praise for the Oregon Ducks as his team prepares for one of the season’s most anticipated matchups. Earlier this week, Franklin underscored the talent on Oregon’s roster and the impact head coach Dan Lanning has made in Eugene.
A worthy adversary
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for what Dan Lanning has done in a short period of time,” Franklin said. “Obviously the program and the community support has been strong for a long time, but he’s done a really good job putting his fingerprints on it.”
Franklin was especially complimentary of Oregon’s offensive playmakers. He singled out tight end Kenyon Sadiq as one of his defense’s toughest matchups. “He’s a big factor for them. He’s a matchup problem in the passing game, and then when you talk about the run game, he’s physical enough to give them a real advantage there too,” Franklin explained.
Quarterback Dante Moore also drew Franklin’s attention. “He was a very highly recruited guy coming out of high school,” Franklin said. “He’s accurate, he can extend plays, and he’s surrounded by weapons that can stress a defense in a lot of ways.”
Among those weapons are wide receiver Dakorien Moore and running back Jayden Limar, both of whom Franklin described as explosive athletes. “They’ve got speed on the perimeter and physicality in the backfield,” Franklin said. “It’s one of those situations where you can’t just focus on one guy—they’ve got multiple players who can hurt you.”
Franklin also addressed how Penn State has prepared for opponents like Oregon, particularly when holding certain plays or packages in reserve. “There are always things that you’ve been practicing that maybe you don’t show in some games,” he said. “It’s not about being conservative. It’s about matchups and what gives you the best chance to win that specific week.”
The Nittany Lions will also lean on the energy of their home crowd, with the iconic White Out environment expected to provide a significant boost. While Franklin acknowledged the importance of the atmosphere, he stressed that execution remains the deciding factor. “The White Out is special, no doubt about it,” he said. “But ultimately, it comes down to blocking, tackling, and making plays against a really good football team.”
For Franklin, his respect for Oregon is paired with confidence in his roster. Still, he knows the challenge ahead is significant. “It’s going to be a physical, fast, competitive game,” Franklin said. “That’s what college football is all about.”
