"That's what it's all about for me": James Franklin gets teary eyed after Notre Dame stuns Penn State at Orange Bowl

Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin got teary-eyed after a 27-24 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

The Nittany Lions got out to a fast start and led 10-0 early and looked like they were on their way to blowing out Notre Dame. However, the offense stalled and the Fighting Irish scored 17 unanswered points to take the lead.

After the teams traded touchdowns and the game tied 24-24, Penn State got the ball with a minute left. However, Drew Allar threw a costly interception as Notre Dame got into field goal range and hit the game-winning field goal.

Following the heartbreaking loss, Franklin spoke to the media and was visibly emotional about it.

“We got a throwback program with throwback uniforms and I still coach them and love them like the dinosaur I’ve become at some point," Franklin said. "I don’t know when that happened, but to me, it’s it’s about the guys. It’s about the guys and their development.

"So, I want them to get drafted as high as possible. I understand the transfer portal is a part of college football now, and NIL is a part of college football, and we’ll embrace those things, too, but I want this experience to be so much more than a transactional experience. I want it to be transformational. That’s what it’s all about for me."

While it was a heartbreaking loss for Franklin and Penn State, he said his goal is to develop players and wants to give them a transformational experience.

Penn State finished the year with a 13-3 record after winning two playoff games but fell short of reaching the national championship game.

James Franklin says Penn State made too many mistakes

James Franklin said the Nittany Lions made too many mistakes which cost them the chance to play for the national championship.

Franklin added that he knew heading into the matchup that it would likely be a one-possession game.

“We knew it was going to be a fourth quarter game and come down to a possession and that’s exactly what happened,” Franklin said, via On3. “We played our tails off tonight. Obviously, we made too many mistakes that were costly.”

With the win, the Fighting Irish will compete for the title on Jan. 20 against the winner of the matchup between Ohio State and Texas.